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Virus evolution in Wolbachia-infected Drosophila.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Martinez, Julien 
Bruner-Montero, Gaspar 
Arunkumar, Ramesh 
Smith, Sophia CL 
Day, Jonathan P 

Abstract

Wolbachia, a common vertically transmitted symbiont, can protect insects against viral infection and prevent mosquitoes from transmitting viral pathogens. For this reason, Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are being released to prevent the transmission of dengue and other arboviruses. An important question for the long-term success of these programmes is whether viruses can evolve to escape the antiviral effects of Wolbachia. We have found that Wolbachia altered the outcome of competition between strains of the DCV virus in Drosophila. However, Wolbachia still effectively blocked the virus genotypes that were favoured in the presence of the symbiont. We conclude that Wolbachia did cause an evolutionary response in viruses, but this has little or no impact on the effectiveness of virus blocking.

Description

Keywords

Drosophila melanogaster, Wolbachia, antiviral resistance, experimental evolution, Aedes, Animals, Culicidae, Drosophila, Symbiosis, Virus Diseases, Viruses, Wolbachia

Journal Title

Proc Biol Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0962-8452
1471-2954

Volume Title

286

Publisher

The Royal Society

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (094664/Z/10/Z)
European Research Council (281668)
This study was funded by the Wellcome Trust grant WT094664MA (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/) and the European Research Council (ERC) grant 281668 DrosophilaInfection.