Autor(es): Newton Irene L G, Savytskyy Oleksandr, Sheehan Kathy B

Resumo: Wolbachia pipientis is a ubiquitous, maternally transmitted bacterium that infects the germline of insect hosts. Estimates are that Wolbachia infect nearly 40% of insect species on the planet, making it the most prevalent infection on Earth. The bacterium, infamous for the reproductive phenotypes it induces in arthropod hosts, has risen to recent prominence due to its use in vector control. Wolbachia infection prevents the colonization of vectors by RNA viruses, including Drosophila C virus - important human pathogens such as Dengue - Chikungunya. Here we present data indicating that Wolbachia utilize the host actin cytoskeleton during oogenesis for persistence within - transmission between Drosophila melanogaster generations. We show that phenotypically wild type flies heterozygous for cytoskeletal mutations in Drosophila profilin (chic(221/+) - chic(1320/+)) or villin (qua(6-396/+)) either clear a Wolbachia infection, or result in significantly reduced infection levels. This reduction of Wolbachia is supported by PCR evidence, Western blot results - cytological examination. This phenotype is unlikely to be the result of maternal loading defects, defects in oocyte polarization, or germline stem cell proliferation, as the flies are phenotypically wild type in egg size, shape, - number. Importantly, however, heterozygous mutant flies exhibit decreased total G-actin in the ovary, compared to control flies - chic(221) heterozygous mutants exhibit decreased expression of profilin. Additionally, RNAi knockdown of profilin during development decreases Wolbachia titers. We analyze evidence in support of alternative theories to explain this Wolbachia phenotype - conclude that our results support the hypothesis that Wolbachia utilize the actin skeleton for efficient transmission - maintenance within Drosophila.

Imprenta: PLoS Pathogens, v. 11, n. 4, p. e1004798, 2015

Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004798

Descritores: Chikungunya virus - Cell ; Chikungunya virus - RNA ; Chikungunya Virus - Virus ; Chikungunya virus - Transmission ; Chikungunya virus - Dengue

Data de publicação: 2015

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