Jeffries, Claire L, Tantely, Luciano M 
ORCID: 0000-0002-4658-6372, Kadriaj, Perparim, Blagrove, Marcus SC ORCID: 0000-0002-7510-167X, Lytra, Ioanna, Orsborne, James, Al-Amin, Hasan Mohammad, Mohammed, Abdul Rahim ORCID: 0000-0002-4514-6914, Alam, Mohammad Shafiul ORCID: 0000-0001-8330-5499, Girod, Romain et al (show 8 more authors)
(2024)
Mitochondrial and microbial diversity of the invasive mosquito vector species Culex tritaeniorhynchus across its extensive inter-continental geographic range.
Wellcome Open Research, 9.
p. 18.
Abstract
<ns3:p>Background <ns3:italic>Culex (Cx.) tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> is an invasive mosquito species with an extensive and expanding inter-continental distribution, currently reported across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and now Australia. It is an important vector of medical and veterinary pathogens which cause significant morbidity and mortality in human and animal populations. Across regions endemic for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), <ns3:italic>Cx. tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> is considered the major vector and has also been shown to contribute to the transmission of several other zoonotic arboviruses including Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Methods In this study, we used laboratory vector competence experiments to determine if <ns3:italic>Cx. tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> from a Southern European population were competent JEV vectors. We also obtained samples from multiple geographically dispersed <ns3:italic>Cx. tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> populations from countries within Europe, Africa, Eurasia and Asia to perform phylogenetic analysis to measure the level of mitochondrial divergence using the <ns3:italic>cytochrome oxidase subunit 1</ns3:italic> (<ns3:italic>CO1</ns3:italic>) gene. We also undertook bacterial <ns3:italic>16S rRNA</ns3:italic> gene amplicon sequencing to determine microbial diversity and used multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) to determine any evidence for the presence of strains of the naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium <ns3:italic>Wolbachia</ns3:italic>. Results <ns3:italic>Cx. tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> from a Greek population were shown be be competent vectors of JEV with high levels of virus present in saliva. We found a signficant level of mitochondrial genetic diversity using the mosquito <ns3:italic>CO1</ns3:italic> gene between geographically dispersed populations. Furthermore, we report diverse microbiomes identified by <ns3:italic>16S rRNA</ns3:italic> gene amplicon sequencing within and between geographical populations. Evidence for the detection of the endosymbiotic bacteria <ns3:italic>Wolbachia</ns3:italic> was confirmed using <ns3:italic>Wolbachia</ns3:italic>-specific PCR and MLST. Conclusions This study enhances our understanding of the diversity of <ns3:italic>Cx. tritaeniorhynchus</ns3:italic> and the associated microbiome across its inter-continental range and highlights the need for greater surveillance of this invasive vector species in Europe.</ns3:p>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Vaccine Related, Biotechnology, West Nile Virus, Biodefense, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vector-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Genetics, Rare Diseases, 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment, 3.2 Interventions to alter physical and biological environmental risks, 3 Prevention of disease and conditions, and promotion of well-being, 2 Aetiology, Infection |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jan 2024 08:32 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2024 18:03 |
| DOI: | 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20761.1 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20761.1 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3177834 |
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