Author summary Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major global health challenge, infecting hundreds of millions of people and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Wolbachia-based vector co...

Author summary Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major global health challenge, infecting hundreds of millions of people and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Wolbachia-based vector control is a promising strategy for reducing transmission of these pathogens and is currently being implemented in dozens of countries. This approach relies on cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), a form of reproductive manipulation imposed by Wolbachia. Although the genes responsible for CI, known as CI factors (cifs), have been identified, the molecular mechanism underlying CI has remained controversial. We show here that Type III cifs from wAlbB induce CI through a Host Modification mechanism. We further provide evidence that different Wolbachia strains may use distinct molecular mechanisms to induce CI, with important implications for understanding and improving Wolbachia-based disease control strategies.

When male mosquitoes are infected with a naturally occurring microbe called Wolbachia, the eggs laid by their female mates don’t hatch.

A research team from the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) has been shortlisted for a prestigious Prix Galien UK Award for their groundbreaking dengue virus control strategy, w...

Google’s Debug project targets a Wolbachia-based approach to curb West Nile virus harboring mosquitoes in California and Florida. Entomologists are optimistic.

UAV-based automated adult release for Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti over wide areas is a scalable release solution.

Google has applied for an experimental mosquito release permit to deploy millions of non-biting southern house mosquitoes that it has infected with the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, in an effort to r...

AbstractWolbachia-based control is one of most exciting strategies to reduce the burden of vector-borne disease. One flavour of this novel approach centres around the mass release of

Background Wolbachia-based control methods reduce dengue transmission by suppressing Aedes aegypti populations or blocking viral replication, yet their effectiveness across the climatic conditions of endemic regions remains poorly understood. Seasonal and interannual temperature changes shape mosquito dynamics, but how Wolbachia releases perform during anomalous events such as El Nino or heatwaves is largely unknown a gap that limits our ability to optimize release strategies and predict intervention success across different climates. Methodology/Principal Findings To address this gap, we built a mathematical modeling framework that explicitly incorporates temperature-dependent Wolbachia parameters together with the seasonal and interannual climate variability characteristic of dengue-endemic regions, coupling a detailed Wolbachia dynamics model with a susceptible infectious recovered (SIR) epidemiological model to evaluate Wolbachia establishment, persistence, and stability under different thermal regimes and trace their downstream impact on disease spread. Higher temperatures eroded both Wolbachia establishment and long-term persistence, sharply narrowing the range of effective release strategies as conditions approached 30 C. Seasonality added a further layer of complexity: the timing of thermal stress relative to Wolbachia frequency, not merely its magnitude, determined whether population replacement succeeded. Interannual shifts, progressive warming, widening seasonal swings, and displaced thermal peaks, each eroded Wolbachia prevalence and stability, with effects that compounded over successive years. Dengue transmission tracked these dynamics closely, with warmer conditions producing larger, earlier outbreaks, and intervention success hinging on how release timing, frequency, and targeting were matched to local thermal conditions. Conclusions/Significance As extreme heat events become more frequent under climate change, release programs that ignore local thermal conditions risk falling short where dengue control is most needed. By elucidating the mechanistic interplay among temperature, Wolbachia, and dengue, our findings help refine Wolbachia release programs to suit different climatic conditions, thereby strengthening dengue control as climate variability intensifies.

Background Wolbachia-based control methods reduce dengue transmission by suppressing Aedes aegypti populations or blocking viral replication, yet their effectiveness across the climatic conditions of endemic regions remains poorly understood. Seasonal and interannual temperature changes shape mosquito dynamics, but how Wolbachia releases perform during anomalous events such as El Nino or heatwaves is largely unknown a gap that limits our ability to optimize release strategies and predict intervention success across different climates. Methodology/Principal Findings To address this gap, we built a mathematical modeling framework that explicitly incorporates temperature-dependent Wolbachia parameters together with the seasonal and interannual climate variability characteristic of dengue-endemic regions, coupling a detailed Wolbachia dynamics model with a susceptible infectious recovered (SIR) epidemiological model to evaluate Wolbachia establishment, persistence, and stability under different thermal regimes and trace their downstream impact on disease spread. Higher temperatures eroded both Wolbachia establishment and long-term persistence, sharply narrowing the range of effective release strategies as conditions approached 30 C. Seasonality added a further layer of complexity: the timing of thermal stress relative to Wolbachia frequency, not merely its magnitude, determined whether population replacement succeeded. Interannual shifts, progressive warming, widening seasonal swings, and displaced thermal peaks, each eroded Wolbachia prevalence and stability, with effects that compounded over successive years. Dengue transmission tracked these dynamics closely, with warmer conditions producing larger, earlier outbreaks, and intervention success hinging on how release timing, frequency, and targeting were matched to local thermal conditions. Conclusions/Significance As extreme heat events become more frequent under climate change, release programs that ignore local thermal conditions risk falling short where dengue control is most needed. By elucidating the mechanistic interplay among temperature, Wolbachia, and dengue, our findings help refine Wolbachia release programs to suit different climatic conditions, thereby strengthening dengue control as climate variability intensifies.

The global invasion of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has led to an increase in arboviral disease, including within Mesoamerica. Understanding vector invasion routes is important for public health because it directs biosecurity and identifies sources of adaptive allele spread. Panama is an important hub of global trade with opportunities for Aedes introduction through both maritime and overland routes but dispersal into the Isthmus has not yet been investigated. We therefore sought to investigate the population structure and invasion history of Ae. albopictus into Panama, targeting both its mitogenome and associated Wolbachia. Historical demographic analysis with Bayesian phylogeographic diffusion models and estimates of divergence revealed that Panamanian Ae. albopictus and its associated Wolbachia have a convergent evolutionary history resulting from multiple introductions. Both could be traced to Asian-derived lineages introduced via the Americas, with invasion primarily through the maritime trade of the Panama Canal rather than overland dispersal from neighboring Costa Rica. An investigation of the relative density of Wolbachia in Panama revealed that both the strains wAlbB and wAlbA were at a notably lower density compared to other worldwide locations. This finding has implications for arbovirus transmission and raises important questions about how Wolbachia density is impacted by the environment and impacts on population control. Overall, the Panama Canal is a key route for vector introductions into Mesoamerica.

The global invasion of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus has led to an increase in arboviral disease, including within Mesoamerica. Understanding vector invasion routes is important for public health because it directs biosecurity and identifies sources of adaptive allele spread. Panama is an important hub of global trade with opportunities for Aedes introduction through both maritime and overland routes but dispersal into the Isthmus has not yet been investigated. We therefore sought to investigate the population structure and invasion history of Ae. albopictus into Panama, targeting both its mitogenome and associated Wolbachia. Historical demographic analysis with Bayesian phylogeographic diffusion models and estimates of divergence revealed that Panamanian Ae. albopictus and its associated Wolbachia have a convergent evolutionary history resulting from multiple introductions. Both could be traced to Asian-derived lineages introduced via the Americas, with invasion primarily through the maritime trade of the Panama Canal rather than overland dispersal from neighboring Costa Rica. An investigation of the relative density of Wolbachia in Panama revealed that both the strains wAlbB and wAlbA were at a notably lower density compared to other worldwide locations. This finding has implications for arbovirus transmission and raises important questions about how Wolbachia density is impacted by the environment and impacts on population control. Overall, the Panama Canal is a key route for vector introductions into Mesoamerica.

Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium widely distributed among arthropods and has been reported in Anopheles gambiae s.l. Transmitted maternally, Wolbachia can manipulate host reproductive biology and has the ability to reduce or block the transmission of pathogens. This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of Wolbachia strains infecting the An. gambiae complex in Côte d'Ivoire. Larvae of An. gambiae s.l. were collected from Boundiali, Korhogo, Bouaké, Abidjan, and Bingerville between...

Publication date: Available online 7 March 2026 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Raymond Karlhis YAO, Etienne BILGO, Berenger Aristide AKO, Ibrahima Zanakoungo COULIBALY, Christiane You ESSOH, Louis Robert Wendyam BELEM, Miriam Félicité AMARA, Kobo GNADA, Abdoulaye DIABATE, Michel Kiréopori GOMGNIMBOU

Publication date: Available online 7 March 2026 Source: Acta Tropica Author(s): Raymond Karlhis YAO, Etienne BILGO, Berenger Aristide AKO, Ibrahima Zanakoungo COULIBALY, Christiane You ESSOH, Louis Robert Wendyam BELEM, Miriam Félicité AMARA, Kobo GNADA, Abdoulaye DIABATE, Michel Kiréopori GOMGNIMBOU

In the ecologically diverse metropolitan area of Seoul, raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) coexist with humans and domestic animals, creating opportunities for vector-borne parasite transmission. Climate-driven shifts in mosquito populations may further enhance these risks, highlighting the need to monitor Dirofilaria immitis in urban wildlife for veterinary and public health. Among 51 raccoon dogs examined, D. immitis was identified in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of 13...

Malaria remains a major public health concern, and traditional #vector control methods face growing challenges, underscoring the need for novel strategies. The success of Wolbachia-based #dengue control, together with the establishment of #Plasmodium-blocking Wolbachia transinfections in Anopheles, highlights the potential of a new tool for malaria control. This review discusses the main experimental systems for studying Wolbachia–Anopheles interactions, emphasizing the challenges of generating Wolbachia transinfected Anopheles gambiae strains. Experiments utilizing #Plasmodium #parasite challenge in transiently and stably infected Anopheles demonstrated that Wolbachia-induced #Plasmodium suppression is feasible. Building on insights from Wolbachia–Aedes–arborvirus systems – and with current evidence from Anopheles systems – we also address mechanisms of #Plasmodium suppression. Finally, we outline challenges and opportunities for translating these findings from proof-of-concept to field application.

Malaria remains a major public health concern, and traditional #vector control methods face growing challenges, underscoring the need for novel strategies. The success of Wolbachia-based #dengue control, together with the establishment of #Plasmodium-blocking Wolbachia transinfections in Anopheles, highlights the potential of a new tool for malaria control. This review discusses the main experimental systems for studying Wolbachia–Anopheles interactions, emphasizing the challenges of generating Wolbachia transinfected Anopheles gambiae strains. Experiments utilizing #Plasmodium #parasite challenge in transiently and stably infected Anopheles demonstrated that Wolbachia-induced #Plasmodium suppression is feasible. Building on insights from Wolbachia–Aedes–arborvirus systems – and with current evidence from Anopheles systems – we also address mechanisms of #Plasmodium suppression. Finally, we outline challenges and opportunities for translating these findings from proof-of-concept to field application.

CONCLUSIONS: Aedes aegypti in Pakistan belong to a globally monophyletic lineage and show moderate mitochondrial diversity with higher population structure than the global population. The lack of detected Wolbachia infections suggests that natural strains are either absent or occur at very low prevalence. These findings provide a baseline for surveillance and support integrating Wolbachia-based biocontrol alongside conventional interventions in Pakistan.

Publication date: Available online 1 October 2025 Source: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology Author(s): Ashif Ahamed, Safdar Ali, Mehboob Hoque