Transient Introgression of <i>Wolbachia</i> into <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Populations Does Not Elicit an Antibody Response to <i>Wolbachia</i> Surface Protein in Community Members
Elvina Lee,
Tran Hien Nguyen,
Thu Yen Nguyen,
Sinh Nam Vu,
Nhu Duong Tran,
Le Trung Nghia,
Quang Mai Vien,
Thanh Dong Nguyen,
Robson Kriiger Loterio,
Iñaki Iturbe-Ormaetxe,
Heather A. Flores,
Scott L. O’Neill,
Duc Anh Dang,
Cameron P. Simmons,
Johanna E. Fraser
Affiliations
Elvina Lee
Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Tran Hien Nguyen
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thu Yen Nguyen
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Sinh Nam Vu
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Nhu Duong Tran
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Le Trung Nghia
Institute Pasteur, Nha Trang 650000, Vietnam
Quang Mai Vien
Institute Pasteur, Nha Trang 650000, Vietnam
Thanh Dong Nguyen
Institute Pasteur, Nha Trang 650000, Vietnam
Robson Kriiger Loterio
Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Iñaki Iturbe-Ormaetxe
World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Heather A. Flores
Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Scott L. O’Neill
World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Duc Anh Dang
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Cameron P. Simmons
World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Johanna E. Fraser
Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that can restrict the transmission of human pathogenic viruses by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Recent field trials have shown that dengue incidence is significantly reduced when Wolbachia is introgressed into the local Ae. aegypti population. Female Ae. aegypti are anautogenous and feed on human blood to produce viable eggs. Herein, we tested whether people who reside on Tri Nguyen Island (TNI), Vietnam developed antibodies to Wolbachia Surface Protein (WSP) following release of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti, as a measure of exposure to Wolbachia. Paired blood samples were collected from 105 participants before and after mosquito releases and anti-WSP titres were measured by ELISA. We determined no change in anti-WSP titres after ~30 weeks of high levels of Wolbachia-Ae. aegypti on TNI. These data suggest that humans are not exposed to the major Wolbachia surface antigen, WSP, following introgression of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.
