A naturally isolated symbiotic bacterium suppresses flavivirus transmission by Aedes mosquitoes

Science. 2024 Apr 19;384(6693):eadn9524. doi: 10.1126/science.adn9524. Epub 2024 Apr 19.

Abstract

The commensal microbiota of the mosquito gut plays a complex role in determining the vector competence for arboviruses. In this study, we identified a bacterium from the gut of field Aedes albopictus mosquitoes named Rosenbergiella sp. YN46 (Rosenbergiella_YN46) that rendered mosquitoes refractory to infection with dengue and Zika viruses. Inoculation of 1.6 × 103 colony forming units (CFUs) of Rosenbergiella_YN46 into A. albopictus mosquitoes effectively prevents viral infection. Mechanistically, this bacterium secretes glucose dehydrogenase (RyGDH), which acidifies the gut lumen of fed mosquitoes, causing irreversible conformational changes in the flavivirus envelope protein that prevent viral entry into cells. In semifield conditions, Rosenbergiella_YN46 exhibits effective transstadial transmission in field mosquitoes, which blocks transmission of dengue virus by newly emerged adult mosquitoes. The prevalence of Rosenbergiella_YN46 is greater in mosquitoes from low-dengue areas (52.9 to ~91.7%) than in those from dengue-endemic regions (0 to ~6.7%). Rosenbergiella_YN46 may offer an effective and safe lead for flavivirus biocontrol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetobacteraceae / physiology
  • Aedes* / microbiology
  • Aedes* / virology
  • Animals
  • Dengue / prevention & control
  • Dengue / transmission
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus* / physiology
  • Female
  • Flavivirus / genetics
  • Flavivirus / physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Mosquito Vectors* / microbiology
  • Mosquito Vectors* / virology
  • Symbiosis*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism
  • Zika Virus Infection / transmission
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology
  • Zika Virus* / physiology

Substances

  • Viral Envelope Proteins