Impact of temperature on patient-derived dengue virus breakthrough infections in wMel-infected Aedes aegypti
6 affiliations
- 1Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- 2Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- 3Life Sciences Discipline, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 4World Mosquito Program, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- 5School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 6School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
The wMel strain of the insect endosymbiont Wolbachia reduces the potential for Aedes aegypti to transmit mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue (DENV). Field trials that have introgressed wMel into Ae. aegypti populations have shown this approach significantly reduces dengue incidence. In a laboratory, setting some wMel-Ae. aegypti develop infectious saliva following a viremic blood meal. Additionally, studies have demonstrated that exposing wMel-Ae. aegypti to heat treatment, particularly during the larval stage, reduces wMel density in key tissues such as the ovaries, midgut and salivary glands. Here we build on these studies, using viremic blood collected from 13 dengue inpatients at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam), to assess how temperature affects the protection afforded to Ae. aegypti by wMel. We found that, compared to wMel-Ae. aegypti reared at 28 ± 4°C, those reared at 31 ± 4°C developed infectious saliva more frequently, but the risk of this occurring was still reduced compared to WT mosquitoes reared at the same temperature. Heat treatment reduced the density of wMel in all tissues tested, and significantly increased the amount of DENV-1 and DENV-4 replication in wMel-Ae. aegypti. When comparing cohorts of wMel-Ae. aegypti that did or did not develop infectious saliva, DENV levels in the head/thorax were associated with increased odds of mosquitoes developing infectious saliva, but wMel density was not. Overall, these findings show that elevated rearing temperatures increase the risk of patient-derived DENV breakthrough infections in wMel-Ae. aegypti, potentially due to increased DENV replication in these mosquitoes. This limitation suggests it would be prudent to increase surveillance in regions using wMel for dengue control when daily mean temperatures remain above 30°C for multiday periods. Author summary: The mosquito species Ae. aegypti can be infected with the bacterium Wolbachia (wMel strain), reducing its capacity to transmit viruses like dengue (DENV). Wolbachia is now being used as a biocontrol tool to reduce the burden of dengue in communities. However, some mosquitoes with Wolbachia can still transmit DENV. Here we utilised a natural infection model using dengue patient-derived blood to examine how temperature may increase the risk of DENV transmission occurrence in mosquitoes with wMel. Mosquitoes with wMel were more likely to transmit virus when reared at an average temperature of 31°C compared to those reared at an average temperature of 28°C but these mosquitoes still had a lower risk of developing infectious saliva compared to their wMel-free counterparts. Higher temperatures reduced the amount of wMel in mosquito tissues and increased the amount of DENV replicating in the head/thorax. Increasing levels of DENV RNA in these tissues were found to be associated with increased risk of mosquitoes with wMel developing infectious saliva. This finding indicates surveillance is warranted in high temperature settings or during heat waves, to monitor for changes in wMel frequency and DENV infection in Ae. aegypti.
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BibTeX
@article{goncalves2026impact,
title = {{Impact of temperature on patient-derived dengue virus breakthrough infections in wMel-infected Aedes aegypti}},
author = {Daniela da Silva Gonçalves and Vi Tran Thuy and Robson Kriiger Loterio and Nhu Vu Tuyet and Trang Huynh Thi Xuan and Giang Nguyen Thi and Van Huynh Thi Thuy and Huynh LeDuyen and Dui Le Thi and Long Thi Vo and Huynh Le Anh Huy and Nguyen Thi Van Thuy and Phong Thanh Nguyen and Sophie Yacoub and Katherine L Anders and Heather A Flores and Cameron P Simmons and Johanna E Fraser},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014255},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014255},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impact of temperature on patient-derived dengue virus breakthrough infections in wMel-infected Aedes aegypti
AU - Daniela da Silva Gonçalves
AU - Vi Tran Thuy
AU - Robson Kriiger Loterio
AU - Nhu Vu Tuyet
AU - Trang Huynh Thi Xuan
AU - Giang Nguyen Thi
AU - Van Huynh Thi Thuy
AU - Huynh LeDuyen
AU - Dui Le Thi
AU - Long Thi Vo
AU - Huynh Le Anh Huy
AU - Nguyen Thi Van Thuy
AU - Phong Thanh Nguyen
AU - Sophie Yacoub
AU - Katherine L Anders
AU - Heather A Flores
AU - Cameron P Simmons
AU - Johanna E Fraser
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014255
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014255
AB - The wMel strain of the insect endosymbiont Wolbachia reduces the potential for Aedes aegypti to transmit mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue (DENV). Field trials that have introgressed wMel into Ae. aegypti populations have shown this approach significantly reduces dengue incidence. In a laboratory, setting some wMel-Ae. aegypti develop infectious saliva following a viremic blood meal. Additionally, studies have demonstrated that exposing wMel-Ae. aegypti to heat treatment, particularly during the larval stage, reduces wMel density in key tissues such as the ovaries, midgut and salivary glands. Here we build on these studies, using viremic blood collected from 13 dengue inpatients at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam), to assess how temperature affects the protection afforded to Ae. aegypti by wMel. We found that, compared to wMel-Ae. aegypti reared at 28 ± 4°C, those reared at 31 ± 4°C developed infectious saliva more frequently, but the risk of this occurring was still reduced compared to WT mosquitoes reared at the same temperature. Heat treatment reduced the density of wMel in all tissues tested, and significantly increased the amount of DENV-1 and DENV-4 replication in wMel-Ae. aegypti. When comparing cohorts of wMel-Ae. aegypti that did or did not develop infectious saliva, DENV levels in the head/thorax were associated with increased odds of mosquitoes developing infectious saliva, but wMel density was not. Overall, these findings show that elevated rearing temperatures increase the risk of patient-derived DENV breakthrough infections in wMel-Ae. aegypti, potentially due to increased DENV replication in these mosquitoes. This limitation suggests it would be prudent to increase surveillance in regions using wMel for dengue control when daily mean temperatures remain above 30°C for multiday periods. Author summary: The mosquito species Ae. aegypti can be infected with the bacterium Wolbachia (wMel strain), reducing its capacity to transmit viruses like dengue (DENV). Wolbachia is now being used as a biocontrol tool to reduce the burden of dengue in communities. However, some mosquitoes with Wolbachia can still transmit DENV. Here we utilised a natural infection model using dengue patient-derived blood to examine how temperature may increase the risk of DENV transmission occurrence in mosquitoes with wMel. Mosquitoes with wMel were more likely to transmit virus when reared at an average temperature of 31°C compared to those reared at an average temperature of 28°C but these mosquitoes still had a lower risk of developing infectious saliva compared to their wMel-free counterparts. Higher temperatures reduced the amount of wMel in mosquito tissues and increased the amount of DENV replicating in the head/thorax. Increasing levels of DENV RNA in these tissues were found to be associated with increased risk of mosquitoes with wMel developing infectious saliva. This finding indicates surveillance is warranted in high temperature settings or during heat waves, to monitor for changes in wMel frequency and DENV infection in Ae. aegypti.
SN - 1935-2735
SN - 1935-2727
ER -