Search bioRxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.13.718183

Impact of temperature on patient-derived dengue virus breakthrough infections in wMel-infected Aedes aegypti.

da Silva Goncalves, D.·Vi, T. T.·Loterio, R. K.·Nhu, T. V.·Trang, X. H. T.·Giang, T. N.·Van Huynh, T. T.·Huynh, L.·Dui, T. L.·Long, V. T.·Huynh, H. L. A.·Nguyen, T. T. V.·Nguyen, P. T.·Yacoub, S.·Anders, K. L.·Flores, H.·Simmons, C.·Fraser, J. E.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

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{degrees}C, those reared at 31 {+/-} 4{degrees}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, decreased the magnitude of wMels protection against DENV replication in the head/thorax, and significantly increased the amount of DENV 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{degrees}C for multiday periods. Author SummaryThe 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{degrees}C compared to those reared at an average temperature of 28{degrees}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.

Explore related subjects

microbiologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

da Silva Goncalves, D., Vi, T. T., Loterio, R. K., Nhu, T. V., Trang, X. H. T., Giang, T. N., Van Huynh, T. T., Huynh, L., Dui, T. L., Long, V. T., Huynh, H. L. A., Nguyen, T. T. V., Nguyen, P. T., Yacoub, S., Anders, K. L., Flores, H., Simmons, C., Fraser, J. E.. 2026-04-16. Impact of temperature on patient-derived dengue virus breakthrough infections in wMel-infected Aedes aegypti.. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.13.718183

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

A population-scale landscape of the subgingival microbiome reveals divergent routes to periodontal dysbiosis

Periodontitis is an archetypical mucosal inflammatory disease in which microbiome dysbiosis at the tooth-epithelial interface interacts with host genetic and behavioral risk factors to drive immune-mediated tissue destruction. Although subgingival microbiome compositional shifts are thought to parallel disease severity, microbiome variation at the population-level and its relationship to periodontal clinical phenotypes and disease-modifying factors remain poorly defined. Here, we use unsupervised manifold learning to map the compositional landscape of the subgingival microbiome in 1,355 adults spanning periodontal health to severe periodontitis. We identified eight latent microbiome states organized along a branching continuum from eubiosis to dysbiosis. An intermediate microbial configuration marked ecological destabilization and bifurcation into two distinct periodontitis-associated dysbiotic trajectories, distinguished by links to gingival inflammation and smoking. Although the microbiome trajectories broadly tracked periodontal destruction, a minority of individuals showed discordant microbiome-clinical phenotypes, with some individuals with periodontitis retaining otherwise eubiotic microbiomes enriched for low-abundance pathobionts, while some cases of health or mild disease had highly dysbiotic communities, suggesting distinct host susceptibility. Together, these findings define a population-scale ecological landscape of the subgingival microbiome, reveal divergent trajectories to periodontal dysbiosis, and highlight heterogeneity in the relationship between microbial community structure and clinical disease expression.

microbiology↗
bioRxiv2026

Beta-lactam enhancement against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by cell wall blockade is autolysis-dependent: a butyrolactone derivative as case in point

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is non-susceptible to beta-lactams. Blockade of cell wall biosynthesis is a potential target for beta-lactam enhancement but requires further investigation. A butyrolactone derivative enhanced beta-lactams against MRSA strains by reducing the availability of D-Ala-D-Ala. Unlike D-cycloserine, it did not inhibit D-Ala-D-Ala ligase (Ddl). Nor did it show an additive or synergistic effect when combined with cycloserine, indicating a unique mechanism for blocking cell wall precursor production that does not involve the traditional Lipid II pathway. Notably, beta-lactam potentiation by our chemical or D-cycloserine was highly dependent on the intrinsic autolytic ability of the tested MRSA strains. Strains that resisted lysis upon Triton X-100 exposure showed a minimal increase in beta-lactam susceptibility, whereas highly autolytic strains showed significant changes in their beta-lactam MICs. We have thus identified autolytic ability as the Achilles Heel in the strategy of targeting cell wall biosynthesis for beta-lactam potentiation.

microbiology↗
bioRxiv2026

Rapid and largely reversible shifts in the canine fecal metabolome during dietary change

Diet can rapidly change the fecal metabolome, but less is known about recovery after the original diet is restored. We used untargeted UPLC-MS metabolomics to analyze 72 fecal samples from nine Pumi dogs during an owner-managed switch from dry food to raw food and back to dry food. Diet phase accounted for a large proportion of variation in both ionization modes. More than 13,000 LC-MS features changed at the first sampling point after the switch to raw food, with a similarly large response after return to dry food. Among features significant in both comparisons, more than 99% changed in opposite directions. At the final sampling point, no positive-mode (ESI+) features and only 13 negative-mode (ESI-) features differed from the second dry-food baseline under the same threshold. BARF-associated patterns persisted in analyses excluding individual dogs and in pedigree-adjusted candidate models, although individual feature effects depended on normalization. Putative metabolites from several biochemical classes differed in their response and recovery. The fecal metabolome therefore changed rapidly and returned largely toward baseline, with differences among dogs.

microbiology↗