Wolbachia-mediated improved population replacement in Aedes aegypti

Wolbachia is a maternally transmitted gram-negative bacterium that infects up to 65% of insect species in nature. The ability of Wolbachia to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and pathogen interference in mosquito vectors makes it possible to develop Wolbachia as a biological agent to control mosquito-borne diseases. In the Wolbachia-based Population replacement strategy, disease susceptible mosquito populations will be modified to become resistant to pathogens they currently transmit. In order to develop population replacement in Aedes aegypti with an improved efficacy, we released infected males into laboratory population cages to accelerate the rate of population replacement, and to reduce the required female release threshold. Our results indicate suppression of the effective matings of the uninfected females can facilitate population replacement driven by CI. We discuss our results in relation to the future development of an optimal population replacement method to block dengue transmission in a field trial.