Biological Control of Dengue Disease Using Symbiotic Wolbachia Bacteria: Environmentally Safe and Inexpensive Approach

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19KK0107
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 22:Civil engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Kozo 愛媛大学, 沿岸環境科学研究センター, 教授 (80634435)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 糠澤 桂 宮崎大学, 工学部, 准教授 (20725642) ; 八重樫 咲子 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 准教授 (30756648) ; ガンボア・メンデス マリベット・アリアナ 愛媛大学, 理工学研究科(工学系), 助教 (30849477)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-10-07 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: デング熱 / ネッタイシマカ / フィリピン / ボルバキア / 蚊媒介感染症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to develop a safe and inexpensive technique to control dengue fever epidemics by utilizing the mosquito-symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia strains infected in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. The effectiveness of the simple Wolbachia detection method using gold nanoparticles proposed by this study was confirmed. Population genetic analysis of the Aedes aegypti in Manila also revealed that the flight of mosquitoes crossing large roads was limited. In addition, real-time PCR quantification of Wolbachia concentrations in 429 adults Aedes aegypti collected in Metro Manila revealed significant differences in Wolbachia concentrations in mosquito bodies among three Wolbachia strain groups among the 267 individuals that tested positive for Wolbachia.

Free Research Field

熱帯疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ネッタイシマカに自然感染した蚊共生細菌ボルバキアを活用してデング熱流行を制御する手法の活用に繋がる様々な発見をした。特に、ネッタイシマカ体内で高濃度になりやすいボルバキア株があったことは、蚊体内において効率的にデングウイルス濃度を制御するために、これらのボルバキア株の活用が有効だることを示唆する有用な発見となった。