The modulation of the symbiont/host interaction between Wolbachia pipientis and Aedes fluviatilis embryos by glycogen metabolism

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 13;9(6):e98966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098966. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Wolbachia pipientis, a maternally transmitted bacterium that colonizes arthropods, may affect the general aspects of insect physiology, particularly reproduction. Wolbachia is a natural endosymbiont of Aedes fluviatilis, whose effects in embryogenesis and reproduction have not been addressed so far. In this context, we investigated the correlation between glucose metabolism and morphological alterations during A. fluviatilis embryo development in Wolbachia-positive (W+) and Wolbachia-negative (W-) mosquito strains. While both strains do not display significant morphological and larval hatching differences, larger differences were observed in hexokinase activity and glycogen contents during early and mid-stages of embryogenesis, respectively. To investigate if glycogen would be required for parasite-host interaction, we reduced Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) levels in adult females and their eggs by RNAi. GSK-3 knock-down leads to embryonic lethality, lower levels of glycogen and total protein and Wolbachia reduction. Therefore, our results suggest that the relationship between A. fluviatilis and Wolbachia may be modulated by glycogen metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / embryology*
  • Aedes / metabolism
  • Aedes / microbiology*
  • Animals
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / microbiology
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Female
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate / metabolism
  • Glycogen / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology*
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Symbiosis / physiology*
  • Wolbachia / metabolism
  • Wolbachia / physiology*

Substances

  • Glucose-6-Phosphate
  • Glycogen
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, INCT de Entomologia Molecular), Fundação de Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Pessoal de nível Superior (CAPES)and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.