Repeated thermal stress exposure in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> co-infected with <i>Wolbachia</i> and dengue virus.

ABSTRACT: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, affecting the thermal tolerance of mosquitoes and potentially influencing the efficacy of the biological control agent, Wolbachia. This study investigates the impact of repeated thermal stress on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes co-infected with Wolbachia and dengue virus (DENV). We exposed infected mosquitoes (singly and in co-infection) to varying intensities, frequencies, and durations of thermal stress to assess their thermal sensitivity via a "knockdown assay" compared to uninfected controls. Our results demonstrate that co-infection with Wolbachia and DENV significantly increases thermal sensitivity, with mosquitoes exhibiting a twofold faster median knockdown time than either singly infected o

SUBMITTER: Ser SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12570470 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature