Wolbachia endosymbionts regulate Drosophila resistance to Zika virus infection in a sex dependent manner

Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly, has been used thoroughly in
scientific research for studying host innate antiviral immunity. This research has led to
significant advances in the characterization of the molecular processes leading to the activation
of innate immune responses against pathogenic microbes causing disease, including viral
pathogens. Recent studies have shown that the presence of Wolbachia endosymbionts in
Drosophila confer resistance to infection by various RNA viruses and parasitoid wasps. Zika virus
is an understudied vector-borne virus that has suddenly expanded its range due to the
geographical distribution of the mosquito vector. Zika is a member of the Flaviviridae, a viral
family that includes yellow fever and West Nile and is a significant threat to human health.
Investigating the effect of Zika virus infection on the innate immune signaling and function of
animal models will be informative because it could potentially lead to the identification of anti-
Zika virus innate immune mechanisms in humans. Here, I will describe the effect of Wolbachia
on the survival ability of Drosophila adults following Zika virus infection and the impact on viral
load and gene expression in female and male flies carrying and lacking the endosymbionts. An
interesting challenge in innate immunity research is to understand the molecular basis and
functional role of symbiotic microbes in host anti-pathogen defense. This research uses an
established model host to improve our interpretation of the complex interactions between
eukaryotic hosts and symbiotic bacteria in the context of pathogenic infections.