Infection, growth and maintenance of Wolbachia pipientis in clonal and non-clonal Aedes albopictus cell cultures

C. C.H. Khoo, C. M.P. Venard, Y. Fu, D. R. Mercer, S. L. Dobson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract Insect cell lines provide useful in vitro models for studying biological systems, including interactions between mosquitoes and obligate intracellular endosymbionts such as Wolbachia pipientis. The Aedes albopictus Aa23 cell line was the first cell line developed to allow examination of Wolbachia infections. However, Wolbachia studies using Aa23 can be complicated by the presence of different cell types in the cell line and the substantial temporal variation in infection level. Two approaches were examined to ameliorate infection variability. In the first approach, multiple Aa23 passaging regimes were tested for an effect on infection variability. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) staining was used to characterize Wolbachia infection level over time. The results demonstrate an impact of passaging method on Wolbachia infection level, with some methods resulting in loss of infection. None of the passaging methods succeeded in effectively mitigating infection level variation. In a second approach, the clonal C7-10 A. albopictus cell line was infected with Wolbachia from Aa23 cells and Drosophila simulans (Riverside), resulting in cell lines designated C7-10B and C7-10R, respectively. Characterization via FISH staining showed greater stability and uniformity of Wolbachia infection in C7-10R relative to the infection in C7-10B. Characterization of the Aa23, C7-10B and C7-10R lines is discussed as a tool for the study of Wolbachia-host cell interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)251-260
Number of pages10
JournalBulletin of Entomological Research
Volume103
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Aa23 cells
  • C7-10 cells
  • FISH
  • intracellular bacteria
  • mosquito cell culture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Insect Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Infection, growth and maintenance of Wolbachia pipientis in clonal and non-clonal Aedes albopictus cell cultures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this