WolbachiaInfection Alters Olfactory-Cued Locomotion inDrosophilaspp

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Abstract
Wolbachia pipientisis an endosymbiotic bacterium present in diverse insect species. Although it is well studied for its dramatic effects on host reproductive biology, little is known about its effects on other aspects of host biology, despite its presence in a wide array of host tissues. This study examined the effects of threeWolbachiastrains on two differentDrosophilaspecies, using a laboratory performance assay for insect locomotion in response to olfactory cues. The results demonstrate thatWolbachiainfection can have significant effects on host responsiveness that vary with respect to theWolbachiastrain-host species combination. ThewRi strain, native toDrosophila simulans, increases the basal activity level of the host insect as well as its responsiveness to food cues. In contrast, thewMel strain and the virulentwMelPop strain, native toDrosophila melanogaster, cause slight decreases in responsiveness to food cues but do not alter basal activity levels in the host. Surprisingly, the virulentwMelPop strain has very little impact on host responsiveness inD. simulans. This novel strain-host relationship was artificially created previously by transinfection. These findings have implications for understanding the evolution and spread ofWolbachiainfections in wild populations and forWolbachia-based vector-borne disease control strategies currently being developed.