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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Wolbachia-based control of mosquito-borne diseases: Evolutionary potential and limitations slightly engaging
Authors
Anuradha Purra, Anitha H R, V Ravishankar
Abstract
Wolbachia
is a maternally inherited, intracellular bacterium that infects a wide range of
insects, with particularly high prevalence among dipteran species. In recent
years, it has gained significant attention due to its potential use in reducing
mosquito populations and limiting disease transmission. Mosquitoes act as
vectors for several serious and often fatal illnesses, including dengue,
malaria, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever, West Nile fever, and Japanese
encephalitis, placing a substantial strain on global public health systems. Wolbachia
has been shown to interfere with the replication of multiple arboviruses within
mosquito hosts, although the precise biological mechanisms behind this
interference are still being investigated. The bacterium is vertically
transmitted and can modify host reproductive biology in various ways, most
notably through cytoplasmic incompatibility. This phenomenon has been exploited
as a biological control strategy by deliberately introducing Wolbachia-infected
mosquitoes into natural populations to suppress disease transmission. This
review aims to explore the role of Wolbachia in modulating the mosquito
immune system, its emergence as a promising tool for controlling mosquito-borne
diseases, and the challenges associated with the practical application of this
approach.
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Pages:598-601
How to cite this article:
Anuradha Purra, Anitha H R, V Ravishankar "<i>Wolbachia</i>-based control of mosquito-borne diseases: Evolutionary potential and limitations slightly engaging". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 598-601
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