The Toll and Imd Pathways Are Not Required for Wolbachia-Mediated Dengue Virus Interference

Abstract

Wolbachia blocks dengue virus replication in Drosophila melanogaster as well as in Aedes aegypti . Using the Drosophila model and mutations in the Toll and Imd pathways, we showed that neither pathway is required for expression of the dengue virus-blocking phenotype in the Drosophila host. This provides additional evidence that the mechanistic basis of Wolbachia -mediated dengue virus blocking in insects is more complex than simple priming of the host insect innate immune system.