Understanding the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection

昆虫参与了许多植物和动物的病毒性疾病的传播。这些疾病中有相当一部分对公众健康造成不利影响，或给农业造成巨大的经济损失。我们是第一个发现一种常见细菌保护昆虫免受病毒感染的人。了解细菌用来干扰病毒积累的机制将有助于控制病毒疾病的新策略。该项目的发现将使澳大利亚研究人员和工业界能够设计出控制由昆虫传播的疾病的创新方法。

Insects are involved in the transmission of many viral diseases of both plants and animals. A considerable number of these diseases have adverse effects for public health or cause large economic losses in agriculture. We were the first to discover that a common bacteria protects insects from virus infection. Knowledge of the mechanisms used by the bacteria to interfere with virus accumulation will facilitate novel strategies for control of virus disease. The findings of this project will enable Australian researchers and industry to design innovative approaches to control diseases that are transmitted by insects.