ABSTRACT
Wolbachia, an obligate intracellular maternally inherited bacteria have been reported in various hosts. Insect-borne diseases threaten human communities globally with mortality and morbidity, and influence economic and agricultural productivity. The prolonged usage of conventional control measures are ineffective, so there is the need of novel, ecofriendly, and consistent alternatives to control vector-borne diseases. Wolbachia alter host reproduction by cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis induction, feminization, and male killing, a promising feature in the control of vector-borne diseases. Further, more than 65% of insect species harbor the bacteria enhancing the chances to use it as a biocontrol weapon. This chapter reviews recent developments and outcomes of existing research reports on Wolbachia. The major points highlighted are the recent research focus on the conceptual mechanism behind the Wolbachia and host interactions in different strategies including genome analysis, amino acid biosynthesis, and molecular-based mechanisms.
