Establishing wMelPop Wolbachia Infection among Wild Aedes aegypti Females by Optimal Control Approach

Wolbachiais a maternally transmitted bacterial symbiont which is kno w to reduce the vector competence of mosquitoes and other arthropod species. Therefore, Wolbachia-based biocontrol is regarded as a practicable method for pr evention and control of dengue and other arboviral infections. In particular, a deliberat infection ofAedes aegypti females withwMelPop Wolbachiastrain makes them almost incapable of transmitting dengue and other arbo viruses. In this paper, we present and thoroughly analyze a p opulation dynamics model of interaction between wild Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes and those infected with wMelPop Wolbachiastrain, which compete for the same vital resources (food, breeding s ites, etc.) and share the same locality. Using this model, we demonstrate that the final outcome of the competition essentially depend s on the frequency of Wolbachiainfection. Further, we apply the optimal control approach and design the control intervention progr ams based on periodic releases of Wolbachia-carrying females for establishing wMelPop Wolbachiainfection in the target locality.