To determine whether increased dietary cholesterol affected the rate of viral accumulation, total DCV genome copies in pools of five wMelPop- and wMelCS-infected flies at five days post-infection were measured relative to the expression of the control gene Cyclin K. For both Wolbachia strains increased dietary cholesterol led to significantly increased viral load suggesting the presence of excess cholesterol facilitates viral propagation (Fig. 2). The gene discussed is CCNK; the disease is infection.