Comparative analysis of midgut bacterial communities in Chikungunya virus-infected and non-infected Aedes aegypti Thai laboratory strain mosquitoes

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) poses a significant global health threat, re-emerging as a mosquito-transmitted pathogen that caused high fever, rash, and severe arthralgia. In Thailand, a notable CHIKV outbreak in 2019–2020 affected approximately 20,000 cases across 60 provinces, underscoring the need for effective mosquito control protocols. Previous studies have highlighted the role of midgut bacteria in the interaction between mosquito vectors and pathogen infections, demonstrating their ability to protect the insect from invading pathogens. However, research on the midgut bacteria of Aedes (Ae.) aegypti, the primary vector for CHIKV in Thailand remains limited. This study aims to characterize the bacterial communities in laboratory strains of Ae. aegypti, both infected and non-infected with CHIKV. Female mosquitoes from a laboratory strain of Ae. aegypti were exposed to a CHIKV-infected blood meal through membrane feeding, while the control group received a non-infected blood meal. At 7 days post-infection (dpi), mosquito midguts were dissected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify midgut bacteria, and CHIKV presence was confirmed by E1-nested RT-PCR using mosquito carcasses. The study aimed to compare the bacterial communities between CHIKV-infected and non-infected groups. The analysis included 12 midgut bacterial samples, divided into three groups: CHIKV-infected (exposed and infected), non-infected (exposed but not infected), and non-exposed (negative control). Alpha diversity indices and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity matrix revealed significant differences in bacterial profiles among the three groups. The infected group exhibited an increased abundance of bacteria genus Gluconobacter, while Asaia was prevalent in both non-infected and negative control groups. Chryseobacterium was prominent in the negative control group. These findings highlight potential alterations in the distribution and abundance of gut microbiomes in response to CHIKV infection status. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between midgut bacteria and CHIKV, underscoring the potential for alterations in bacterial composition depending on infection status. Understanding the relationships between mosquitoes and their microbiota holds promise for developing new methods and tools to enhance existing strategies for disease prevention and control. This research advances our understanding of the circulating bacterial composition, opening possibilities for new approaches in combating mosquito-borne diseases.