Malaria-Transmitting Vectors Microbiota: Overview and Interactions With Anopheles Mosquito Biology

Abstract

Malaria remains a vector-borne infectious disease that is still a major public health concern worldwide, especially in tropical regions. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The control interventions targeting mosquito vectors have achieved significant success during the last two decades and rely mainly on the use of chemical insecticides through the insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS). Unfortunately, resistance to conventional insecticides currently being used in public health is spreading in the natural mosquito populations, hampering the long-term success of the current vector control strategies. Thus, to achieve the goal of malaria elimination, it appears necessary to improve vector control approaches through the development of novel environment-friendly tools. Mosquito microbiota has by now given rise to the expansion of innovative control tools, such as the use of endosymbionts to target insect vectors, known as “symbiotic control.” In this review, we will present the viral, fungal and bacterial diversity of Anopheles mosquitoes, including the bacteriophages. This review discusses the likely interactions between the vector microbiota and its fitness and resistance to insecticides.

Bacterial Microbiota from Lab-Reared and Field-Captured Anopheles darlingi Midgut and Salivary Gland

“…This community of microorganisms, called microbiota, encompasses bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other organisms [ 6 ]. However, the bacterial community has been the most characterized and its role in mosquito biology has been widely examined [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Deltamethrin Resistance Profiling in Anopheles gambiae: A Study in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

“…Mosquitoes, belonging to the Culicidae family, encompass approximately 3,500 species globally, with notable disease vectors such as Aedes aegypti, Culex tarsalis, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles gambiae [1]. These insects play a pivotal role in disease transmission, with Aedes aegypti responsible for diseases like dengue, chikungunya, zika, and yellow fever, Culex mosquitoes transmitting Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and West Nile virus, and Anopheles mosquitoes being the primary culprits in malaria transmission [2], [3] The escalating global impact of mosquito-borne diseases, except in Antarctica, has imposed a signi cant burden on public health [4]. Mosquitoes transmit pathogens through a complex, multi-stage process [5].To counter this, insecticides have been instrumental in mosquito population control, with organophosphates, organochlorides, carbamates, and pyrethroids being widely employed both indoors and outdoors [6].…”