Mosquito Trilogy: Microbiota, Immunity and Pathogens, and Their Implications for the Control of Disease Transmission

Abstract

In mosquitoes, the interaction between the gut microbiota, the immune system, and the pathogens that these insects transmit to humans and animals is regarded as a key component toward the development of control strategies, aimed at reducing the burden of severe diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. Indeed, different microorganisms from the mosquito microbiota have been investigated for their ability to affect important traits of the biology of the host insect, related with its survival, development and reproduction. Furthermore, some microorganisms have been shown to modulate the immune response of mosquito females, significantly shaping their vector competence. Here, we will review current knowledge in this field, focusing on i) the complex interaction between the intestinal microbiota and mosquito females defenses, both in the gut and at humoral level; ii) how knowledge on these issues contributes to the development of novel and targeted strategies for the control of mosquito-borne diseases such as the use of paratransgenesis or taking advantage of the relationship between Wolbachia and mosquito hosts. We conclude by providing a brief overview of available knowledge on microbiota-immune system interplay in major insect vectors.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus Interaction with Mosquitoes: A Review of Vector Competence, Vector Capacity and Mosquito Immunity

“…Over the past thirty years, arbovirus research, focusing mainly on Aedes spp. mosquitoes and other flaviviruses, e.g., dengue, West Nile and Zika virus, has identified several mechanisms that limit the replication and dissemination of viruses in mosquitoes [ 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 ].…”

Are Temperature Suitability and Socioeconomic Factors Reliable Predictors of Dengue Transmission in Brazil?

“…Brady et al (25) estimated dengue transmission suitability given the temperature influence on survivorship and extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The EIP represents the viral incubation period between the mosquito biting an infected host and becoming infectious after processing the pathogen into the gut (34,35). Brady et al's (25) mechanistic model considered the dynamic between EIP and adult vector survival -both temperaturedependent -over the basic reproductive number (i.e., R 0 ) (see 36,37).…”

Vector microbiota manipulation by host antibodies: the forgotten strategy to develop transmission-blocking vaccines

“…The midgut is the first organ in which pathogenic microbes ingested with the host blood can survive and, in most cases, invade other tick [ 5 ] or mosquito [ 6 ] tissues. The midgut is also the optimal microenvironment for the survival and maintenance of the vector microbiota, likely composed of bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses [ 6 – 8 ]. Within the text, “microbiome” refers to the microorganisms and their genes whereas “microbiota” only refers to the microbes themselves.…”