title: Symbiotic control of mosquito borne disease.
abstract: It is well accepted that the symbiotic relationships insects have established with several microorganisms have had a key role in their evolutionary success. Bacterial symbiosis is also prevalent in insects that are efficient disease vectors, and numerous studies have sought to decrypt  the basic mechanisms of the host-symbiont relationships and develop ways to control vector borne diseases. 'Symbiotic control', a new multifaceted approach that uses symbiotic microorganisms to control insect pests or reduce vector competence, seems particularly promising.  Three such approaches currently at the cutting edge are: (1) the disruption of microbial symbionts required by insect pests; (2) the manipulation of symbionts that can express anti-pathogen molecules within the host; and (3) the introduction of endogenous microbes that affect life-span and  vector capacity of the new hosts in insect populations. This work reviews current knowledge on microbial symbiosis in mosquitoes that holds promise for development of symbiotic control for mosquito borne diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valzano
authors.forename: Ulisse
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ulissi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epis
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cappelli
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Favia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D009033:Culicidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D013559:Symbiosis