The insect microbiome modulates vector competence for arboviruses.
Diseases caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as Dengue, West Nile, and Chikungunya, constitute a major global health burden and are increasing in incidence and geographic range. The natural microbiota of insect vectors influences various aspects of host biology, such as nutrition, reproduction, metabolism, and immunity, and recent studies have highlighted the ability of insect-associated bacteria to reduce vector competence for arboviruses and other pathogens. This reduction can occur through mechanisms, such as immune response activation, resource competition, or the production of anti-viral molecules. Studying the interactions between insect vectors and their microbiota is an important step toward developing alternative strategies for arbovirus transmission control.
Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. njupata1@jhu.edu.
Natapong
N
Jupatanakul
Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Singapore. shuzhens@gis.a-star.edu.sg.
Shuzhen
S
Sim
Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. gdimopo1@jhu.edu.
George
G
Dimopoulos
D000818:Animals; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology*; D064307:Microbiota