Impact gut bacteria on infection and transmission of pathogenic arboviruses by biting midges and mosquitoes
Tripartite interactions among insect vectors, midgut bacteria, and viruses, maydetermine the ability of insects to transmit pathogenic arboviruses. Here, weinvestigated the impact of gut bacteria on the susceptibility of Culicoides nubeculosusand C. sonorensis biting midges for Schmallenberg virus, and of Aedes aegyptimosquitoes for Zika and chikungunya virus. Gut bacteria were manipulated by treatingthe adult insects with antibiotics.