Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

A Bacterial Oral Feeding Assay with Antibiotic-Treated Mosquitoes
Published on: September 12, 2020
Do mosquito-associated bacteria of the genus Asaia circulate in humans?
1Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Sanità Pubblica, Università di Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
Abstract:
Symbiotic bacteria of the genus Asaia have been proposed as tools for control of mosquito-borne diseases, specifically malaria. However, safety issues are a major concern for paratransgenesis strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate, with immunofluorescence assays and quantitative PCR experiments, whether Asaia spp. is circulating among humans. All human sera and whole blood samples analyzed were negative for Asaia spp., thus suggesting that this organism could be utilized, in the future, as a malaria control tool.
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Symbiosis
Transmission of Pathogens
Amebiasis
Reservoir of Infection
Toxoplasmosis

