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Mosquitoes rely on their gut microbiota for development.

Kerri L Coon1, Kevin J Vogel, Mark R Brown

  • 1Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, 420 Biological Sciences, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.

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Mosquitoes acquire gut bacteria from their aquatic habitats, with these microbes being essential for larval development. This bacterial community is critical for the survival of multiple mosquito species.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Entomology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Adult mosquitoes harbor low-diversity bacterial communities that vary significantly between individuals and species.
  • The acquisition, community structure, and survival importance of the mosquito microbiome remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the bacterial communities of three mosquito species reared under identical conditions.
  • To investigate the acquisition and developmental importance of the mosquito microbiome.

Main Methods:

  • 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was used to analyze bacterial communities in three mosquito species.
  • Axenic larvae were used in functional assays to assess the necessity of the microbiome for development.
  • Colonization experiments with specific bacteria were performed on axenic larvae.

Main Results:

  • All three mosquito species harbored low-diversity bacterial communities primarily composed of aerobic bacteria from their aquatic larval habitats.
  • Bacterial communities in Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae larvae were more similar to each other than to Georgecraigius atropalpus.
  • Axenic larvae failed to develop, but microbial colonization rescued development, indicating microbiome dependence.

Conclusions:

  • Mosquitoes acquire their core microbiome from their larval aquatic environment.
  • The gut microbiome is essential for the development and survival of diverse mosquito species.
  • Understanding mosquito-host-microbiome interactions is crucial for mosquito control strategies.