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Bed bugs shape the indoor microbial community composition of infested homes

Madhavi L Kakumanu1, Zachary C DeVries2, Alexis M Barbarin3

  • 1Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.

The Science of the Total Environment
|September 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bed bug infestations significantly alter indoor dust microbiomes, driven by the bed bug endosymbiont Wolbachia. Eliminating bed bugs allowed microbial communities to recover, highlighting their role in shaping indoor environments.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Urban Ecology

Background:

  • Indoor pests, including bed bugs (Cimex lectularius), impact human health through allergens.
  • The effect of indoor pests on microbial communities remains largely unassessed.
  • Bed bug infestations are a significant issue in low-income and elderly housing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of bed bug infestations on indoor microbial diversity.
  • To determine if bed bugs influence the composition of indoor microbial communities.
  • To assess the role of the bed bug endosymbiont Wolbachia in altering indoor microbiomes.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of floor dust samples from bed bug-infested and uninfested homes.
  • Analysis of microbial communities in dust samples using microbiome sequencing.
  • Comparison of microbial communities before and after heat treatment to eliminate bed bugs.

Main Results:

  • Bed bug-infested homes exhibited distinct microbial community compositions compared to uninfested homes.
  • The bed bug endosymbiont Wolbachia was identified as a primary driver of these microbial differences.
  • Post-elimination of bed bugs, microbial communities gradually reverted towards patterns seen in uninfested homes.

Conclusions:

  • Bed bugs significantly shape the dust-associated environmental microbiome in homes.
  • The presence and activity of bed bugs, particularly their endosymbiont Wolbachia, are key factors in altering indoor microbial diversity.
  • Further research is necessary to understand the health implications of bed bug-associated microbes and their metabolites.
Keywords:
Bed bugCimex lectulariusEnvironmental interventionHousehold dustIndoor microbiomeInfestationMicrobiotaPest

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