Characterizing the Bacterial Microbiome of the Invasive Vector Aedes albopictus in Hungary: A Pilot Study Using...

Aedes albopictus has recently established self-sustaining populations in Hungary, but its microbiota-which may influence vector competence-remains poorly understood. We used Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing for full-length 16S rRNA gene profiling of adult Ae. albopictus from two urban sites, Pécs and Barcs. Each location contributed 10 specimens, with contamination controls rigorously applied. Diversity metrics and co-occurrence network analyses were performed using QIIME2, SparCC, and NetCoMi, with robustness assessed via simulated node removal and addition. Sequencing depth was sufficient to saturate rarefaction curves. Although alpha and beta diversity did not differ significantly between sites, the Pécs population exhibited greater taxonomic richness (100 unique taxa vs. 61 in Barcs) and denser, more clustered networks. Only 15 genera were shared, with Wolbachia dominating both communities. Networks differed in central taxa and structural properties: Pécs retained higher connectivity and shorter paths under perturbation, suggesting greater resilience. Removal of conserved taxa revealed location-specific impacts on network stability, with Pécs more vulnerable to the loss of key genera. Negative interactions and compensatory taxa emerged post-removal, indicating distinct reconfiguration strategies. Our findings highlight marked local variation in microbiome structure and robustness, even across a 65-km gradient. These results establish a high-resolution baseline for assessing how microbiota shape Ae. albopictus vector potential, informing microbiome-based control strategies tailored to regional contexts.