Immune interactions of entomopathogens with mosquito and tick vectors

Entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria offer promising alternatives to chemical insecticides for controlling mosquitoes and ticks-key vectors of malaria and Lyme disease. However, their efficacy largely depends on immune interactions between pathogens and hosts. Here, we focus on mosquitoes and ticks as representative disease vectors and dissect conserved and divergent immune responses, from physical barriers to cellular defenses and key humoral pathways, with mechanistic insights informed by insect model systems. Furthermore, we elucidate diverse virulence and immune evasion strategies that enable pathogen infection. By synthesizing foundational and contemporary research, we examine the coevolutionary arms race between entomopathogens and mosquito and tick hosts, with the goal of translating these insights into next-generation strategies for vector control and public health protection.