Fungal microbiota diversity in Aedes, Anopheles and Culex and their potential use as biological tools to control...

Mosquitoes harbor diverse and dynamic microbiota which plays a critical role in shaping their development, survival and vector competence. Many studies have focused on the fungal microbiota of mosquitoes to develop new mosquito control strategies and pathogen blocking tools. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the composition and functional roles of the mosquito fungal microbiota, highlighting its potential as a tool for innovative vector born disease control strategies.

This review was written in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies on the fungal microbiota of species of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex and their potential in vector control were searched for in two databases (PubMed, Google Scholar). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Fungal diversity was investigated according to geographical distribution, mosquito species, identification techniques, developmental stages, and digestive and reproductive organs. We are interested in the antivectorial potential of fungal species.

A total of 32 studies were included in this review after screening 7,458 studies identified through search engines. Most studies on the fungal microbiota of species of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex were conducted in the United States, Brazil, European countries (France, Italy), and Africa (Kenya). Several fungal genera were isolated in the microbiota, with a predominance in species of the genus Aedes, followed by Culex and Anopheles. The main identification technique used was molecular biology, sometimes combined with culture characteristics. Fungal species were isolated from digestive organs (intestines, intestinal diverticulum, crop), male and female genital organs, and whole specimens at the larval and adult stages. Three phyla ( Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Microsporidiomycota) were predominant, with yeast-like, filamentous, and intracellular fungal species. Certain fungal strains inhibited the development of larval stages, while other fungal strains ( Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Microsporidia MB) reduced the vector capacity of An. stephensi and An. arabiensis species, respectively.

Mosquitoes harbor diverse fungal microbiota in their organs with antivectorial potential which remain largely unexplored to date. Future research should explore these interactions in greater depth, particularly in organs that have been little studied, such as the salivary glands and stomach, and in regions most affected by vector-borne diseases, such as Africa. These knowledges will enable their use in vector control.