Advances in engineering strategies for manipulating insect antiviral immunity

Insect immunity primarily relies on a highly developed innate immune system to defend against viral invasion. Research on insect immunity has gained considerable traction in recent years, with major progress in elucidating the underlying immune and defense mechanisms and developing improved pest-control strategies. Collectively, these advancements have paved a translational pathway toward the close application of insect immunology in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and ecology. This review systematically discusses current progress in genetic engineering-based strategies for modulating insect antiviral immunity, specifically transgenic, antimicrobial peptides, gene-editing gene drives, and microbiome regulation. The review also outlines the implications of regulating insect immunity for enhancing genetic traits, preventing disease, controlling vectors, and modifying pathogenic microorganisms.