Microbiota of Mosquitoes at Different Stages of Development, Its Diversity, Interaction, and Influence on Host Physiology

This review presents the findings from studies on the microbiota of blood-feeding mosquitoes Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex on the basis of metagenome analysis. This paper summarizes the most important findings on the diversity of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses that make up mosquito microbiomes, mainly over the past two decades. The diversity of the microbial community in different host organs at different stages of mosquito development and its impact on host physiology are characterized. Nutrients from live bacteria and fungi are absolutely essential for the normal lifespan of mosquitoes, regardless of the microbe species, and individual members of the mosquito gut microbiota can support larval development and mosquito egg production comparable to those of individuals with a mixed bacterial community. It is emphasized that, over the past two decades, knowledge about the composition and characteristics of mosquito microbiota has expanded significantly. Mosquitoes of different genera are characterized by a relatively small number of bacterial families and high interindividual variability in microbiota composition at the microbial species level. Conservative communities of microorganisms found in the salivary glands and reproductive organs of mosquitoes are not affected by the environment and are characteristic of the host species. The results of experimental studies of the mutual influence of microbiota members on each other and on pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes are considered. The importance of microbial diversity studies to identify potential microbial species for subsequent development of vector control methods is emphasized.