Advances in mosquito gut microbiota: Mechanisms of regulating pathogen transmission and applications in vector control
Abstract
ABSTRACT Mosquito-borne diseases pose a threat to global public health, yet traditional control measures are constrained by insecticide resistance and vaccine development bottlenecks. The gut microbiota-mediated transmission-blocking strategy has emerged as a promising alternative. This review summarizes three symbiont mechanisms: direct pathogen inhibition, host immunomodulation, and metabolic niche competition. We highlight research progress and field efficacy of three technical routes: Wolbachia-based population replacement and suppression, paratransgenesis using engineered symbionts, and deployment of natural probiotics. In large-scale field trials, this strategy achieved a 77.1% reduction in dengue incidence and an 86.2% reduction in dengue-related hospitalizations. We analyze constraints including temperature sensitivity, viral evolutionary escape, and ecological safety risks, and propose future directions emphasizing multi-strategy synergy, multi-effector engineered symbionts, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted precision interventions. Aligned with the One Health framework, this microbiota-based paradigm offers a foundation for sustainable mosquito-borne disease control, although large-scale implementation depends on resolving regulatory, ecological-safety, and scalability challenges.
