@article {pmid41764426,
year = {2026},
author = {Taş, P and Mouly, A and Lucek, K},
title = {A microbial view on secondary contact between two Alpine butterflies.},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12862-026-02503-1},
pmid = {41764426},
issn = {2730-7182},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Widespread sympatry between sibling species can be limited if they are ecologically too close, potentially leading to the formation of narrow zones of secondary contact. While the ecological niche is commonly estimated using abiotic factors, the potential differentiation in gut microbial communities as a proxy for biotic niche differentiation is less well studied. We address this gap in research, focusing on two Alpine butterfly species of the genus Erebia that form a stable and very narrow contact zone.

RESULTS: Using a metabarcoding approach to sequence the adult gut microbial communities of our two focal species as well as capturing the microbial diversity found on three nectar plant species, we found that the microbial community i) significantly differed between species but not between sexes, that ii) the abundance of the heritable endosymbiont Wolbachia differed between species, where its high abundance resulted in the detection of fewer other microbial taxa, and that iii) microbes found on flowers largely but not completely overlapped with the ones found in the butterfly hosts, suggesting that intestinal environmental filtering occurs only to some degree.

CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with biotic niche differentiation, we uncovered species specific differences in the gut microbial communities, further highlighting the complex interactions between host biology and environmental factors in shaping the gut microbiota. The observed microbial differences could reflect local adaptation to different resources or microhabitats. Overall, our study highlights the utility of gut microbial metabarcoding to study ecological niche differentiation, also during secondary contact.},
}

@article {pmid41762158,
year = {2026},
author = {Wj, WJL and Cheang, R and Taracena, M and Ayub, MJ},
title = {Ancestral Wolbachia lineages are likely donors of ribotoxin genes in Aedes aegypti.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voag014},
pmid = {41762158},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are enzymes that irreversibly inhibit protein synthesis by depurinating a specific adenine residue in the ribosomal RNA. Although members of this gene family are widespread in plants and bacteria, their occurrence in metazoans is rare and restricted to a few insect lineages, including Culicinae mosquitoes. Previous studies suggested that these genes were acquired by mosquitoes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria lineage, but the source lineage remained unidentified. Here, we report the discovery of RIP-encoding genes in two Wolbachia strains. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyletic relationship between Wolbachia and mosquito RIPs, implying Wolbachia as the donor of these genes. These results shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of RIPs and the dual role of Wolbachia as both a functional contributor and genetic donor. By bridging the gap between endosymbiont and host genomes, this work provides new evidence for HGT as a source of adaptive innovation in insects. The implications of these findings for the ongoing debate on HGT in metazoans are also discussed.},
}

@article {pmid41757865,
year = {2026},
author = {Hu, X and Shi, Z and Gao, Y and Zheng, H and Lin, L and Chen, JP and Chen, Y and Zhang, CX and Li, Y},
title = {Characterization of the dynamic microbiome evolution across thrips species.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70265},
pmid = {41757865},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {2023J06040//Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; //Ningbo Yongjiang grant/ ; 32472657//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32570491//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The insect microbiome profoundly influences host physiology and ecology, yet its composition and evolutionary dynamics in thrips remain poorly understood. Here, we present a systematic characterization of thrips-associated microbiomes through integrated metagenomic and culture-based approaches. Our analysis reveals that thrips microbiomes are dominated by both intracellular symbionts (e.g., Wolbachia and Spiroplasma) and extracellular taxa (e.g., Serratia, Pantoea, and Acinetobacter), with species-specific compositions exhibiting frequent gains and losses of bacterial lineages. We demonstrate that thrips microbiomes exhibit low interspecific microbial sharing, forming host-specific bacterial communities with minimal overlap between species. To address methodological challenges in microbiome research, we developed a dual-sequencing framework combining short-read sequencing (for comprehensive taxonomic detection) and long-read sequencing (for genomic verification), enabling the reconstruction of high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes that validated short-read findings. Furthermore, we isolated and sequenced the complete genomes of two dominant extracellular symbionts-Pantoea dispersa and Serratia marcescens-and performed pan-genome analyses. These revealed small core gene sets and expansive accessory genomes, including host-specific functional genes (e.g., hydrolases and neurotoxic N-acetyltransferases) likely involved in host adaptation. Our study provides a foundational genomic resource and a robust analytical pipeline for dissecting thrips microbiome evolution, with implications for understanding insect-microbe interactions and symbiont-mediated adaptations.},
}

@article {pmid41757795,
year = {2026},
author = {Alanazi, GK and Ahmed, YA and Alobaisi, Y},
title = {Bridging Gaps in Dengue Management: A Review of Diagnostics, Transfusion Needs, and Public Health Challenges.},
journal = {Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)},
volume = {26},
number = {3},
pages = {121-136},
doi = {10.1177/15303667251415105},
pmid = {41757795},
issn = {1557-7759},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dengue fever remains a major global public health challenge, particularly in endemic regions, due to its complex clinical presentation, diagnostic limitations, evolving epidemiology, and immunopathogenic mechanisms such as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Despite advancements, integration among clinical care, diagnostics, transfusion practices, vector control, and public health systems remains limited.

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on dengue management by integrating clinical, diagnostic, transfusion, and public health domains, highlighting persistent gaps and proposing coordinated, multidisciplinary response strategies.

METHODS: A narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed English-language literature published between 2018 and 2025. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Search terms included "dengue diagnosis," "transfusion management," "vector control," and "public health intervention." A total of 30 studies were selected based on relevance to diagnostic practices, transfusion strategies, vector control, and systemic health responses. Thematic synthesis and quality assessment were applied.

RESULTS: Findings confirm that ADE contributes to increased viral replication and severity, highlighting the need for individualized fluid management and evidence-based transfusion protocols. Rapid diagnostic tests and biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and IPF% facilitate early detection of severe dengue but are underutilized. Platelet transfusions are inconsistently applied, often without standardized clinical criteria. Integrated vector control strategies, including Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, and community engagement approaches demonstrate effectiveness, although postpandemic disruptions and poor interagency coordination limit their impact. Cost-effectiveness studies support combined vaccination and vector interventions for optimal disease reduction.

CONCLUSION: This review emphasizes the necessity of a unified, systems-based approach to dengue management. By integrating clinical staging, diagnostics, transfusion protocols, vector control, and public health frameworks, dengue outbreak responses can be substantially strengthened. Multidisciplinary coordination, behavior-informed health strategies, and sustained public health engagement are essential to improving preparedness and reducing the global burden of dengue.},
}

@article {pmid41756466,
year = {2026},
author = {Brunner, A and Mahout, M and Amoros, J and Rahmoun, M and Jarry, M and Bordenstein, SR and Bordenstein, SR and Trouche, B and Reveillaud, J},
title = {Extensive mobilome dynamics in a widespread endosymbiont: long read metagenomics reveal dimeric plasmids and highly fragmented prophages in Wolbachia from Culex pipiens.},
journal = {Research square},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-8855126/v1},
pmid = {41756466},
issn = {2693-5015},
abstract = {Background The obligate, intracellular bacteria Wolbachia have gained increasing interest due to their selfish modifications of host arthropod reproduction, impacts on host evolution, and utility in vector control efforts to reduce arbovirus transmission. Despite their highly reduced genomes, Wolbachia harbor a rich global mobilome that includes phages and plasmids in mosquito vectors. However, these mobile genetic elements are structurally complex, and standard genome assemblies often fail to resolve their organization and their functional relationships, leaving gaps in our understanding of how they evolve, mobilize, and influence host genomes. Results Here, we present the first near-complete genome of Wolbachia and its mobile elements from the vector Culex pipiens molestus in Montpellier (France), reconstructed from Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing of single female ovaries without prior DNA amplification. Additional short reads from individuals of the same strain were used to assess and validate candidate mutations, particularly in repetitive regions. We report the assembly of a new dimeric form of the pWCP plasmid, providing evidence that the element is a replicating molecule and functionally active. We also observed extensive fragmentation of prophage WO regions despite long read sequencing, underscoring their structural complexity. Raw long read analyses recovered multiple alternative gene syntenies within WO regions, pointing to heterogeneous prophage architectures missed by the assembly and marked diversity of WO elements in Wolbachia of Culex pipiens (w Pip) group strains. Conclusions Taken together, our results show the high dynamism of the endosymbiont genome that is shaped by integrated and episomal active mobile elements.},
}

@article {pmid41752571,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, T and Li, P and Li, M and Wang, K and Gou, C and Feng, H},
title = {Gut Bacterial Community Structure and Function Prediction of Lygus pratensis at Different Developmental Stages.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17020168},
pmid = {41752571},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32272539//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; TDCR12025010//Scientific Research and Innovation Project for Postgraduates of Tarim University/ ; },
abstract = {L. pratensis is a significant pest of cotton. Clarifying the intestinal bacterial structure of L. pratensis can provide a theoretical basis for the development of new pest biological control strategies. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to characterize the intestinal bacterial communities across five L. pratensis populations, and the functions of their core metabolic pathways were predicted. The results showed that the intestinal bacterial communities of the five L. pratensis populations comprised 16 phyla, 25 classes, 54 orders, 85 families, 133 genera, and 187 species. Diversity analysis revealed that the diversity of the intestinal bacterial community exhibited a dynamic trend of first increasing and then decreasing during the pest's growth and development. Specifically, the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices of the nymphal stage were significantly higher than those of the egg and adult stages (p < 0.05). The dominant phylum, class, order, family, genus and species shared by the five groups were Proteobacteria (93.17%), Gammaproteobacteria (48.71%), Rickettsiales (43.83%), Anaplasmataceae (49.39%), Wolbachia (43.83%) and Wolbachia (43.82%). Among them, Acinetobacter was mainly found in the first instar nymph stage, and Serratia was mainly distributed in the fifth instar nymph and female and male adults. Functional prediction results showed that the intestinal bacterial community was mainly enriched in core pathways, including metabolism, genetic information processing, and environmental information processing. This study provides a new target for green prevention and control of L. pratensis and also provides a theoretical basis for further elucidating the succession law and functional mechanism of its gut microbiota.},
}

@article {pmid41749229,
year = {2026},
author = {Alfaro, C and Lozada-Chávez, AN and Khorramnejad, A and Kropf, A and Catapano, PL and Cappelli, A and Damiani, C and Favia, G and Bonizzoni, M},
title = {Stage-specific impacts of a simulated natural heatwave on Aedes albopictus.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12915-026-02567-x},
pmid = {41749229},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {2022J45MLL//Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, Italia/ ; PE00000007//EU funding within the NextGeneration EU-MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases/ ; 2022J45MLL//Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves (HWs) under global warming is expected to have more dramatic biological impacts on insects than mean temperature increases. However, evidence of the impact of HWs on insects in their ecological context is limited. Here, we measured across multiple biological scales (e.g., fitness, physiology, transcriptomic and microbiota) the stage-specific responses of the arboviral vector Aedes albopictus when experiencing an ecologically relevant HW. In arboviral vectors, only females require a blood-meal thus contributing to the transmission cycle, but other stages can also be the target of vector control strategies. As such understanding the responses to a HW during development has both biological and epidemiological relevance.

RESULTS: We observed HW stage-specific responses across the mosquito life cycle. We saw the rate of larvae hatching from eggs exposed to a HW to hatch decreasing and their emergence time increasing. Larvae showed to be resilient to HW by repurposing their energy resulting in trivial mortality. Adults showed sex-specific responses, with extensive male mortality, and a small (16) number of genes elicited following HW exposure, indicating that males are less heat tolerant than females. In females, we observed a reduced reproductive output, only when HW occurred after a blood meal. Finally, we saw extensive HW-dependent changes in the microbial composition of larvae, but female microbiota remained dominated by Wolbachia regardless of the thermal challenge.

CONCLUSIONS: Ae. albopictus exhibit stage-specific thermal sensitivities to a HW, which have relevant implications for both the understanding of mosquito biology and the implementation of vector control strategies as the climate crisis progresses.},
}

@article {pmid41746015,
year = {2026},
author = {Lampazzi, E and Virgillito, C and Caputo, B and Lombardi, G and Santarelli, G and Moretti, R and Calvitti, M},
title = {Spatial Dynamics and Sterilization Range of Incompatible Aedes albopictus Males: Advancing Toward an Optimized IIT Approach.},
journal = {Tropical medicine and infectious disease},
volume = {11},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41746015},
issn = {2414-6366},
abstract = {The Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) is a species-specific, eco-friendly mosquito control method that relies on releasing Wolbachia-infected males, which induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), rendering eggs inviable when mating with wild females. Aiming at optimizing IIT protocols in terms of cost-effectiveness, data on incompatible male dispersal and survival and the distance- and time-related impact of induced sterility are fundamental. This study plans to fill this gap and reports findings from a two-year field trial (2022-2023) at the ENEA-Casaccia Research Center, based on single-spot releases of incompatible Aedes albopictus males (ARwP strain). Male releases were carried out in late September 2022 (~15,000 released males) and the early Ae. albopictus season (at the end of June 2023; ~24,000 released males). Fifty-eight ovitraps were located at a 20-900 m distance from the ARwP release spot and were monitored weekly from May to November to assess egg hatching rates and measure CI effects in relation to both distance and time. Following the 2023 release, samples of adults were collected at increasing distances from the release site and at multiple post-release time points to assess, individually, wild female fertility and ARwP male dispersal and survival using Wolbachia as a genetic marker. Statistical analyses revealed that: (a) the highest reduction in the egg hatching was found within 100 m from the release spot (46.5% and 19.9%, respectively, in 2022 and 2023) but remained significant even at greater distances (29.9% and 7.7% at 300 m, respectively, in 2022 and 2023); (b) accordingly, the highest reduction in the wild female fertility occurred within 100 m from the release spot (47.3%), but similar effects were recognizable up to 600 m; (c) the overflooding ratio of the ARwP males did not significantly differ between 3 and 11 days after the release, with ARwP males remaining active up to 18 days and dispersing as far as 400 m. These results demonstrate the potential of localized, non-inundative IIT trials to furnish clues for the setup of spatially optimized release strategies, especially in scaled-up applications. The study also emphasizes the need for standardized assessment tools and further research regarding environmental and behavioral factors influencing long-term suppression outcomes.},
}

@article {pmid41732295,
year = {2026},
author = {Nejadghaderi, SA and Ebrahimi, R and Khalili, M and Haghdoost, A and Aghaei-Afshar, A and Sharifi, H},
title = {Strategies for Aedes mosquito control: A review of national guidelines from selected countries in Asia and Oceania.},
journal = {One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {22},
number = {},
pages = {101359},
pmid = {41732295},
issn = {2352-7714},
abstract = {Dengue remains a major public health challenge, and national strategies for Aedes control vary widely across countries. This review synthesizes official national guidelines from 14 countries across Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific to identify shared priorities and key differences. Most guidelines emphasize integrated vector management frameworks, combining environmental, chemical, and biological measures, alongside strong community engagement and structured surveillance systems. Several countries incorporate digital tools, adult mosquito monitoring, or innovative approaches such as Wolbachia-based biocontrol. Despite these strengths, gaps persist, including limited adoption of adult surveillance, over-reliance on chemical control, and variable coordination across sectors. Understanding these cross-country patterns may support more coherent, evidence-informed policy development for long-term and sustainable Aedes control.},
}

@article {pmid41730789,
year = {2026},
author = {Fernandez Goya, L and da Cruz Cabral, L and Scannapieco, AC and Confalonieri, VA and Lanteri, AA and Rodriguero, MS},
title = {Endosymbiont load dictates reproductive fate: Experimental validation for the bacterial dosage model in a parthenogenetic weevil (Coleoptera, Curculionidae).},
journal = {Insect molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/imb.70030},
pmid = {41730789},
issn = {1365-2583},
support = {PICT 2016-0038//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2016-2798//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2021-0072.//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; UBACyT 20020170200081BA//Universidad de Buenos Aires/ ; },
abstract = {In many arthropods, reproductive manipulations induced by maternally inherited symbionts appear to depend upon surpassing a bacterial density threshold. The Naupactini tribe harbours a diverse array of Neotropical weevils, many of which exhibit parthenogenetic reproduction linked to Wolbachia pipientis and Rickettsia sp., with parthenogenetic species typically displaying high Wolbachia and Rickettsia sp. densities, and sexually reproducing species characterized by either low density or absence of infections altogether. The main focus of this work was testing the bacterial dosage model, that is, that a threshold density of Wolbachia and/or Rickettsia sp. is required for parthenogenetic reproduction. Through tetracycline-curing experiments coupled with bacterial density quantification by real-time PCR, we analysed clutch viability in Pantomorus postfasciatus as a function of Wolbachia and Rickettsia sp. density. Clutch size was not affected by the antibiotic treatment, but clutch viability (proportion of eggs hatched) declined to zero, coinciding with a significant reduction in bacterial densities without complete clearance. Fitting a three-parameter log-logistic (Hill-type) model revealed a sigmoidal relationship between bacterial density and clutch viability, demonstrating a quantitative, dosage-dependent effect. In contrast, clutch viability of sexually reproducing females was unaffected by antibiotic treatment, confirming that the reduced egg hatching in parthenogenetic females results from symbiont depletion rather than direct drug effects. Additionally, Rickettsia sp. proved to be more susceptible to tetracycline than Wolbachia, while Wolbachia densities decreased more markedly in reproductive tissues-a pattern potentially linked to the observed collapse in clutch viability. This work highlights bacterial load as a key determinant of parthenogenetic reproduction within the Naupactini.},
}

@article {pmid41727526,
year = {2026},
author = {Kurucz, K and Philippe, C and Ábrahám, Á and Kratou, M and Piloto-Sardiñas, E and Obregon, D and Abuin-Denis, L and Kovács-Valasek, A and Cabezas-Cruz, A},
title = {Characterizing the Bacterial Microbiome of the Invasive Vector Aedes albopictus in Hungary: A Pilot Study Using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing.},
journal = {International journal of microbiology},
volume = {2026},
number = {},
pages = {1956331},
pmid = {41727526},
issn = {1687-918X},
abstract = {Aedes albopictus has recently established self-sustaining populations in Hungary, but its microbiota-which may influence vector competence-remains poorly understood. We used Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing for full-length 16S rRNA gene profiling of adult Ae. albopictus from two urban sites, Pécs and Barcs. Each location contributed 10 specimens, with contamination controls rigorously applied. Diversity metrics and co-occurrence network analyses were performed using QIIME2, SparCC, and NetCoMi, with robustness assessed via simulated node removal and addition. Sequencing depth was sufficient to saturate rarefaction curves. Although alpha and beta diversity did not differ significantly between sites, the Pécs population exhibited greater taxonomic richness (100 unique taxa vs. 61 in Barcs) and denser, more clustered networks. Only 15 genera were shared, with Wolbachia dominating both communities. Networks differed in central taxa and structural properties: Pécs retained higher connectivity and shorter paths under perturbation, suggesting greater resilience. Removal of conserved taxa revealed location-specific impacts on network stability, with Pécs more vulnerable to the loss of key genera. Negative interactions and compensatory taxa emerged post-removal, indicating distinct reconfiguration strategies. Our findings highlight marked local variation in microbiome structure and robustness, even across a 65-km gradient. These results establish a high-resolution baseline for assessing how microbiota shape Ae. albopictus vector potential, informing microbiome-based control strategies tailored to regional contexts.},
}

@article {pmid41726870,
year = {2026},
author = {Shropshire, JD and Conner, WR and Vanderpool, D and Hoffmann, AA and Turelli, M and Cooper, BS},
title = {Calibrating and documenting host-switching and evolution of incompatibility loci for two closely related Wolbachia clades.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.64898/2026.02.13.705778},
pmid = {41726870},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Maternally inherited Wolbachia alphaproteobacteria are the most common arthropod endosymbionts. Often Wolbachia spread to high frequencies through cytoplasmic incompatibility, in which cif loci act through sperm to kill embryos lacking Wolbachia . Closely related Wolbachia with diverse cif loci often associate with anciently diverged hosts, but the timescale of associations remains uncertain. We produce new calibrations based on filarial nematodes with vertically inherited Wolbachia that codiverge with their hosts. Applying these calibrations to Wolbachia variants closely related to pathogen-blocking w Mel from Drosophila melanogaster , we demonstrate that over a timescale of 1-2 million years, a core set of single-copy Wolbachia loci evolve largely through bifurcation rather than by gene exchange with distant Wolbachia . Dating bifurcating core genomes, we show that " w Mel-like" Wolbachia diverged 2.1x10 [5] -2.4x10 [6] years inhabit dipteran and hymenopteran hosts diverged more than 10 [8] years. Previous published analysis of variants related to w Ri from D. simulans , the first Wolbachia found in a drosophilid, concluded that " w Ri-like" Wolbachia spread among different Drosophila in tens of thousands of years. However, our new calibrations suggest these estimates from a mutation-based calibration underestimated w Ri-like spread by about a factor of seven. In addition, cif exchanges between w Mel-like and w Ri-like Wolbachia genomes have occurred over ∼10 [4] -10 [6] years. Comparing intact cif loci found in various Wolbachia , we find function-preserving selection in their evolution. We discuss these results in light of theoretical predictions concerning selection on cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotypes within and among host lineages. The w Mel variants analyzed may offer new options for Wolbachia -based biocontrol efforts.},
}

@article {pmid41723243,
year = {2026},
author = {Karimian, F and Rahimy, S and Yousefi, H and Salehi-Vaziri, M and Raz, A and Pouriayevali, MH and Moradi-Asl, E and Maleki-Ravasan, N},
title = {Natural infection of Aedes albopictus with the wAlbB strain and Ae. aegypti with the wPip strain of Wolbachia in Iran.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-40993-7},
pmid = {41723243},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2052//Pasteur Institute of Iran/ ; },
abstract = {The global resurgence of Aedes-borne arboviruses (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) underscores the need for innovative vector control strategies. In Iran-a region at risk for arbovirus emergence due to invasive Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes- we investigated the natural occurrence of Wolbachia infections. Screening of field-collected and laboratory-reared mosquitoes revealed the presence of two Wolbachia strains: wAlbB in Ae. albopictus and wPip in Ae. aegypti. Notably, detection of wPip in the wild Ae. aegypti represents a potential first report globally, as this species has been historically considered uninfected in natural populations. Wolbachia prevalence was significantly higher in laboratory-reared mosquitoes and Ae. albopictus. Multivariable analysis confirmed that Ae. aegypti had significantly lower odds of Wolbachia infection compared to Ae. albopictus (adjusted OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03-0.45, p = 0.002), and infection odds were also significantly lower in field-collected mosquitoes from Guilan (OR = 0.28), Mazandaran (OR = 0.05), and Hormozgan (OR = 0.14) provinces relative to insectary-reared specimens (all p < 0.05). These findings provide critical baseline data for evaluating the feasibility of Wolbachia-based interventions in Iran, where invasive Aedes populations could facilitate arbovirus transmission. This study highlights the importance of characterizing native Wolbachia infections to inform future biocontrol strategies against emerging mosquito-borne diseases.},
}

@article {pmid41708505,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, F and Cheng, P and Li, L and Li, W and Tu, C and Shan, J and Xiao, W and Liu, J and Peng, Y and Zhu, Y},
title = {Phoxim sublethal effect induces vitellogenin mediated reproductive enhancement and alters microbial symbiosis across generations in Hylyphantes graminicola.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70627},
pmid = {41708505},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {2023M731035//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2024AFB477//Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province/ ; 32400360//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025K009//the Opening Project of Hubei Key Laboratory of Resource Utilizition and Quality Control of Characteristic Crops/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phoxim, a widely used organophosphate insecticide, poses potential risks to non-target natural enemies. Hylyphantes graminicola is a dominant predatory spider in agroecosystems, yet the sublethal effects and transgenerational impacts remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the physiological, molecular, and microbial changes in H. graminicola induced by low lethal concentration of phoxim exposure across two successive generations.

RESULTS: Laboratory bioassays determined the LC30 of phoxim to be 9.442 mg/L. Exposure at this concentration significantly reduced female longevity but increased fecundity in both F0 and F1 generations, suggesting a potential hormetic effect. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that reproduction-related genes were significantly upregulated in the F0 generation, whereas detoxification genes were markedly expressed in the F1 generation. Functional validation through RNAi confirmed that vitellogenin (Vg) and cytochrome P450 (CYP2J1) are crucial in reproduction and detoxification, respectively. Furthermore, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was also found to be involved in regulatory phoxim exposure. Moreover, microbiome profiling demonstrated substantial shifts across generations, including decreased Wolbachia and increased Candidatus_Cardinium abundance, which may be related to the observed increase in fecundity. The results showed that a low lethal concentration of phoxim exposure can trigger complex physiological and microbial changes across generations.

CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the necessity of optimizing insecticide application intervals within Integrated Pest Management (IPM) frameworks to preserve biological control provided by beneficial arthropods. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41697852,
year = {2026},
author = {Pigeault, R and Dussert, Y and Jorge, R and Ulve, T and Panza, M and Raimond, M and Delaunay, C and Aucher, W and Berges, T and Ogereau, D and Moumen, B and Peccoud, J and Cordaux, R},
title = {Within-Host Environmental Heterogeneity Is Associated With Phenotypic but Not Genomic Diversity in Wolbachia Endosymbionts.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {e70286},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70286},
pmid = {41697852},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {ANR-21-CE02-0004//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-20-CE02-004//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {*Wolbachia/genetics/physiology/pathogenicity/isolation & purification ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Genetic Variation ; Phenotype ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; Virulence ; },
abstract = {Hosts represent complex environments where different tissues may act as distinct ecological niches, imposing different constraints that may shape parasite ecology and evolution. Such within-host heterogeneity can generate phenotypic diversity with consequences for virulence and transmission. Our aim was to determine whether the constraints associated with infecting different host tissues lead to the coexistence of multiple parasite sub-populations with distinct phenotypes. We tested this hypothesis using the widespread bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. We injected bacteria isolated from three tissues of the common pill-bug into uninfected individuals and tracked temporal changes in Wolbachia load in the recipient host tissues, as well as the virulence associated with each bacterial source. Our results show that colonisation success depends on the tissue of origin of the injected Wolbachia. Genome resequencing did not detect any genetic variation associated with variation in bacterial replication rate, which thus likely results from phenotypic plasticity. Indeed, no recurrent tissue-specific variants were detected, and our conservative filtering pipeline retained only one substitution and one gene conversion event. These findings highlight the genomic stability of Wolbachia across host environments while demonstrating that within-host diversification can occur without genetic divergence. More broadly, they underscore how microenvironmental variation within hosts can shape parasite ecology.},
}

*Wolbachia/genetics/physiology/pathogenicity/isolation & purification
*Symbiosis
Animals
*Genetic Variation
Phenotype
Genome, Bacterial
*Heteroptera/microbiology
Virulence

@article {pmid41686866,
year = {2026},
author = {Seidi, S and Mostafavi, E and Raz, A and Karimian, F and Khanzadeh, F and Hayati, Z and Maleki-Ravasan, N},
title = {Xenopsylla buxtoni fleas as a dominant species harboring multiple infections of Wolbachia lineages in the ancient plague epicenters of Iran.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {20},
number = {2},
pages = {e0013890},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0013890},
pmid = {41686866},
issn = {1935-2735},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; Male ; Female ; Iran/epidemiology ; *Plague/epidemiology/microbiology/transmission ; Phylogeny ; *Xenopsylla/microbiology/classification/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; *Siphonaptera/microbiology/classification ; Flea Infestations/parasitology ; },
abstract = {Fleas are permissive and euryxenous ectoparasites capable of transmitting numerous ancient and new pathogens among warm-blooded animals, including humans. Precise identification of flea species involved in disease transmission and understanding the highly specialized morphological characteristics associated with their ectoparasitic lifestyle is essential. Likewise, identifying endosymbionts such as Wolbachia-which have long-lasting and intimate relationships with their hosts-will enhance our knowledge of the epidemiology of flea-borne diseases and their control. Flea sampling was conducted in the western half of Iran, where the highest plague outbreaks have been reported over the past two centuries. A total of 1,439 fleas, comprising 623 males and 816 females, were detached from 223 hosts and were identified as Xenopsylla buxtoni, X. nuttalli, X. astia, Pulex irritans, Nosopsyllus iranus iranus, and Ctenophthalmus rettigi smiti. Also, 116 and 73 nucleotide sequences were analyzed to assess the genetic diversity and phylogenetic position of the fleas, and to determine their infection rate and Wolbachia supergroup. Molecular analysis of the COII and ITS2 genes confirmed the morphological distinctiveness of the six species. Xenopsylla buxtoni, the most abundant taxon, displayed Wolbachia infection rates of 62%-75% (x̄ = 69%). The Wolbachia sequences identified from the fleas were assigned to supergroups A, F, and B. The taxonomic position of X. buxtoni and its closely related species, X. nuttalli, in the conformis group was questioned due to significant genetic divergence. The impact of Wolbachia on flea ecology and its potential impact in controlling flea populations and flea-borne pathogens was highlighted.},
}

Animals
*Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/classification
Male
Female
Iran/epidemiology
*Plague/epidemiology/microbiology/transmission
Phylogeny
*Xenopsylla/microbiology/classification/genetics
Genetic Variation
Humans
*Siphonaptera/microbiology/classification
Flea Infestations/parasitology

@article {pmid41678542,
year = {2026},
author = {Xing, Y and Lu, R and Tian, W and Li, Z and Zhang, W and Xu, K and Deng, L and Fan, S},
title = {Bacterial community structure and diversity of common mosquito species in Chengdu: Insights from PacBio third-generation sequencing and public health implications.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {20},
number = {2},
pages = {e0013177},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0013177},
pmid = {41678542},
issn = {1935-2735},
abstract = {Mosquitoes, as critical vectors of diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, and yellow fever, pose significant public health risks in Chengdu, a subtropical city in southwestern China. The present study ecological surveillance and PacBio third-generation sequencing to characterize the symbiotic microbiota of four dominant mosquito species (Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, and Armigeres subalbatus) across urban and rural habitats. From 2020 to 2024, mosquito density monitoring revealed spatial heterogeneity(Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, and Anopheles sinensis), with outer ring areas exhibiting the highest density (34.69 mosquitoes per trap per night), while central urban zones had the lowest (3.60). Sequencing identified 717 high-quality Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), with Aedes albopictus harboring the most unique bacterial species (191). Beta diversity analysis demonstrated distinct microbial clustering among species, driven by Pseudomonadota dominance (54.27-93.89%) and variations in secondary phyla (Bacteroidota, Campylobacterota). Functional prediction analysis via the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed significant disparities in the abundance of human disease-associated pathways across mosquito symbiotic microbiota (P = 0.049), with the disparities primarily observed in pathways related to bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections-categories of substantial public health relevance. Notably, Wolbachia (clade B) and Klebsiella variicola exhibited species-specific abundance patterns, underscoring their respective roles in potential pathogen suppression and public health risks. Unclassified taxa (norank_d__Bacteria, norank_p__Candidatus_Hydrogenedentes) clustered near novel mosquito-associated spirochetes, suggesting underexplored functional microbiota. This study establishes a foundational dataset for understanding mosquito-microbe interactions and inform the development of targeted strategies for mitigating vector-borne disease.},
}

@article {pmid41677681,
year = {2026},
author = {Tu, IC and Lai, CT and Wu, LH},
title = {Curing Parthenogenesis-Inducing (PI) Wolbachia-Induced Reproductive Disorders in the Egg Parasitoid Telenomus remus.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology15030210},
pmid = {41677681},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {MOST 108-2313-B-020-010-MY3//Ministry of Science and Technology and National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan/ ; MOST 111-2313-B-020-003-MY3//Ministry of Science and Technology and National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan/ ; NSTC 112-2813-C-020-016-B//Ministry of Science and Technology and National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan/ ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium widespread in invertebrates that causes various reproductive effects, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing, and the induction of parthenogenesis (PI). PI-Wolbachia wRem converts Telenomus remus, an egg parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda, from arrhenotokous reproduction (male-producing) to thelytokous reproduction (female-producing). Long-term symbiosis between egg parasitoids and Wolbachia has been shown to lead to reproductive barriers and "female functional virginity," causing progressive and potentially irreversible sex ratio imbalances. However, whether such reproductive barriers occur in T. remus remains unknown, which has important implications for biological control programs utilizing this parasitoid. To address this question, we cured wRem using tetracycline and conducted crossing experiments with naturally uninfected strains (W-). The results indicated that the cured strain (Wcure) retained normal sexual reproductive capability, with self-crossing fertilization rates comparable to those of W- strains. However, first-generation hybridization between Wcure and W- strains produced strongly male-biased offspring (male proportion: 94.3% and 85.8% for W-♂ × Wcure♀ and Wcure♂ × W-♀, respectively), indicating substantial reproductive incompatibility. Notably, an asymmetric pattern was observed between reciprocal crosses. In second-generation hybridization experiments, hybrid females (W-/Wcure) mated with W- or Wcure males showed markedly recovered sex ratios (male proportion: 14.3% and 15.6%, respectively), although total offspring numbers remained lower than in self-crossing groups. These results suggest that the reproductive incompatibility in T. remus differs from female functional virginity and is more consistent with mitonuclear incompatibility arising from population divergence. The partial recovery in second-generation hybrids indicates that surviving F1 hybrid females likely represent individuals selected for compatibility, rather than exhibiting progressive deterioration of sexual function. These findings offer insights into Wolbachia's impact on parasitoid reproduction and highlight key considerations for biological control applications, underscoring the importance of evaluating reproductive barriers before deploying cured strains and preventing symbiont loss within populations.},
}

@article {pmid41677276,
year = {2026},
author = {Van Vlaenderen, L and Conner, WR and Shropshire, JD},
title = {Counting cytoplasmic incompatibility factor mRNA using digital droplet PCR.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0234725},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02347-25},
pmid = {41677276},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria inhabit over half of all insect species and often spread through host populations via efficient maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), killing aposymbiotic embryos when fertilized by symbiotic males. Wolbachia's cifB gene triggers CI in males, while cifA, expressed in females, rescues embryos from CI-induced lethality. In some systems, cifA also contributes to CI induction. CI strength-the percentage of embryos that die from CI-is a key determinant of Wolbachia's prevalence in host populations, and cifB-mRNA levels in testes generally correlate with CI strength. Yet, cifB's rarity can hamper precise quantification, necessitating tissue pooling for reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to achieve reliable measurements, obscuring variation at the level of individual insect tissues. Here, we present four RT digital droplet PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays to count rare cifA and cifB mRNA from wMel Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster. These assays count cif transcripts alongside a synthetic spike-in RNA or a D. melanogaster reference gene to normalize for technical or biological variation. These assays have a limit of detection of about one cifA and three cifB copies per reaction. We expect these methods to be useful for mosquito-control programs that use wMel to block the spread of pathogens from Aedes aegypti to humans. Moreover, the oligos were designed with homology to cifA and cifB sequences from at least 34 Wolbachia strains, suggesting potential utility beyond wMel. These methods will allow researchers to measure cif-mRNA levels from individual insect tissues, enabling efforts to pair molecular and phenotypic data at unprecedented resolutions.IMPORTANCEWolbachia, a maternally transmitted bacterium, is found in over half of all insect species. Its ability to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), which prevents Wolbachia-free eggs from hatching, significantly contributes to its high prevalence in host populations. Public health experts use CI to spread pathogen-blocking Wolbachia through mosquito populations, thereby controlling pathogen spread. CI is often weak, resulting in few egg deaths and consequently slowing Wolbachia's spread. We recently discovered that weak CI often correlates with low CI factor B (cifB) mRNA levels. However, our understanding of CI-strength variation remains limited because cifB is transcribed at low levels, making it challenging to measure in individual insects. Here, we report four RT-ddPCR assays to overcome this challenge. These assays offer high sensitivity for rare targets and maintain accuracy and precision across a wide dynamic range. We expect these tools will enhance efforts to understand CI-strength variation in both natural and applied populations.},
}

@article {pmid41673724,
year = {2026},
author = {Kiplagat, S and Matoke-Muhia, D and Owino, BO and Tchouassi, DP and Masiga, DK and Hurst, GDD and Villinger, J},
title = {Sand fly endosymbionts in Kenya: Rickettsia and Wolbachia associations with Leishmania and detection of Rickettsia africae.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13071-026-07283-7},
pmid = {41673724},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {AV/PP0018/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sand flies are small hematophagous insects known as leishmaniasis vectors. Similar to most arthropods, they harbor nonobligate endosymbionts that may influence host adaptation and pathogen transmission, but these symbiont communities remain poorly characterized in Leishmania-endemic African sand flies.

METHODS: We screened 1700 wild-caught phlebotomine sand flies (1266 females, 434 males) from Kenya's Baringo, Nakuru, and Kajiado counties, and 253 colony Phlebotomus duboscqi, for Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Cardinium, Arsenophonus, Microsporidia, and Leishmania by high-resolution melting analysis and sequencing of PCR products.

RESULTS: In wild sand flies (Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia spp.), Wolbachia spp. were most common (8.5%, 145/1700), with particularly high prevalences in Ph. mireillae (92.3%, 12/13), Ph. guggisbergi (73.2%, 82/112), and Ph. saevus (48.6%, 18/37), followed by Spiroplasma (1.4%, 23/1700), Rickettsia (0.7%, 12/1700), Cardinium (0.4%, 6/1700), Tubulinosema sp. (0.1%, 1/1700), and various gut bacteria (1.8%, 30/1700). In addition, we detected Rickettsia africae, a tick-borne pathogen causing African tick-bite fever (ATBF), in Ph. martini (4.7%, 5/106), Ph. guggisbergi (1.8%, 2/112), S. schwetzi (0.4%, 1/263), S. clydei (0.5%, 2/440), and Sergentomyia sp. (0.3%, 1/371). Notably, R. africae DNA was found in one male Ph. martini and Rickettsia sp. DNA in one male S. clydei and one male S. schwetzi, consistent with infection rather than blood-meal contamination. Furthermore, Rickettsia endosymbionts were positively associated with Leishmania DNA (OR = 20.31; 95% CI [4.93, 77.03]; P < 0.0001), including within Phlebotomus (OR = 13.54; 95% CI [2.33, 78.88]; P = 0.0017). Wolbachia also correlated with Leishmania overall (OR = 2.46; 95% CI [1.17, 4.79]; P = 0.011), though not within individual fly genera. Colony Ph. duboscqi harbored only Serratia and other gut bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Sand flies in Kenya harbored six endosymbionts, including the first detection of pathogenic R. africae in sand flies, and gut bacteria that may influence vector competence. The frequent co-occurrence of Rickettsia and Wolbachia endosymbionts with Leishmania indicates nonrandom associations between symbionts and parasite infection, without implying causality. These findings reveal previously undescribed sand-fly-microbe interactions, and highlight the need for experimental studies to test whether sand flies contribute to the ecology and potential transmission of ATBF.},
}

@article {pmid41673258,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, J and Luo, W and Chen, R and Gao, S and He, W and Xu, J},
title = {Comparison of Gut Bacterial Communities of Tuta absoluta Fed on Different Host Plants.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {55},
number = {1},
pages = {8},
pmid = {41673258},
issn = {1678-8052},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; *Moths/microbiology ; Solanum tuberosum/parasitology ; Larva/microbiology ; Solanum lycopersicum/parasitology ; Solanum melongena/parasitology ; },
abstract = {Insect gut bacterial communities are significantly influenced by host plants. Tuta absoluta (T. absoluta), an invasive pest that damages tomato, eggplant, and potato plants of the Solanaceae family, causes significant economic losses. This study investigated the effect of different host plants on the composition and functionality of the gut bacterial community of T. absoluta. The gut bacterial community of T. absoluta fed on different host plants was investigated using high-throughput sequencing. Our results showed that the host plant significantly influenced the gut bacterial diversity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria consistently dominated the gut microbiota of T. absoluta larvae regardless of host plant species. Regarding genus-level composition, Wolbachia was the predominant genus in larvae fed tomato and potato, whereas Enterobacter prevailed in those reared on eggplant. Functional prediction analysis identified several enriched pathways, predominantly related to metabolism. These included enzyme families, biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, metabolism of other amino acids, xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism. This study revealed significant variations in the community structures of gut microbiota in T. absoluta feeding on different host plants. These findings will improve our understanding of the gut microbiota of T. absoluta and its potential interactions with the host insect, thereby facilitating the development of microbial-based pest management strategies.},
}

*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Animals
*Moths/microbiology
Solanum tuberosum/parasitology
Larva/microbiology
Solanum lycopersicum/parasitology
Solanum melongena/parasitology

@article {pmid41671481,
year = {2026},
author = {Lim, JT and Chong, CS and Chang, CC and Mailepessov, D and Dickens, B and Lai, YL and Deng, L and Lee, C and Tan, LY and Chain, G and Zulkifli, MF and Liew, JWK and Vasquez, K and Chau, ML and Ng, Y and Lee, V and Wong, JCC and Sim, S and Tan, CH and Ng, LC and , },
title = {Dengue Suppression by Male Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes.},
journal = {The New England journal of medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa2503304},
pmid = {41671481},
issn = {1533-4406},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Wild-type female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that mate with male A. aegypti mosquitoes that have been infected with the wAlbB strain of Wolbachia pipientis bacteria produce nonviable offspring owing to cytoplasmic incompatibility. Repeated releases of wolbachia-infected males can potentially suppress wild-type mosquito populations and reduce the risk of dengue virus infection.

METHODS: We conducted a trial involving the release of male A. aegypti mosquitoes infected with the wAlbB strain of wolbachia bacteria for the control of dengue in Singapore, a tropical city-state. In this cluster-randomized trial with test-negative controls, we divided 15 geographic population clusters into two groups: 8 clusters received deployments of male wolbachia-infected mosquitoes (intervention clusters) and 7 clusters received no deployments (control clusters). The primary end point was the diagnosis of symptomatic dengue virus infection of any severity caused by any serotype of the virus, as measured by the odds ratio for the distribution of wolbachia exposure among laboratory-confirmed reported dengue cases as compared with test-negative controls.

RESULTS: A total of 393,236 residents lived in the intervention clusters, and 331,192 lived in the control clusters. Adult wild-type A. aegypti populations were suppressed across the intervention clusters. The baseline average abundance of the mosquitoes (number of adult female mosquitoes trapped divided by number of traps) was 0.18 and 0.19 in the intervention and control clusters, respectively; from 3 months after the initiation of the intervention until the end of the 24-month trial period, the average abundance was 0.041 and 0.277, respectively. In the intention-to-treat analysis at 6 months or more, the percentage of residents in the intervention clusters who were dengue-positive was lower than that in the control clusters (354 of 5722 tests [6%] vs. 1519 of 7080 tests [21%]). The protective efficacy of the intervention, calculated as (1 - odds ratio) × 100, ranged from 71 to 72% with 3 to 12 months or more of wolbachia mosquito exposure, as represented by odds ratios of 0.28 to 0.29.

CONCLUSIONS: Release of sterile wolbachia-infected male A. aegypti mosquitoes reduced vector populations and the risk of dengue infection in Singapore. (Funded by the Singapore Ministry of Finance and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05505682.).},
}

@article {pmid41668731,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, H and Li, J and Liu, L and Gu, Z and Yu, H and Xing, D and Zhao, T and Li, C},
title = {Multi-omics profiling reveals associations between gut microbiota and olfactory gene expression in mosquitoes.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1745848},
pmid = {41668731},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Female ; Male ; *Culex/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; Metagenomics ; *Smell/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Arthropod Antennae/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Computational Biology ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The interplay between gut microbiota and host physiological processes has been extensively studied in vertebrates, where it plays a crucial role in regulating appetite, emotion, immunity, and other physiological functions. However, whether a similar regulatory mechanism exists in insects remains unclear, especially regarding the long-distance regulation of olfactory function. This study focused on three Culex subspecies (Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex pipiens pallens, and Culex pipiens molestus) that are closely related but exhibit significant differences in olfaction-dependent ecological habits. By integrating antennal transcriptomic and gut metagenomic data, we systematically analyzed the expression characteristics of olfactory-related genes, the structure of gut microbial communities, and their intrinsic associations.

METHODS: We integrated antennal transcriptomic and gut metagenomic sequencing to analyze olfactory-related gene expression, gut microbial community structure, and their intrinsic associations in male and female individuals of the three Culex subspecies. Bioinformatics analyses included differential gene screening, functional enrichment, microbial taxonomic annotation, and Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULT: The results showed that a large number of sex-specific and species-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the antennae of the three Culex subspecies. Among these, 345 DEGs were shared sex-specific genes across species, which were significantly enriched in pathways such as odor binding, signal transduction, and xenobiotic metabolism. At the phylum level, the gut microbial composition was dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, showing a conserved structure; at the genus level, 11 dominant genera (including Wolbachia, Elizabethkingia, and Asaia) exhibited distinct species-specific distribution patterns. Diversity analysis revealed that the gut microbial richness of male individuals was significantly higher than that of females, and the β-diversity showed an obvious "sex clustering" pattern.Correlation analysis further indicated that 152 DEGs were significantly correlated with 107 microbial genera. Among them, olfactory-related genes were closely associated with several core genera (e.g., Wolbachia, Asaia, Serratia). Gut microbes may remotely regulate the expression and function of olfactory genes in antennae through metabolites or signaling molecules, thereby influencing mosquito behaviors such as host localization, mating, and oviposition.

DISCUSSION: This study reveal the intrinsic association between gut microbes and olfactory function in Culex mosquitoes, providing a new perspective for understanding the "microbe-host" cross-organ regulatory mechanism and laying a theoretical foundation for the development of novel mosquito vector control strategies based on microbial or olfactory interference.},
}

Animals
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics
Female
Male
*Culex/microbiology/genetics/physiology
Metagenomics
*Smell/genetics
Gene Expression Profiling
Arthropod Antennae/metabolism
Transcriptome
Computational Biology
Multiomics

@article {pmid41667103,
year = {2026},
author = {Tiley, K and Yakob, L and O'Reilly, K and Brady, O},
title = {Mathematical modelling of Wolbachia replacement in Aedes aegypti for dengue control: a scoping review.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {293},
number = {2064},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.2952},
pmid = {41667103},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
mesh = {*Wolbachia/physiology ; *Aedes/microbiology ; Animals ; *Dengue/prevention & control/transmission ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology ; *Mosquito Control/methods ; Models, Theoretical ; *Pest Control, Biological ; Dengue Virus/physiology ; Models, Biological ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia replacement in dengue virus vectors is a promising tool for controlling transmission, and models can explore its potential in novel and complex scenarios. We analyse how research questions in Wolbachia replacement modelling have developed over time and in response to empirical findings. A scoping review was conducted of Wolbachia replacement models. For each study, we extracted research questions, key findings and modelling methodology and thematically categorized research questions. From 726 search results, 115 studies met inclusion criteria. Four themes were identified: identifying key Wolbachia characteristics (n = 61, 53.0%), investigating effects of environmental heterogeneity (n = 21, 18.3%), estimating epidemiological impact (n = 25, 21.7%) and exploring Wolbachia replacement in combination with other arboviral control measures (n = 8, 7.0%). Models identify cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and maternal transmission (MT) as key for fixation success. However, less than 20% (n = 6) of studies parameterize CI and MT using empirical sources. Although models agree outbreaks may occur with fixation, few explore epidemiological outcomes of heterogeneous Wolbachia fixation or combined vector control. These findings highlight the need for empirical parameterization and incorporating environmental complexity for models to remain insightful for decision-making. Policymakers would benefit from future models exploring heterogeneous coverage and combined control strategies, given evidence of context-specific outcomes and diverse control tools.},
}

*Wolbachia/physiology
*Aedes/microbiology
Animals
*Dengue/prevention & control/transmission
*Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology
*Mosquito Control/methods
Models, Theoretical
*Pest Control, Biological
Dengue Virus/physiology
Models, Biological

@article {pmid41652329,
year = {2026},
author = {Rasool, B and Zafar, S and Younis, T and Zafar, S and Parvaiz, A and Akhtar, Y and Javed, Z and Ahmad, W},
title = {Exploration of Wolbachia strains in Amrasca biguttula Ishida (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and its egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04816-z},
pmid = {41652329},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {(PSF/GCUF/291)//Pakistan Science Foundation/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41650846,
year = {2026},
author = {Hosen, ME and Dunsdon, S and Sarker, S},
title = {Mosquito-borne viruses in Australia: An emerging trend of increasing prevalence in Northern Queensland.},
journal = {Virology},
volume = {617},
number = {},
pages = {110825},
doi = {10.1016/j.virol.2026.110825},
pmid = {41650846},
issn = {1096-0341},
abstract = {Mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) remain a significant public health concern in Northern Queensland, Australia, with dengue virus (DENV), Ross River virus (RRV), and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) representing the most common pathogens. Wolbachia-based biological control programs have made notable contributions to reducing dengue transmission by suppressing Aedes aegypti vector competence. Recent surveillance data indicates increased MBV activity, with national case numbers nearly doubling between 2023 and 2024 and early 2025 data suggesting sustained transmission during seasonal peak. Traditional surveillance approaches, while highly valuable for disease monitoring, have limitations in detecting novel or divergent viral strains in real time. Over the past decades, more than 919 unclassified flaviviruses have been reported nationwide, including 117 in Queensland. The advent of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches now enable enhanced, field-based detection of both known and emerging arboviruses. Strengthening mosquito control programs through continued Wolbachia releases, alongside integrated genomic surveillance, predictive modelling, and community engagement will enhance early detection, guide targeted interventions, and reduce the MBV burden in Northern Queensland. This integrated framework provides a strategic pathway to sustains and expand vector control effectiveness while safeguarding public health in high-risk regions.},
}

@article {pmid41649675,
year = {2025},
author = {Niu, YD and Wang, MK and Yan, ZC and Bing, XL and Hong, XY},
title = {Wolbachia-mediated reproductive manipulation in rice planthoppers.},
journal = {Crop health},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {20},
pmid = {41649675},
issn = {2948-1945},
support = {ZDYF2024XDNY249//Key Research and Development Project of Hainan Province/ ; TJ-2023-038//Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology/ ; 2025AIYTSZX-YB003//Center for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Robotics, National Taiwan University/ ; },
abstract = {Rice planthoppers, including brown (Nilaparvata lugens), small brown (Laodelphax striatellus), and white-backed (Sogatella furcifera) planthoppers, are major agricultural pests in China and severely affect rice production and food security. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is commonly found in these insects, where it regulates reproduction through mechanisms such as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and increased fertility. In this review, we discuss the strain-specific effects of Wolbachia: wLug (in N. lugens, < 50% infection) increases fecundity without CI; wStri (in L. striatellus, 99% infection) induces complete CI and enhances reproduction; and wSfur (in S. furcifera, 90% infection) shows weak or no CI with minimal fecundity effects. Additionally, while wStri can induce CI in N. lugens, its intensity is reduced, suggesting that both the symbiont and the host influence CI strength. The wStri genome contains three copies of the CI factors cifA-cifB, which belong to a newly identified group of genes of unknown function. In L. striatellus, the host protein cytoplasmic aminopeptidase-like protein (CAL) is associated with CI lethality, whereas the NADH quinone oxidoreductase subunit A8 (NDUFA8) may play a role in CI "rescue". Furthermore, Wolbachia enhances rice planthopper reproduction through B vitamin synthesis, the upregulation of vitellogenin (Vg), and the promotion of germ cell division, significantly increasing egg production. These findings shed light on complex Wolbachia-planthopper interactions and their potential for pest control.},
}

@article {pmid41648049,
year = {2026},
author = {Abbasi, E},
title = {Global epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of arboviruses: A systematic review of surveillance, control strategies, and emerging threats.},
journal = {Dialogues in health},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {100280},
pmid = {41648049},
issn = {2772-6533},
abstract = {Arboviral diseases, transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, represent a growing global health challenge. The spread of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever has been associated with factors such as climate change, urbanization, and increased global mobility. We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between January 2000 and December 2024, screening 487 studies, of which 11 met predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021231605). The review integrates evidence from epidemiological reports, molecular surveillance studies, and evaluations of control strategies across endemic and emerging regions. Findings indicate a marked geographic expansion of major arboviruses beyond traditional endemic zones, with multiple studies reporting substantial increases in incidence in temperate regions over the past two decades. Molecular analyses consistently demonstrate high genetic diversity and ongoing viral evolution, reflecting adaptation to environmental and host pressures. The review also highlights persistent challenges in disease control, including widespread insecticide resistance, uneven surveillance capacity, and limitations in vaccine deployment. Emerging interventions such as Wolbachia-based vector control, genetically modified mosquitoes, and newer dengue and chikungunya vaccines show promise but require integration within broader surveillance, health-system, and governance frameworks. Overall, the findings underscore the need for coordinated, multisectoral approaches to strengthen early detection, improve control strategies, and mitigate the growing global burden of arboviral diseases.},
}

@article {pmid41646643,
year = {2026},
author = {Tourani, AH and Katlav, A and Cook, JM and Hunt, J and Karan, S and Riegler, M},
title = {Common endosymbionts influence host sexual selection by shaping mating preferences via altered chemical communication.},
journal = {Evolution letters},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {77-90},
pmid = {41646643},
issn = {2056-3744},
abstract = {Maternally transmitted endosymbionts of arthropods are common and phylogenetically diverse. Several bacteria, including Wolbachia and Cardinium, have independently evolved the ability to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) limiting the reproduction in females lacking the endosymbionts carried by their mates. While promoting endosymbiont spread, CI is costly to endosymbiont-free females. Such host-endosymbiont conflicts are expected to affect host mating preferences, yet this has scarcely been studied in hosts carrying multiple, potentially competing, endosymbionts. We investigated mate choice and chemical communication in a significant pest of citrus, Kelly's citrus thrips (Pezothrips kellyanus), naturally carrying CI-inducing Cardinium and Wolbachia. Unlike females with both endosymbionts (CW) that had no preference for males with particular endosymbiont associations, females with only Cardinium (C) preferred compatible C and endosymbiont-free males over incompatible CW males. In contrast, endosymbiont-free females showed no preference, despite experiencing similar CI risks when facing incompatible C and CW males. Male mating success, however, mostly depended on female receptivity and not on endosymbiont association. Furthermore, chemical analyses revealed that males with different endosymbiont associations had distinctly different cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles, with the CHC profile of CW males markedly including tridecane, a compound known to influence animal behavior. The results indicate that Cardinium enables females to avoid Wolbachia-induced CI based on the distinct chemical cues of incompatible males. Our findings highlight the role of common endosymbionts and their interactions in sexual selection through their effects on chemical and behavioral traits of hosts, emphasizing the importance of these factors in endosymbiont and host population dynamics, as well as endosymbiont-based pest control strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41646371,
year = {2026},
author = {Malagon, D and Camper, B and Millard, S and Recuero, E and Caterino, M and Greene, M and Seekatz, A and Bordenstein, S and Bordenstein, S and Bewick, S},
title = {Host and Microbe Scale Processes Jointly Shape Spatial Variation in Aphaenogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)associated Wolbachia.},
journal = {Research square},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-8515672/v1},
pmid = {41646371},
issn = {2693-5015},
abstract = {The spatial distributions of host-associated (HA) microbes are shaped by the spatial processes of environmental selection and dispersal. However, unlike free-living organisms, HA microbes experience selection and dispersal at two separate spatial scales - the scale of the microbes and the scale of their hosts. Therefore, HA microbes must tolerate both the environment created by their host (microbe-scale environment) and the environment in which their host resides (host-scale environment). Likewise, HA microbes can disperse both between hosts through horizontal or vertical transmission (microbe-scale dispersal) and between locations through host movement (host-scale dispersal). In this paper, we examine how host- and microbe-scale spatial processes contribute to the spatial distribution of Wolbachia endosymbionts in Aphaenogaster fulva-rudis-texana (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) complex ants from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We begin by identifying significant spatial variation in Wolbachia relative abundance at both the host (across the landscape) and microbe (across host lineages) scales. We then demonstrate a correlation between host- and microbe-scale environmental selection, complicating efforts to isolate the independent effects of host- versus microbe-scale processes. To overcome this challenge, we leverage both the broad distributions of individual host lineages across different environments and sites of co-occurrence between different host lineages within the same environments. This allows us to assess how both host- and microbe-scale processes contribute to spatial variation in our system. Ultimately, our results shed light on the myriad of interacting factors governing spatial variation in HA microbes and why spatial variation in HA microbes is more challenging to understand than spatial variation in free-living organisms.},
}

@article {pmid41645674,
year = {2026},
author = {Ryu, J and Lee, H and Lee, HK and Kang, K and Ro, CS and Han, JH and Suh, YD and Ryu, SE and Yoo, WG and Yeon, SC},
title = {Epidemiological survey of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont in wild raccoon dogs in Seoul, Korea, with emphasis on lung tissue-based detection.},
journal = {Parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-8},
doi = {10.1017/S0031182026101620},
pmid = {41645674},
issn = {1469-8161},
abstract = {In the ecologically diverse metropolitan area of Seoul, raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) coexist with humans and domestic animals, creating opportunities for vector-borne parasite transmission. Climate-driven shifts in mosquito populations may further enhance these risks, highlighting the need to monitor Dirofilaria immitis in urban wildlife for veterinary and public health. Among 51 raccoon dogs examined, D. immitis was identified in the pulmonary arteries and right ventricle of 13 animals (25.5%) by necropsy, with worm burdens ranging from 2 to 9. Lung tissue PCR revealed 4 additional subclinical infections, resulting in a final confirmed prevalence of 17 positives (33.3%). In contrast, whole-blood PCR detected only 11 positives (21.6%), all confirmed by necropsy, indicating higher sensitivity of lung tissue PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequences showed all isolates clustered with reference D. immitis across Asia and Europe, and haplotype analysis revealed low genetic diversity among Korean isolates. Wolbachia 16S ribosomal RNA sequences from raccoon dogs consistently grouped in supergroup C, confirming their association with D. immitis. These findings confirm natural infections of D. immitis and Wolbachia in wild raccoon dogs and highlight their potential role as urban wildlife reservoirs, while lung tissue-based molecular detection offers synergistic advantages for detecting subclinical infections and improving estimates of heartworm occurrence.},
}

@article {pmid41645544,
year = {2026},
author = {Gong, RN and Chen, YM and Hu, CC and Tariq, H and Ao, ZM and Wang, JL and Biondi, A and Bueno, AF and Gugliuzzo, A and Zang, LS},
title = {Conversion of a thelytokous to a stable bisexual line by non-target effect antibiotic elimination of Rickettsia in Anastatus gansuensis.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70256},
pmid = {41645544},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {//the Young elite scientist sponsorship program by GAST/ ; //The Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects/ ; 32502583//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Qiankehe Platform Talent/ ; //The Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program (Natural Science)/ ; },
abstract = {Heritable symbionts are key modulators of host biology, influencing reproduction and fitness. While antibiotic removal of symbionts is common, non-target effects on host fitness are often understudied. This is particularly true for Rickettsia, a widespread reproductive manipulator, and a stable, long-term (i.e., >7 generations) cured lineage in Hymenoptera has been lacking. This study aimed to fill this methodological gap by generating a cured bisexual lineage of parasitoid wasp with non-target effects of such treatments. Thus, we investigated not only the efficacy but also the non-target effects of three antibiotics: rifampicin, tetracycline, and sulfadiazine, administered at five concentrations (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL) in Rickettsia-infected thelytokous parasitoid Anastatus gansuensis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae). Survival, parasitism, emergence, and male rate were evaluated to determine the safety of antibiotic treatments, while Rickettsia titer reduction was used to assess elimination efficacy. Results showed that at a concentration of 0.01 mg/mL, tetracycline and rifampicin had minimal negative effects on host survival, parasitism, and emergence rates. However, prolonged exposure effectively eliminated Rickettsia, leading to the exclusive production of male offspring. Notably, short-term rifampicin feeding (0.01 mg/mL) across multi-generations successfully established a stable Rickettsia-cured bisexual line, confirmed via diagnostic PCR, quantitative PCR, and reproductive phenotyping over 10 generations. In contrast, sulfadiazine, previously effective against Wolbachia, had minimal impact on Rickettsia removal. This study provides a validated protocol for generating genetically stable aposymbiotic lines and a framework for assessing antibiotic specificity and non-target effects, enabling future studies of host adaptation and biological control in Rickettsia-cured parasitoids.},
}

@article {pmid41644003,
year = {2026},
author = {Sudirman, R and Rahmi Nur Rustam, SN and Rahma, N and Novita Coutrier, EF and Nuradji, H and Wahid, I},
title = {Investigating Wolbachia presence in Anopheles punctulatus group from Papua, Indonesia: Limited evidence of natural infection with molecular markers.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108563},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2026.108563},
pmid = {41644003},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Papua, Indonesia, is an endemic region for malaria where the Anopheles punctulatus group serves as the primary vector. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia has shown promise as a biocontrol agent by manipulating host reproduction and inhibiting pathogen transmission, yet its presence in Papua's Anopheles mosquitoes remained undocumented. This study aimed to detect and genetically characterize Wolbachia infections in Anopheles punctulatus group mosquitoes collected from Keerom District, Papua. Among 1,071 specimens screened using nested PCR targeting 16S rRNA and wsp, 2.9% tested positive for Wolbachia, with An. punctulatus and An. koliensis showing intra-species infection rates of 4.6% and 2.5%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of Wolbachia supergroups A and B, suggesting multiple independent acquisition events. These findings provide preliminary molecular evidence of Wolbachia in Papua's malaria vectors and offer baseline data for evaluating its potential in vector control strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41640415,
year = {2025},
author = {Behrmann, LV and Harbig, TA and Hoerauf, A and Nieselt, K and Pfarr, KM},
title = {Improved RNA preparation for RNA-seq of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia wAlbB.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1667452},
pmid = {41640415},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Despite advances in RNA-seq, investigating the transcriptome of intracellular bacteria remains challenging due to the substantial presence of host RNA. In the case of Wolbachia spp. that are propagated in insect cell lines, commercially available rRNA depletion kits are often not suitable. Here, we describe a method to study the transcriptome of Wolbachia wAlbB in the Aedes albopictus cell line C6/36. Custom-designed riboPOOLs (siTOOLs Biotech) were used to remove both prokaryotic and eukaryotic rRNA. To enrich the bacterial mRNA, eukaryotic mRNA was depleted using Dynabeads (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Compared to RNA prepared using the Illumina Ribo-Zero Plus Depletion Kit alone, additional depletion of eukaryotic mRNA increased wolbachial reads 7-fold to 0.7% of all reads. After removing eukaryotic and prokaryotic rRNAs with custom-designed riboPOOLs, there was a 300-fold increase of reads that mapped to Wolbachia (30.2%). Combining customized rRNA depletion from both organisms with eukaryotic mRNA depletion was more cost-effective than simply increasing the number of sequencing reads. This method can potentially be used for the enrichment of bacterial mRNA in studies of intracellular bacteria that cannot be propagated in standard cell lines.},
}

@article {pmid41622876,
year = {2026},
author = {Abbas, D and Haider, K and Ghafar, MA and Ullah, F and Ali, MY and Khan, KA and Galian, J and Hou, M},
title = {Effect of the gut microbiota on insect reproduction: mechanisms and biotechnological prospects.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70601},
pmid = {41622876},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32172413)/ ; },
abstract = {The insect gut microbiota functions as a multifunctional symbiotic system that plays a central role in host reproduction. Through the production of bioactive metabolites, gut microbes interact with host hormonal pathways, immune signaling, and molecular regulatory networks, thereby shaping reproductive physiology and fitness. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding how gut microbiota regulate insect reproduction. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microbial metabolites contribute to nutrient metabolism and the provision of essential cofactors, modulate hormone signaling pathways involved in reproductive development, and participate in pheromone biosynthesis that affects mating behavior. These processes impact both female and male reproductive functions through coordinated interactions among metabolism, endocrine regulation, and chemical communication. In females, microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and vitamins regulate insulin/TOR and juvenile hormone signaling, promoting ovarian development, vitellogenin synthesis, and oviposition. In males, gut bacteria influence spermatogenesis, sperm motility, and pheromone production, which are critical for mating success and fertility. Overall, these findings provide a mechanistic foundation for applied strategies, including Wolbachia-based population suppression, probiotic supplementation to enhance sterile insect technique (SIT) performance, and microbial manipulation of pheromone production for pest control. In addition, dietary conditions and environmental stressors can reshape gut microbial composition and metabolic activity, leading to changes in reproductive outcomes. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the complex interactions between insect gut microbiota and reproductive physiology. Key insights include: (i) the role of microbial metabolites in regulating mating behavior, oviposition, and offspring development; (ii) the potential of microbiota-based strategies for pest control, such as Wolbachia-mediated population suppression and probiotic enhancement of SIT; and (iii) the impact of external factors, including diet and environmental conditions, on reproduction through microbiota-mediated pathways. These findings deepen our understanding of insect-microbe symbiosis and its implications for evolutionary biology and sustainable pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41618672,
year = {2026},
author = {Lindsey, ARI and Lue, CH and Davis, JS and Borjon, LJ and Mauthner, SE and Fricke, LC and Youtsey, A and Eads, L and Murphy, M and Drown, MK and Faulk, C and Buffington, ML and Tracey, WD},
title = {Genomics and reproductive biology of Leptopilina malgretoutensis (sp. nov.): an asexual parasitoid of Caribbean Drosophila.},
journal = {Genetics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/genetics/iyag029},
pmid = {41618672},
issn = {1943-2631},
abstract = {Drosophila and parasitic wasps in the genus Leptopilina have long been a model for understanding host-parasite interactions. Indeed, parasitic wasps are important drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes broadly, but we are generally lacking information about the diversity, natural history, and evolution of these relationships. We collected insects from the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia, home to the eastern Caribbean dunni subgroup of Drosophila: a clade long appreciated for its recent patterns of speciation and adaptation. Here we present an integrative approach that incorporates natural history, taxonomy, physiology, and genomics to describe Leptopilina malgretoutensis Buffington, Lue, Davis & Tracey sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), a virulent parasitoid of dunni group flies, specifically Drosophila antillea. Leptopilina malgretoutensis is nested within an early-branching clade of Leptopilina, offering insights into the evolution of this important genus of Drosophila parasitoids. We present a high-quality assembly for this wasp's 1Gbp genome, and for its bacterial endosymbiont: Wolbachia strain "wLmal". Furthermore, we show that wLmal induces parthenogenesis in the wasp, and that these wasps are reliant upon their Wolbachia infections to produce female offspring. Finally, comparisons to historical museum specimens indicated that Leptopilina malgretoutensis had been collected approximately 40 years prior from the nearby island of Guadeloupe, and these wasps were also asexually reproducing. This work represents one of only a handful of studies in which field biology, taxonomy, systematics, genomics, and experimental biology are integrated into a species description: showcasing the possibilities for biodiversity research in the genomic era.},
}

@article {pmid41618176,
year = {2026},
author = {Korivand, F and Salabi, F and Jahanifard, E},
title = {Molecular screening of Leishmania and Wolbachia in sand fly populations from southwestern Iran.},
journal = {BMC infectious diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12879-026-12561-x},
pmid = {41618176},
issn = {1471-2334},
support = {No. OG-0202 and ethical code of IR.AJUMS.REC.1402.001.//Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41615983,
year = {2026},
author = {Gin, TE and Moore, CO and Tomlinson, T and Wilson, G and Gray, A and Sutherland, C and Miller, K and Li, K and Canfield, M and Herrin, B and Lashnits, E and Callahan, B},
title = {Pathogenic bacterial species and the microbiome of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) inhabiting flea-infested homes.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {1},
pages = {e0341824},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0341824},
pmid = {41615983},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; Cats ; *Ctenocephalides/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Dogs ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Flea Infestations/veterinary/parasitology/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Cat Diseases/parasitology ; Bartonella/genetics/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ctenocephalides felis is a common ectoparasite of dogs and cats and can transmit a variety of pathogens including Bartonella and Rickettsia species. These bacteria, along with the known endosymbiont Wolbachia, are well-documented members of the C. felis microbiome, but species-level information is limited. Additionally, little is known about the variation in the C. felis microbiome in fleas from different sources and when different sequencing methods are applied to the same samples.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the flea microbiome using both short-read (V3/V4) and long-read (full-length) 16S rRNA gene sequencing, determine whether long-read sequencing improves species-level identification especially in known pathogenic genera, and evaluate differences in microbial composition between fleas collected from cats, dogs, and environmental traps.

METHODS: Fleas were collected from cats, dogs, and traps in flea-infested homes in Florida, pooled by source, and sequenced using short- (V3/V4) and long-read (full-length) 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial prevalence and abundance were compared across sequencing approaches. Community composition was evaluated for differences between sources and houses. Candidate members of the flea microbiome were identified based on a combination of prevalence, abundance, and statistical signatures of potential contaminant origin. For Rickettsia and Bartonella, species-level taxonomic assignments were refined using a phylogenetic approach.

RESULTS: Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Bartonella were the most prevalent and abundant taxa. Spiroplasma was identified as a fourth core member of the flea microbiome. Long-read sequencing enabled better, but not perfect, species-level classification of Bartonella and Rickettsia compared to short-read sequencing. Important relationships between specific ASVs and flea sources were identified, for example fleas from cats harbored higher abundances of B. clarridgeiae and B. henselae than fleas from traps.},
}

Animals
Cats
*Ctenocephalides/microbiology
*Microbiota/genetics
Dogs
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Flea Infestations/veterinary/parasitology/microbiology
*Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification
Phylogeny
Cat Diseases/parasitology
Bartonella/genetics/isolation & purification

@article {pmid41612543,
year = {2026},
author = {Chocobar, MLE and Eckersall, DP and Panarese, R and Weir, W and Schmidt, EMS},
title = {Comparison of Haptoglobin Concentrations Between Microfilaremic and Amicrofilaremic Dogs Infected by Dirofilaria immitis.},
journal = {Veterinary clinical pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/vcp.70075},
pmid = {41612543},
issn = {1939-165X},
support = {88887.726177/2022-00//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; 88887.936596/2024-00//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dirofilariosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, is associated with cardiovascular damage and systemic inflammation in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to present preliminary data on the evaluation of serum haptoglobin (Hp) concentration as a potential biomarker of inflammation in dogs naturally infected with D. immitis, with and without microfilaremia.

METHODS: Thirty dogs were categorized into three groups: microfilaremic seropositives (G1, n = 10), amicrofilaremic seropositives (G2, n = 10), and negative controls (CG, n = 10). Serum Hp concentrations were measured using a colorimetric assay and analyzed via one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-test.

RESULTS: Median Hp levels were 10.0 mg/dL (G1), 9.1 mg/dL (G2), and 13.7 mg/dL (CG), with no significant differences among groups. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between microfilarial burden and Hp levels (p = 0.651).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite D. immitis infection, Hp concentration did not provide evidence of an inflammatory response in G1 and G2. While previous studies reported decreased Hp in microfilaremic dogs, our findings did not confirm this trend. The seropositive dogs in this study did not show clinical signs, indicating they had relatively mild infections, which may at least in part explain these results. The small sample size and lack of other acute-phase protein assessments restrict the generalizability of our findings and, thus, this study provides limited information about acute phase response dynamics. Nevertheless, these preliminary results highlight the complexity of Hp behavior in D. immitis infection and emphasize the need for further research.},
}

@article {pmid41611865,
year = {2026},
author = {Ulloa, MA and Serrano, AV and Camelo, LC and Guyot, R and Vela, D and Muñoz, AR},
title = {Bacterial genome reconstruction and community profiling in Neotropical Drosophila.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-36282-y},
pmid = {41611865},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Drosophila species serve as key models for microbiota research due to their relatively simple microbial communities. However, microbial diversity and dynamics in Neotropical Andean Drosophila remain underexplored. Here we applied shotgun metagenomics to characterize the microbiota of 24 Neotropical Drosophila species from Ecuador, reconstructing 64 high-quality bacterial genomes predominantly from Acetobacteraceae and Enterobacterales. Microbial communities were consistently dominated by yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and Wolbachia. Comparative analyses revealed no strong correlation between host phylogeny and microbial community composition, suggesting environmental factors and microbial interactions shape these communities. Notably, shifts in relative abundances indicate dynamic ecological succession and metabolic cooperation among microbes. These findings expand genomic resources for Drosophila-associated bacteria and highlight the complex ecological processes influencing host-microbiota relationships in natural populations.},
}

@article {pmid41598925,
year = {2026},
author = {Kang, JY and Jeong, G and An, IJ and Kim, K and Son, SH and Park, S},
title = {Endosymbiont Infections in Korean Insects: Patterns Across Orders and Habitat Types.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010071},
pmid = {41598925},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {NIE-B-2025-38//National Institute of Ecology/ ; },
abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria influence the ecology and evolution of insects through complex associations within host cells. To explore how these relationships vary among environments and taxa, we examined 1028 insect specimens from 14 orders across Korea for infections by three representative endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma). Overall, 33.8% of specimens were infected, with single infections predominating and co-infections remaining relatively less common. Weak-to-modest but statistically significant associations were detected between several symbiont pairs (Rickettsia-Spiroplasma, Wolbachia-Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia-Rickettsia). Infection rates exhibited no significant variation among host orders except for Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia infections were more frequently detected in terrestrial than in aquatic insects. These results indicate that endosymbiont infection patterns might be shaped by factors operating at multiple biological scales, including host taxonomy and habitat types. As this study relied on polymerase chain reaction detection, infection frequencies should be interpreted as comparative rather than absolute measures. This survey provides baseline data that might help characterize regional patterns of endosymbiont distributions and their variation across taxonomic and ecological contexts.},
}

@article {pmid41586614,
year = {2026},
author = {Latrofa, MS and Urso, I and Notario, E and Gissi, C and Maia, C and Marzano, M and Pesole, G and Otranto, D},
title = {Nuclear, mitochondrial, and Wolbachia endosymbiont genomes of Onchocerca lupi, Portugal.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0062525},
doi = {10.1128/msphere.00625-25},
pmid = {41586614},
issn = {2379-5042},
abstract = {Zoonotic Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) has attracted the interest of the scientific community worldwide, by causing severe ocular infections in domestic animals (dogs, cats) and can infect wild carnivores (wolves, coyotes), as well as humans. Though recent advancements in scientific knowledge have been gained, gaps still remain about the biology of this filarioid, as well as its genetic structure. Based on mitochondrial genes, two highly divergent genotypes were identified, in the Iberian Peninsula (genotype 2) and Europe, Asia, and the United States (genotype 1), meanwhile only a draft nuclear genome of O. lupi from the United States is available. This study aimed to fill knowledge gaps about the genomic characterization of this filarioid and its Wolbachia endosymbiont. This study described the shotgun sequencing of an adult specimen of O. lupi isolated from a dog living in Portugal using the PacBio long-read sequencing technology. Three distinct genomes, such as the nuclear, mitochondrial, and Wolbachia endosymbiont, were assembled and analyzed. The assembled nuclear genome, Olupi_PT2024, exhibited high contiguity, accuracy, and completeness. Pairwise mitogenome comparative analyses among several Onchocerca species corroborated the high divergence between the two genotypes from Portugal and the USA, although the observed differences remained within the range of intra-species variation. The complete genome of the Wolbachia endosymbiont of O. lupi confirmed its classification within supergroup C and its close phylogenetic relationship with Wolbachia endosymbionts associated with the genus Onchocerca. The data on these three genomes may provide valuable resources for understanding the biology, population genetics, and phylogeography of this parasite.IMPORTANCEOnchocerca lupi, a zoonotic parasite, causes ocular onchocerciasis in both domestic and wild carnivores, as well as humans. Despite recent scientific advances, gaps remain in both the biology and genetic structure of this parasite. To date, two genotypes have been described (genotype 1 distributed in Europe, Asia, and the United States, and genotype 2 circulating in the Iberian Peninsula) based on mitochondrial gene analysis. This study provided three distinct genomes (nuclear, mitochondrial, and Wolbachia endosymbiont) of O. lupi isolated from a dog living in Portugal. Overall, the data presented here corroborate the divergence between the two genotypes and provide new insights into the identification of genes that could serve as novel therapeutic targets for this filarial disease.},
}

@article {pmid41568744,
year = {2025},
author = {Singhal, K and Mohanty, S},
title = {Distribution and phenotypic effect of Wolbachia in natural population of Indian Drosophila.},
journal = {Journal of vector borne diseases},
volume = {62},
number = {1},
pages = {78-87},
doi = {10.4103/0972-9062.364760},
pmid = {41568744},
issn = {0972-9062},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics ; India ; *Drosophila/microbiology/physiology ; Phenotype ; Female ; Male ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; Reproduction ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: Wolbachia (alpha-proteobacteria, Rickettsiaceae) undergoes maternal transmission and manipulates host reproductive fitness. Wolbachia strains in the Drosophila host (wMel, wRi) have significant implications in controlling arboviral diseases and are being transfected into the mosquito population. The efficient use of Wolbachia as a biocontrol agent calls for a need to understand its biology and host-symbiont interactions. The present work is a baseline study to explore the distribution of Wolbachia strains and their effect on the reproductive fitness of Drosophila (Drosophilidae, Diptera) hosts from India.

METHODS: The distribution and strain identification of Wolbachia was done by PCR and Sanger sequencing method in Indian Drosophila host species. For further setting up of host-phenotype experiments, control (nature-caught Wolbachia - infected) and treated (antibiotics-treated Wolbachia - uninfected) host Drosophila laboratory-established lines were used.

RESULTS: The presence of Wolbachia was found to be limited to only three Drosophila host species i.e., D. melanogaster, D. simulans and D. ananassae and their distribution frequency was not influenced by host ecological background. Wolbachia infection was seen to provide a fitness advantage in terms of reproductive success in D. melanogaster; however, tetracycline treatment could not remove Wolbachia from D. ananassae, preventing us from conducting experiments in this species.

INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: These results reaffirm the host specific nature of Wolbachia infection and highlight for the first time Wolbachia distribution and phenotypic effect in Indian Drosophila host. In the wake of world mosquito programme it is crucial to identify Wolbachia strains in natural population and evaluate their effects on host species for making it an effective bio-control agent.},
}

Animals
*Wolbachia/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics
India
*Drosophila/microbiology/physiology
Phenotype
Female
Male
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Tetracycline/pharmacology
Reproduction
Symbiosis

@article {pmid41553672,
year = {2026},
author = {Visser, B and Scheifler, M},
title = {Insect Lipid Metabolism in the Presence of Symbiotic and Pathogenic Viruses and Bacteria.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1494},
number = {},
pages = {419-443},
pmid = {41553672},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Lipid Metabolism ; *Wolbachia/physiology/metabolism ; Humans ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/metabolism/virology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology/metabolism ; *Insecta/microbiology/metabolism/virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {Insects, like most animals, have intimate interactions with microorganisms that can influence the insect host's lipid metabolism. In this chapter, we describe what is known so far about the role prokaryotic microorganisms play in insect lipid metabolism. We start exploring microbe-insect lipid interactions focusing on endosymbionts, and more specifically the gut microbiota that has been predominantly studied in Drosophila melanogaster. We then move on to an overview of the work done on the common and well-studied endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, also in interaction with other microbes. Taking a slightly different angle, we then look at the effect of human pathogens, including dengue and other viruses, on the lipids of mosquito vectors. We extend the work on human pathogens and include interactions with the endosymbiont Wolbachia that was identified as a natural tool to reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Research on lipid metabolism of plant disease vectors is up and coming and we end this chapter by highlighting current knowledge in that field.},
}

Animals
*Symbiosis/physiology
*Lipid Metabolism
*Wolbachia/physiology/metabolism
Humans
*Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/metabolism/virology
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
*Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology/metabolism
*Insecta/microbiology/metabolism/virology
Host-Pathogen Interactions

@article {pmid41553339,
year = {2026},
author = {Moreira, MM and Dias, LPB and Guzman, YC and Sena, LCP and de Almeida, JPP and Yotoko, K},
title = {Absence of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility and High Vertical Wolbachia Transmission in a Neotropical Drosophilid.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voag002},
pmid = {41553339},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Intracellular endosymbionts such as Wolbachia are generally thought to persist in host populations by inducing reproductive phenotypes that enhance maternal transmission, often at the expense of male hosts. Here, we examined the fitness consequences of the Wolbachia strain wStv in Drosophila sturtevanti, a highly abundant Neotropical drosophilid. Samples from 2015 and 2016 showed that all individuals from the nearby sampled populations carried Wolbachia, suggesting the induction of a phenotype capable of maintaining high infection levels. We therefore established isofemale lines from a local population and used one of them in controlled crosses between infected and treated flies to assess symbiont-induced changes in reproduction within a single genetic background. Contrary to expectations, we detected no cytoplasmic incompatibility or other reproductive manipulation. Instead, infection decreased female fecundity and decreased larvae production in crosses with treated males. Additional samplings in 2019 and 2022 showed that the infection persists in the population, and wsp sequencing confirmed that all infections detected from 2015 to 2022 carried the same allele. We also found imperfect but high maternal transmission, which may help to explain both the high infection levels observed in 2015-16 and the persistence of the infection. Our findings provide a foundation for future studies seeking to understand this association more broadly. They also reveal that Neotropical host-symbiont interactions can involve unexpectedly complex dynamics, indicating that the processes traditionally used to explain Wolbachia persistence may not be sufficient in this system.},
}

@article {pmid41543305,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, C and Hellemans, S and Kinjo, Y and Mikhailova, AA and Aumont, C and Weng, YM and Buček, A and Husnik, F and Šobotník, J and Harrison, MC and McMahon, DP and Bourguignon, T},
title = {Recurrent horizontal gene transfers across diverse termite genomes.},
journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpag003},
pmid = {41543305},
issn = {1558-5646},
abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the transmission of genetic material across species, is an important innovation source in prokaryotes. In contrast, its significance is unclear in many eukaryotes, including insects. Here, we used high-quality genomes of 45 termites and two cockroaches to investigate HGTs from non-metazoan organisms across blattodean genomes. We identified 289 genes and 2,494 pseudogenes classified into 168 orthologous groups originating from an estimated 281 HGT events. Wolbachia represented the primary HGT source, while termite gut bacteria and the cockroach endosymbiont Blattabacterium did not contribute meaningfully to HGTs. Most horizontally acquired genes descended from recent and species-specific HGTs, experienced frequent duplications and pseudogenizations, and accumulated substitutions faster than synonymous sites of native protein-coding genes. Genes frequently transferred horizontally to termite genomes included mobile genetic elements and genetic information processing genes. Our results indicate that termites continuously acquired genes through HGT, and that most horizontally acquired genes are specific to restricted lineages. Overall, genes acquired by HGT by termites and cockroaches seemed generally non-functional and bound to be lost.},
}

@article {pmid41539377,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, K and Tavares, CS and Bonning, BC},
title = {Doxycycline-mediated clearance of Wolbachia is associated with the long-term survival of Diaphorina citri cell lines.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108532},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2026.108532},
pmid = {41539377},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Diaphorina citri transmits the causal agent of huanglongbing. We previously established three continuous D. citri cell lines, two of which (Dici1 and Dici5) harbor Wolbachia and Diaphorina citri reovirus (DcRV). Here we demonstrate that Wolbachia infection of these cell lines is associated with marked cytopathological effects, including culture collapse. Doxycycline treatment reduced Wolbachia titers and prevented further collapse, while DcRV levels remained unchanged, indicating that Wolbachia does not influence DcRV replication. Prolonged doxycycline treatment nearly eliminated Wolbachia, resulting in increased stability of the Dici1 and Dici5 cell lines. These cell lines with reduced Wolbachia loads represent improved systems for investigating host-microbe interactions.},
}

@article {pmid41536992,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, YY and Shen, XY and Zhao, DS and Hoffmann, A and Hong, XY},
title = {Wolbachia-derived small non-coding RNAs exhibit cross-kingdom regulatory effects on host reproduction of a polyphagous mite.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {114419},
doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2025.114419},
pmid = {41536992},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Wolbachia is a ubiquitous endosymbiont in arthropods that produces small non-coding RNAs, which function as regulators in both the bacterium and its host. Although recent studies have shown cross-kingdom communication between Wolbachia and its host through Wolbachia-derived small non-coding RNAs (WsnRNAs), the functions of WsnRNAs have not been systematically examined. Here, we identify WsnRNAs in Wolbachia-infected Tetranychus truncatus Ehara via RNA-seq and investigate their impacts on host reproductive fitness. A total of 12 WsnRNAs were identified, along with their predicted precursors and hairpin structures. The predicted target genes of five highly expressed WsnRNAs are involved in reproductive development, as revealed by enrichment analysis. Inhibition of WsnRNA-744 and WsnRNA-3640 reduced fecundity, whereas inhibition of WsnRNA-6108 promoted it, indicating that different WsnRNAs exert opposing effects on host fecundity. These findings suggest that WsnRNAs mediate host-endosymbiont communication across species and could represent promising targets for Wolbachia-based pest control strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41524921,
year = {2026},
author = {Nayab, GE and Ur Rahman, R and Hanan, F and Khan, I and Fahim, M},
title = {Metagenomic Exploration of the Bacteriome Reveals Natural Wolbachia Infections in Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti and Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {2},
pages = {133},
pmid = {41524921},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/microbiology/classification ; *Wolbachia/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Pakistan ; Metagenomics ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Female ; *Microbiota ; *Metagenome ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {Dengue and associated complications are spreading to non-endemic regions of Pakistan. Vector control, the foremost and widely adopted strategy for managing dengue has been implemented through various measures in Pakistan. Biological control through the use of Wolbachia, a bacterium naturally present in various insect genera, including Aedes, has demonstrated promising results globally. In this study we collected Aedes species and investigated its microbiomes with a particular focus on identifying the endosymbiont Wolbachia. Mosquitoes were collected via Gravitraps in the Peshawar region of Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest of Pakistan. The identity of the mosquitoes was initially confirmed through morphological characters followed by molecular identification using species-specific Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) primers. The DNA from female Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus was further subjected to 16 S rRNA sequencing. The hypervariable regions V3/V4 of 16 S rRNA were used for sequencing using the paired-end Illumina MiSeq platform. The phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene in our samples demonstrated similarity to Aedes species previously documented in Pakistan. In comparative analysis of the microbiomes, Ae. albopictus was found to harbor 921 bacterial species, while Ae. aegypti only had 239 species. The metagenomic analysis revealed single-strain Wolbachia pipientis infection in Ae. aegypti, while Ae. albopictus harbored a double-strain infection involving a supergroup A strain (referred to as Wolbachia pipientis in 16 S EzBioCloud database) and a supergroup B strain (referred to as Wolbachia bourtzisii in16S EzBioCloud database).},
}

Animals
*Aedes/microbiology/classification
*Wolbachia/genetics/classification/isolation & purification
Phylogeny
Pakistan
Metagenomics
*Mosquito Vectors/microbiology
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Female
*Microbiota
*Metagenome
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics
DNA, Bacterial/genetics

@article {pmid41524916,
year = {2026},
author = {Nehra, R and Dhanda, S and Singh, K and Singh, H and Bharti, PK},
title = {The symbiotic Wolbachia in Anopheles and its role in reducing the transmission of Plasmodium: updates and prospects.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {208},
number = {2},
pages = {121},
pmid = {41524916},
issn = {1432-072X},
mesh = {*Anopheles/microbiology/parasitology ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; Animals ; *Malaria/transmission/prevention & control/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/parasitology ; *Plasmodium/physiology ; Humans ; Mosquito Control/methods ; },
abstract = {Reducing malaria transmission and the prospects for vector control include multi-pronged strategies, such as interrupting the parasite cycle in both vectors and mosquitoes. Effective vector control remains essential to prevent malaria transmission. This is all the more important as problems such as resistance to insecticides and the lack of a highly effective malaria vaccine remain. New generation vector control measures and optimised products are essential to address the public health needs for malaria eradication. Strategies to reduce malaria transmission include the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS) and other measures. Recent studies have shown that Wolbachia pipientis, a bacterium that acts as an intracellular endosymbiotic in host cells, is becoming increasingly popular as a new method of control for Anopheles mosquitoes, both for cytoplasmic incompatibility and for pathogen blocking. Anopheles gambiae, the infection rate ranged from 8 to 24% in the wild population of the same study in the case of An. coulzzi (WAnga) in Ghana, with a prevalence of 4%. Various studies have successfully identified Wolbachia in several species of Anopheles. A highly infected Anopheles species A population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) showed a 91% infection rate (strain wAnsA). Broader surveys list additional species hosting natural Wolbachia, including An. funestus, An. moucheti, An. melas, An. nili, An. coustani, An. dirus, An. baimaii, An. hyrcanus, and An. sinensis, among others, totalling around 31 Anopheles species. In Anopheles stephensi, researchers achieved stable maternal transmission of the wPip strain with a 100% infection frequency in the transinfected line across generations. The infection caused nearly complete cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and moderate fitness costs. Previous experimental infections using the wAlbB strain in An. stephensi similarly established CI and partial protection against Plasmodium infection. Wolbachia has been detected naturally at low prevalence (~ 1.4%) in field-collected An. culicifacies samples in India. However, these infections are often rare and may not lead to a high blocking effect of the pathogens. Despite the notable progress in demonstrating the CI and moderate inhibitory effect of the pathogen in several Anopheles trans-infected lines, the remaining setbacks include persistent, mother-transmitted infection with a high population replacement or suppression potential that will be relevant for widespread use. This comprehensive evaluation identified the need for further research on host-symbiotic interactions, improved genetic engineering tools and comprehensive long-term field evaluations to fully realise the potential of Wolbachia as a vector control tool for malaria.},
}

*Anopheles/microbiology/parasitology
*Wolbachia/physiology
Animals
*Malaria/transmission/prevention & control/parasitology
*Symbiosis
*Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/parasitology
*Plasmodium/physiology
Humans
Mosquito Control/methods

@article {pmid41514311,
year = {2026},
author = {Ebrahimi, R and Nejadghaderi, SA and Khalili, M and Haghdoost, A and Aghaei-Afshar, A and Sharifi, H},
title = {Managing and controlling diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes: a review on best practices.},
journal = {Tropical medicine and health},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s41182-025-00890-7},
pmid = {41514311},
issn = {1348-8945},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dengue fever (DF) is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. It is characterized by symptoms such as high fever and severe headache, which can lead to severe complications. As there are no effective treatments or vaccines, prevention is crucial. This study aims to identify best practices from various countries for controlling Aedes populations and managing DF.

METHODS: We reviewed best practices for DF and Aedes mosquito control from various countries, including Taiwan, India, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, the Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Paraguay, France, Portugal, Spain, Peru, the United States, Colombia, Australia, and Iran. The PubMed database was searched until August 2024.

RESULTS: Dengue outbreaks necessitate diverse control strategies across nations. Machine learning models incorporating climatic and entomological data improved outbreak prediction accuracy by up to 29%, while Wolbachia-based interventions reduced dengue incidence by 77% in urban trials. Community-driven programs enhanced preventive behaviors by 50-70%, and novel vaccines demonstrated > 94% efficacy against severe dengue. Challenges such as insecticide resistance and climate variability underscore the need for adaptive surveillance and cross-sector collaboration. Innovations in mobile health tools and sterile insect techniques further optimized vector control, achieving > 90% reductions in mosquito populations, compared with baseline densities before intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: Effective Aedes mosquito management against DF requires community engagement, surveillance, and innovative control methods. Successful strategies from selected countries highlight the importance of interventions, ongoing research, and public education to reduce disease risks. Continuous research, collaboration across sectors, and public awareness are necessary to reduce Aedes mosquitoes' risks and protect public health from vector-borne diseases.},
}

@article {pmid41510614,
year = {2026},
author = {Destierdt, W and Deconninck, G and Crespo, JE and Moyer, E and Foray, V and Chabrerie, O and Pincebourde, S},
title = {Temperature overrides nutritional cues for optimal oviposition decision in a polyphagous invasive insect.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.251743},
pmid = {41510614},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {ANR-20-CE02-0011//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
abstract = {Polyphagous insects rely on multiple cues to choose oviposition sites, including substrate temperature and nutritional quality that often do not coincide. We examined how females of the invasive fly Drosophila suzukii make oviposition decisions when temperature and nutrition mismatch, and whether infection with the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia influences these choices. We first quantified female performance (egg number, offspring development time, survival, and mass) on four fruit purees at three ambient temperatures. We then assessed oviposition preferences when either substrate temperature or fruit quality varied independently. Finally, we conducted multi-choice experiments combining thermal and nutritional cues to test which most strongly drives oviposition. Both temperature and fruit quality affected offspring performance. While females were not always choosing the most favorable fruit, they consistently prioritized thermally optimal sites, even when these were nutritionally suboptimal. This behaviour gave partial support to the preference-performance hypothesis, which mainly held for temperature -the factor with the strongest effect on offspring development and survival in no-choice tests. Wolbachia infection enhanced offspring survival and reduced development time. It also altered oviposition patterns, leading to a more even distribution of eggs across fruit, though females maintained their preference for thermally favourable sites. Our findings suggest that the invasive success of D. suzukii could partly result from its capacity to select oviposition sites that maximise offspring performance under variable conditions. More broadly, they highlight the need to study behavioural decisions under conflicting environmental constraints to understand how behavioural flexibility contributes to individual fitness and population persistence in changing environments. French Abstract Les insectes polyphages s'appuient sur de nombreux signaux pour choisir leurs sites de ponte, notamment la température du substrat et sa qualité nutritionnelle, qui ne coïncident pas toujours. Cette étude analyse le choix de ponte des femelles de la mouche invasive Drosophila suzukii lorsque ces signaux sont contradictoires, ainsi que l'effet de l'infection par la bactérie symbiotique Wolbachia. L'étude s'est déroulée en quatre étapes : (i) la mesure des performances des descendants (nombre d'œufs, temps de développement, survie, masse de la progéniture) sur quatre purées de fruits à trois températures ambiantes ; l'évaluation des préférences de ponte lorsque (ii) la qualité du fruit ou (iii) la température du substrat variaient indépendamment ; et (iv) des tests à choix multiples pour déterminer le signal influençant le plus le choix de ponte. La température et la qualité du fruit impactent toutes deux la performance de la descendance. Bien que les femelles ne choisissent pas toujours le fruit le plus favorable, elles privilégient systématiquement les sites les plus chauds, thermiquement optimaux, même lorsqu'ils sont nutritionnellement sous-optimaux. Ce comportement soutient l'hypothèse préférence-performance, la température étant le principal facteur déterminant pour le développement et la survie. L'infection par Wolbachia augmente la survie et réduit le temps de développement, tout en modifiant les choix de ponte avec une répartition plus homogène entre les fruits, sans altérer la préférence pour les sites chauds. Ces résultats suggèrent que le succès invasif de D. suzukii pourrait découler de sa capacité à sélectionner des sites de ponte maximisant la performance de la descendance en conditions environnementales variables. Ils soulignent également l'importance d'étudier les décisions comportementales face à des contraintes antagonistes pour comprendre la contribution de la flexibilité comportementale à la valeur sélective des individus et à la persistance des populations.},
}

@article {pmid41508941,
year = {2025},
author = {Putri, VS and Subandiyah, S and Putra, NS and Soffan, A},
title = {Effect of Doxycycline Antibiotic on the Interaction between Endosymbiont Bacteria Wolbachia and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus in Diaphorina citri.},
journal = {Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS},
volume = {28},
number = {10},
pages = {632-639},
doi = {10.3923/pjbs.2025.632.639},
pmid = {41508941},
issn = {1812-5735},
mesh = {Animals ; *Doxycycline/pharmacology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Wolbachia/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/drug effects ; Citrus/microbiology ; *Rhizobiaceae/drug effects ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Liberibacter ; },
abstract = {Background and Objective: Diaphorina citri is the primary vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterial pathogen responsible for Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus. This psyllid also harbors endosymbionts such as Wolbachia, which may competitively interact with CLas within the insect's body. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doxycycline treatment on the titers of Wolbachia and CLas in D. citri. Materials and Methods: This study analyzes the quantitative relationship between these microorganisms. Four treatment groups were used: Control, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL doxycycline. Absolute quantification was performed using qPCR targeting the wsp and CLas genes. These results reflect the effect of doxycycline antibiotic treatment up to a concentration of 10 mg/mL; therefore, interpretation is limited to this concentration range. Doxycycline effects on Wolbachia and CLas abundance were analyzed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests, with pairwise t-tests in RStudio at α<0.05. Results: It showed that doxycycline concentrations did not significantly affect the titers of either bacterium based on Kruskal-Wallis tests (p>0.05). Nevertheless, biological trends were observed: Wolbachia titers increased with higher antibiotic concentrations, while CLas titers decreased. A polynomial non-linear regression model revealed a downward-opening parabolic relationship between Wolbachia and CLas titers, with the equation y = -0.0407x[2]+4,6881x-70,116 and R[2] = 0.8303, indicating that approximately 83% of the variation in CLas titers could be explained by Wolbachia abundance. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that Wolbachia may suppress CLas proliferation through intracellular competition or microbiota modulation. This study provides a foundational insight into the potential of symbiont-based management strategies for HLB vector control.},
}

Animals
*Doxycycline/pharmacology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
*Wolbachia/drug effects
*Symbiosis/drug effects
*Hemiptera/microbiology/drug effects
Citrus/microbiology
*Rhizobiaceae/drug effects
Plant Diseases/microbiology
Liberibacter

@article {pmid41508731,
year = {2026},
author = {Marteau, A and Brun, S and Izri, A and Akhoundi, M},
title = {Detection and Genetic Diversity of Heritable Bacterial Symbionts in Human Lice Based on 16S-rRNA Gene.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {e70243},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70243},
pmid = {41508731},
issn = {1758-2229},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Genetic Variation ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Pediculus/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; Lice Infestations/parasitology ; *Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Phthiraptera/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Human lice are obligate bloodsucking ectoparasites harbouring endosymbiotic bacteria essential for their survival. Despite the medical significance of human lice, their endosymbionts remain understudied, and knowledge about their species identity, prevalence and genetic diversity is largely limited. Head, body and pubic louse specimens' collection from infested patients of various origins between 2019 and 2023 enabled molecular screening for distribution and genetic diversity of bacterial endosymbionts through conventional PCR targeting two fragments of 16S-rRNA. A total of 209 louse specimens isolated from infested patients, including 186 head lice, 11 body lice and 12 pubic lice were examined with 77.5%, 41.7% and 94.3% of the specimens found to be infested with Candidatus Riesia pediculicola, Candidatus Riesia pthiripubis and Wolbachia respectively. Inferred phylogenetic analysis of Candidatus Riesia and Wolbachia sequences revealed heterogeneity clustering into four and three clades respectively. No specific correlation was observed between these endosymbionts and lice ecological forms or geographical origin demonstrating that head, body and pubic lice share the same Candidatus Riesia and Wolbachia strains with independent adaptation and co-evolution, except Candidatus Riesia pthiripubis which was identified exclusively in pubic lice. These phylogenetic results were aligned by network analysis. These findings could be helpful in evolutionary and biological control investigations.},
}

Animals
*Symbiosis
Phylogeny
*Genetic Variation
Humans
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Pediculus/microbiology
*Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification
Lice Infestations/parasitology
*Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/classification
DNA, Bacterial/genetics
*Phthiraptera/microbiology

@article {pmid41507155,
year = {2026},
author = {Fukui, T and Muro, T and Matsuda-Imai, N and Kaneda, T and Kosako, H and Hiraki, H and Shoji, K and Fujii, T and Suzuki, Y and Toyoda, A and Itoh, T and Kiuchi, T and Katsuma, S},
title = {Complete transition from chromosomal to cytoplasmic sex determination during prolonged Wolbachia symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {104},
pmid = {41507155},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {JP17H06431//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP22H00366//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP24H02289//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP21J12325//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP24KJ0036//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; P23KJ0468//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP22H04925 (PAGS)//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP22H04925 (PAGS)//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP22H04925 (PAGS)//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP17H06431//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP24H02278//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; },
mesh = {*Wolbachia/physiology/genetics ; Animals ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Male ; Female ; *Sex Determination Processes/genetics ; *Moths/microbiology/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism ; Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cytoplasm/genetics ; *Sex Chromosomes/genetics ; Dosage Compensation, Genetic ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia infection causes male-specific death in Ostrinia furnacalis, but its removal from infected strains results in female-specific death instead of restoring 1:1 sex ratio, suggesting that cytoplasmic Wolbachia, not the host genome, primarily determines femaleness in infected strains. This phenomenon is a striking example of the evolutionary outcome of cytoplasmic sex determination, potentially arising from prolonged host-symbiont co-evolution. Although we recently identified Oscar, the Wolbachia-encoded male-killing effector targeting the host masculinizing factor OfMasc in Ostrinia moths, inactivation or loss of the host's endogenous feminizer remains unknown. Here we identify a W-linked primary feminizer, OfFem piRNA, which targets an mRNA encoding an OfMasc-interacting protein Ofznf-2. We demonstrate that Ofznf-2 is essential for both masculinization and dosage compensation. We also show that OfFem piRNA is entirely absent in the Wolbachia-infected lineage, providing molecular evidence that a male-killing Wolbachia hijacks the host feminizing piRNA function by acquiring the Oscar protein during prolonged endosymbiosis.},
}

*Wolbachia/physiology/genetics
Animals
*Symbiosis/genetics
Male
Female
*Sex Determination Processes/genetics
*Moths/microbiology/genetics
RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism
Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Cytoplasm/genetics
*Sex Chromosomes/genetics
Dosage Compensation, Genetic

@article {pmid41506920,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, X and Dimopoulos, G},
title = {Wolbachia for malaria control.},
journal = {Trends in parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2025.12.005},
pmid = {41506920},
issn = {1471-5007},
abstract = {Malaria remains a major public health concern, and traditional vector control methods face growing challenges, underscoring the need for novel strategies. The success of Wolbachia-based dengue control, together with the establishment of Plasmodium-blocking Wolbachia transinfections in Anopheles, highlights the potential of a new tool for malaria control. This review discusses the main experimental systems for studying Wolbachia-Anopheles interactions, emphasizing the challenges of generating Wolbachia transinfected Anopheles gambiae strains. Experiments utilizing Plasmodium parasite challenge in transiently and stably infected Anopheles demonstrated that Wolbachia-induced Plasmodium suppression is feasible. Building on insights from Wolbachia-Aedes-arborvirus systems - and with current evidence from Anopheles systems - we also address mechanisms of Plasmodium suppression. Finally, we outline challenges and opportunities for translating these findings from proof-of-concept to field application.},
}

@article {pmid41495649,
year = {2026},
author = {Fang, Y and Ran, M and Chen, L and Xie, Q and Li, X and Zheng, Y},
title = {Symbiont-mediated detoxification: Wolbachia alters the transcriptomic and metabolic landscape of Drosophila under nicotine stress.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12503-y},
pmid = {41495649},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {31970471//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41491502,
year = {2026},
author = {Khan, J and Lin, D and Al-Jawabreh, A and Aziz, A and Zhang, D and Chen, T and Han, Q},
title = {Publisher Correction: Population genetic diversity and natural Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti from Pakistan.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {7},
pmid = {41491502},
issn = {1756-3305},
}

@article {pmid41483182,
year = {2026},
author = {Caviedes-Triana, K and Vivero-Gómez, R and Duque-Granda, D and Junca, H and Cadavid-Restrepo, G and Moreno-Herrera, CX},
title = {Structure and Diversity of the Microbiome in Amazonian Sand Flies: Insights into Vector-Microbe Interactions.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-025-02663-5},
pmid = {41483182},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {Scholarship Program of Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Call 15, for Human Capital Development in the context of the Bicentennial and the 2021-2022 Biennial Plan.//Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación/ ; Hermes 57545//Universidad Nacional de Colombia/ ; },
abstract = {This study uses high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene and specific PCR to analyze the microbiome and identify secondary endosymbionts in sand flies from the Amazon region, important vectors of parasitic and viral diseases. Specimens of Psychodopygus, Trichophoromyia, Nyssomyia, Trichopygomyia and Brumptomyia were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that the richness, diversity, and composition of the microbiome are influenced by several factors, such as insect species specific composition, and insect sex. The core microbiome community was represented by 18 genera, with Novosphingobium, Cutibacterium, Methylobacterium and Staphylococcus being the most prevalent. The highest diversity at the genus level was observed in sand flies of epidemiological relevance as Psychodopygus and Nyssomyia, dominated by Novosphingobium (66.5%), Cutibacterium (29.4%) and Methylobacterium (20.4%), while in non-vectors such as Trichophoromyia, Delftia predominated (59.9%). Endosymbiont analysis showed a high prevalence of Cardinium (20%) and Wolbachia (33%), as well as the presence of Spiroplasma, Arsenophonus and Rickettsia. In addition, some bacterial genera related to the inhibition of parasite development, which have entomopathogenic activity and are involved in the degradation of insecticides were identified. Our results are relevant and contribute to the knowledge of the characterization of the microbiome and the endosymbionts in leishmaniasis vectors in the Amazon region and show promise for improving vector management, highlighting the importance of investigating their interaction with pathogens and their impact on vector biology.},
}

@article {pmid41480114,
year = {2025},
author = {Robayo-Cuevas, C and Junca, H and Uribe, S and Gómez-Palacio, A},
title = {Detection of endosymbiotic, environmental, and potential bacterial pathogens in diverse mosquito taxa from Colombian tropical forests using RNAseq.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1727830},
pmid = {41480114},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Mosquitoes of the subfamily Culicinae transmit pathogens of major medical and veterinary importance, particularly in tropical regions where urbanization and ecological change promote arbovirus circulation. In Colombia, rural Culicinae species are diverse and harbor microbiomes that may influence vector competence, yet their bacterial communities remain poorly characterized.

METHODS: We characterized the bacterial microbiota of multiple Culicinae species and morphotypes collected from two rural localities in Antioquia, Colombia, using an integrated metagenomic approach. Ribosomal 16S rRNA sequences were extracted from total RNA-seq datasets to infer bacterial community composition and assess α- and β-diversity. Diversity metrics (Chao1 and Shannon indices), Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), and Bray-Curtis ordination were used to evaluate community structure. In parallel, de novo assembled contigs were taxonomically annotated against the NCBI NR bacterial database to obtain complementary taxonomic and functional insights.

RESULTS: Culex morphotypes exhibited the highest richness and evenness, whereas Aedes and Trichoprosopon showed lower diversity. Ordination and DAPC analyses revealed partial clustering by species and tribe. Both the 16S and assembly-based analyses showed complex bacterial assemblages dominated by Wolbachia (up to 60% of reads in several Aedes and Culex morphotypes), followed by environmental genera such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter (10-20%). Lower-abundance taxa of medical and veterinary importance-including Salmonella, Borrelia, and Clostridium (<5%)-were also detected. Bacterial community structure differed among mosquito species; Aedes albopictus was enriched in lactic acid bacteria, while Culex morphotypes exhibited broader environmental and endosymbiotic profiles.

DISCUSSION: This study provides the first comprehensive metagenomic description of bacterial communities associated with rural Culicinae mosquitoes in Colombia. The predominance of symbionts such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, coupled with distinct bacterial signatures among host species, highlights the ecological complexity of these microbiomes and their potential relevance for microbiome-based strategies in sustainable arboviral disease management.},
}

@article {pmid41477501,
year = {2025},
author = {Govindharaj, GP and Choudhary, JS and Panda, RM and Basana-Gowda, G and Annamalai, M and Patil, N and Khan, RM and Banra, S and Srivastava, K and Mohapatra, SD},
title = {Bacterial communities in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) showed significant variation among the developmental stages with functional diversity.},
journal = {Heliyon},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {e42776},
pmid = {41477501},
issn = {2405-8440},
abstract = {Nilaparvata lugens, a major rice pest, hosts an essential microbiome, yet its dynamic changes across developmental stages remain poorly understood. This study analyzed the bacterial community across developmental stages using V3-V4 amplicon sequences of 16S rRNA gene. The microbiome was classified into 20 phyla, 38 classes, 77 orders, 155 families, and 273 genera, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes dominating phyla. Families Morganellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Moraxellaceae were prevalent across all stages, while Anaplamataceae was dominant in all the developmental stages except males. Key genera included Arsenophonous (5 %), Bacillus (5 %), and Acinetobacter (3 %), with Wolbachia (11 %) abundant in all developmental stages except in males. The shared operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between the developmental stages of N. lugens were only 40 OTUs, and higher unique OTUs were found in the late instar stage (89 OTUs), and the lowest unique OTUs were found at the male stage (64 OTUs). Functional prediction indicated roles in carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism, as well as membrane transport, signaling, DNA replication and repair. These findings highlight stage-specific microbiome variations, laying the foundation for microbiome-based pest management techniques.},
}

@article {pmid41472294,
year = {2025},
author = {Mandal, E and Noirungsee, N and Disayathanoowat, T and Kil, EJ},
title = {TSWV Infection Differentially Reshapes the Symbiotic Microbiome of Two Frankliniella Thrips Species.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {17},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/v17121625},
pmid = {41472294},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {0//Gyeongkuk National University/ ; },
mesh = {*Thysanoptera/microbiology/virology ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Tospovirus/physiology ; Serratia/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Insect Vectors/virology/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Wolbachia/genetics ; },
abstract = {Vectoring tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by two well-known thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande and F. intonsa Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is facilitated in different ways. Symbiotic bacteria positively influence thrips fitness, but the interaction between these bacteria and tospovirus inside the thrips' body remains unknown. Metagenomic profiling of symbionts in nonviruliferous and viruliferous Frankliniella thrips was performed to elucidate the interactions between symbiotic bacteria and the virus. A total of 97 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified by profiling the microbes, where Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum, with a high richness in Serratia spp. F. occidentalis showed lower variation in bacterial diversity between nonviruliferous and viruliferous treatments than F. intonsa. RT-qPCR validation for Serratia and Escherichia revealed opposite abundance patterns between the two thrips species. In contrast, Enterobacteriaceae and Pantoea showed similar patterns with higher abundance in nonviruliferous conditions. Wolbachia was detected exclusively in F. intonsa, with a higher bacterial titer in the viruliferous sample. Our findings suggest that TSWV association may influence the abundance of different bacterial symbionts within the thrips' body, potentially via induction of antimicrobial peptides in response to viral invasion, and to our knowledge this is the first report addressing this tripartite interaction. These findings improve our understanding of how virus-symbiont association contributes to thrips vector competence.},
}

*Thysanoptera/microbiology/virology
Animals
*Symbiosis
*Microbiota
*Tospovirus/physiology
Serratia/genetics
Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification
Insect Vectors/virology/microbiology
Metagenomics
Plant Diseases/virology
Wolbachia/genetics

@article {pmid41266970,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, L and Xu, Q and Miao, C and Zhan, J and Zhang, Y and Li, M and Cheng, J and Liu, P and Yang, Y and Zhou, H and Hu, Z and Li, F and Wu, C},
title = {Dynamic multi-omics analysis reveals the correlation between aroma compounds and symbiotic microbial community during tobacco leaf aging process.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1745},
pmid = {41266970},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {110202102033//the Key Grant of China National Tobacco Corporation, China/ ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Aging in crops like tea and tobacco involves the production of secondary metabolites, with symbiotic microbes playing a key role. However, their dynamic changes and correlation with metabolites during aging remain poorly understood. This study investigates changes in microbial communities, aroma compounds, and protein expression during tobacco leaf aging using artificial accelerated aging techniques, which combine GC-MS, metagenomics, and metaproteomics methods. We identified 62 aroma compounds with distinct change patterns and observed significant changes in the structure of symbiotic bacteria. Type one, represented by Wolbachia_endosymbiont_of_Diaphorina_citri, increased in abundance from the fourth month, correlating with compounds like 2-Furaldehyde. Type two, represented by Sphingomonas_sp_LK11, showed a bimodal abundance pattern, correlating with compounds like Tabanone. Metaproteomics revealed that protein functions were initially limited to cytoskeleton organization but diversified from the fourth month. Fungi also displayed two distinct clustering patterns, Rhizopus and Mortierella elongata were abundant early on, while Colletotrichum asianum and Trichophyton violaceum appeared later. Rhizopus and other fungi exhibited a significant positive correlation with 24 aroma compounds, including 5-Methylfuran-2(5 H)-one. Linderina pennispora and other fungi showed a significant positive correlation with 28 aroma compounds, including 2-Furaldehyde. The dynamic changes in microbial community structure during aging are closely related to the generation of aroma compounds. Overall, temporal shifts in microbial communities were closely linked to aroma formation. One set of microorganisms, such as Wolbachia_endosymbiont_of_Diaphorina_citri and Linderina pennispora, is positively correlated with 2-Furaldehyde, Isophorone, and 2-Methylbenzofuran. Another set, including Sphingomonas_sp_LK11 and Rhizopus, exhibits a positive correlation with 5-Methylfuran-2(5 H)-one and 1,2-Cyclohexanedione. These findings provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of tobacco leaf aging, and offer new research directions for the development and innovation of future tobacco products.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-07765-3.},
}

@article {pmid41467810,
year = {2025},
author = {Sahoo, RK and Chandrakumaran, NK and Vasudevan, K},
title = {Genome assembly and protein structure modeling reveal key molecular features of divergent wmk homologs in Wolbachia.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0289325},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02893-25},
pmid = {41467810},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {Wolbachia induces female-biased sex ratios in host populations through male-specific killing, thereby enhancing its spread via maternal transmission. The prophage-associated gene wmk has been proposed as a key effector underlying this male-killing (MK) phenotype. Interestingly, wmk homologs are found across diverse Wolbachia strains, regardless of the presence of male killing, and show extensive sequence divergence. However, the functional implications of this sequence variation-particularly among distant homologs-remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed wmk homologs from 18 Wolbachia genomes, including 17 publicly available genomes and one de novo assembled genome from the parthenium beetle. We identified a highly divergent wmk homolog in the latter and predicted its protein structure using AlphaFold2, followed by molecular dynamics simulations to characterize its molecular features. Our analyses reveal that wmk-encoded protein exhibits a modular architecture comprising two helix-turn-helix (HTH) domains and an additional accessory domain not previously described. Modeling of inter-domain interactions further supports the functional relevance of this modular organization. Comparative analyses across all homologs distinguish divergent wmk from other canonical variants based on sequence composition, structural organization, and phylogenetic clustering. Notably, the structural features that differentiate these homologs also distinguish wmk from other known HTH-type regulators. Together, our findings provide new molecular insights into the architecture and evolution of wmk, offering a framework to understand the mechanistic basis of the MK phenotype in Wolbachia.IMPORTANCEWolbachia-induced male killing presents a promising strategy for the biocontrol of vector and pest populations. The wmk gene has been identified as a candidate underlying this phenotype. Yet, the significance of its sequence variation-particularly between highly divergent homologs-remains unclear. Here, we characterize a divergent wmk homolog from a novel Wolbachia strain. Then, we compare sequence and structural features of wmk homologs across a total of 18 Wolbachia strains using AlphaFold2 and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results highlight key molecular features in divergent variants and provide new insights into wmk evolution, laying a basis for exploring its functional diversity across Wolbachia lineages.},
}

@article {pmid41465705,
year = {2025},
author = {Shapoval, NA and Nokkala, S and Nokkala, C and Shapoval, GN and Labina, ES and Romanovich, AE and Kuznetsova, VG},
title = {Genetic Differentiation of Bisexual and Parthenogenetic Populations of Plant Louse Cacopsylla ledi (Hemiptera, Psylloidea).},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16121268},
pmid = {41465705},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {FZMW-2023- 0006//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; 125012901042-9//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {The psyllid genus Cacopsylla comprises mainly bisexually reproducing species; however, some members of this genus exhibit a unisexual mode of reproduction. Using an integrative approach that combines molecular and cytogenetic methods, as well as Wolbachia screening, we conducted a comprehensive study of the Palaearctic species C. ledi. We show that this species uses various reproductive strategies (bisexual and parthenogenetic) across its distribution range. Our findings indicate that the bisexual mode of reproduction has emerged at least twice in the evolutionary history of C. ledi. Bisexual populations in southern Fennoscandia are of ancestral origin, whereas the bisexual mode of reproduction observed in northern Fennoscandia represents a recent secondary transition from parthenogenesis. We report that in the first case, parthenogenetic and bisexual lineages can be easily distinguished not only cytogenetically but also by DNA barcoding, while in the second case, "bisexual" individuals share DNA barcodes with parthenogenetic ones. A comprehensive Wolbachia screening (1140 specimens across the entire distribution range) revealed Wolbachia infection in every specimen of C. ledi, indicating a significant role of the endosymbiont in the biology and evolution of this species.},
}

@article {pmid41465696,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, JX and Wang, Y and Zhang, GF and Ye, ZC and Liu, B and Yao, DD and Jiang, ZC and He, YF},
title = {Diversity and Functional Analysis of Gut Microbiota in the Adult of Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by Metagenome Sequencing.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16121260},
pmid = {41465696},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {The gut microbiota of insects plays a fundamental role in modulating host physiology, including nutrition, development, and adaptability to environmental challenges. The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major invasive pest of rice worldwide, yet the composition and functional profile of its gut microbial community remain poorly characterized. Here, we employed metagenome sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus platform to explore the gut microbial diversity and predicted functions in adults of L. oryzophilus. Our results revealed a rich microbial community, comprising 26 phyla, 42 classes, 72 orders, 111 families, and 191 genera. The bacterial microbiota was overwhelmingly dominated by the phylum Proteobacteria (85.13% of total abundance). At the genus level, Pantoea (48.86%) was the most predominant taxon, followed by Wolbachia (14.57%) and Rickettsia (11.81%). KEGG analysis suggested that the gut microbiota is primarily associated with metabolic pathways such as membrane transport, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, energy metabolism, and signal transduction. eggNOG annotation further highlighted significant gene representation in amino acid and carbohydrate transport and metabolism, while CAZy annotation revealed glycosyl transferases (GTs) and glycoside hydrolases (GHs) as the dominant carbohydrate-active enzymes. This study provides the first comprehensive insight into the gut microbiome of L. oryzophilus adults, highlighting its potential role in the ecological success of this invasive pest. Our findings lay groundwork for future research aimed at developing novel microbial-based strategies for the sustainable management of L. oryzophilus.},
}

@article {pmid41465624,
year = {2025},
author = {Remmal, I and El Yamlahi, Y and Bel Mokhtar, N and Galiatsatos, I and Loukovitis, D and Dionyssopoulou, E and Britel, MR and Stathopoulou, P and Maurady, A and Tsiamis, G},
title = {Analysis of the Bacterial Microbiota in Wild Populations of Prickly Pear Cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae in Morocco.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16121184},
pmid = {41465624},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {FAO/IAEA Contract 22662//FAO/IAEA/ ; },
abstract = {Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), the wild cochineal scale, is a major pest of prickly pear crops worldwide. This study characterized the bacterial community structure of D. opuntiae from four Moroccan regions using targeted PCR and full-length 16S rRNA MinION sequencing. We report the first detection of Wolbachia (16.6% prevalence) in D. opuntiae, with infection rates varying geographically from 0% (Rabat) to 53.3% (Ouazzane). Spiroplasma was detected at a lower prevalence (3.3%) and exclusively in males. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Wolbachia sequences likely belong to supergroup B, based on their similarity to reference sequences, while Spiroplasma sequences were placed within the poulsonii-citri complex. MinION sequencing revealed Candidatus Dactylopiibacterium as the dominant taxon (97.7%), consistent with its role as an obligate symbiont. After removing this dominant species, we uncovered a diverse bacterial community, including Flavisolibacter, Pseudomonas, Phyllobacterium, Acinetobacter, and Brevibacillus. Beta diversity analysis showed significant geographic variation (PERMANOVA p < 0.008), with distinct communities across regions. Females harbored a more specialized microbiome dominated by Flavisolibacter (except in Agadir), whereas males and nymphs showed Pseudomonas dominance. Core microbiome analysis revealed no universal genera across all groups, with females displaying a more restricted core than males and nymphs. The detection of reproductive symbionts, combined with geographic and sex-specific microbiome patterns, provides valuable insights into the potential roles of these bacteria in host adaptation and their implications for microbiome-based pest management strategies. The complementary use of targeted and untargeted sequencing methods is essential for comprehensive microbiome characterization in this economically important pest.},
}

@article {pmid41461596,
year = {2025},
author = {Alqassim, AY},
title = {Confronting neglected tropical vector-borne diseases in a changing world: a review of challenges and opportunities.},
journal = {Pathogens and global health},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-14},
doi = {10.1080/20477724.2025.2609157},
pmid = {41461596},
issn = {2047-7732},
abstract = {Neglected tropical vector-borne diseases (NTVBDs) pose a significant global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. This review begins by defining NTVBDs and their classification criteria, providing a comprehensive overview of their geographical distribution, vectors, and causative agents. Climate change, socioeconomic factors, and land-use changes are changing NTVBD transmission dynamics, with temperature increases expanding vector ranges and creating new transmission hotspots in previously unsuitable regions. The review examines both established vector control approaches and emerging technologies, including CRISPR-based gene editing, artificial intelligence, and microbiome manipulation for NTVBD control. Housing improvements have shown particular promise, with studies demonstrating significant reductions in vector presence through structural interventions. Sustainable control programs emphasize community-based and culturally appropriate interventions, with gender-responsive approaches enhancing both intervention coverage and women's economic empowerment. The review explores the integration of NTVBD control with existing health systems through formal coordination mechanisms and sustainable financing frameworks beyond traditional donor-dependent models. Recent field initiatives addressing the psychological dimensions of NTVBDs highlight the importance of comprehensive approaches that extend beyond physical symptoms. To address the complex challenges of NTVBDs in a rapidly changing world, the review concludes that a multidisciplinary approach integrating technological innovation with social and ecological considerations is essential. Future research should examine the long-term effects of climate change on NTVBD dynamics, develop broadly protective vaccines, optimize integrated control strategies, and investigate innovative funding mechanisms for resource-limited settings.},
}

@article {pmid41458248,
year = {2025},
author = {Gunasekaran, Y and Pachalil Thiruvoth, V and Annamalai, S and Balakrishnan, V and Nagarajan, SA and Rahi, M},
title = {Life table variations in Wolbachia-transinfected (wMel & wAlbB strains) and uninfected Aedes aegypti: the role of various larval diets.},
journal = {Frontiers in insect science},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {1679816},
pmid = {41458248},
issn = {2673-8600},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Wolbachia-based vector control strategies have been successfully implemented as a sustainable long-term solution and a promising tool for controlling Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Ae. aegypti, the main vector of major arboviral diseases. Since it is essential to rear healthy and competent adult mosquitoes for mass release under Wolbachia-based vector control strategies, optimising larval diet is essential. Therefore, the current study tested and compared four different larval diets to examine their statistical significance on the Wolbachia transinfected and uninfected Ae. aegypti life table traits.

METHODS: We tested and compared the effects of four larval diets: LD1 (fish feed), LD2 (laboratory rodent diet), LD3 (mushroom powder), and LD4 (dog biscuit plus brewer's yeast) on hatchability, pupation, adult emergence, fecundity, and adult survival of Wolbachia-transinfected (wMel and wAlbB) Puducherry strains, as Among the tested diets, fish feed (LD1) and the combination of dog biscuit with brewer's yeast (LD4) have significant effects in both Wolbachia-transinfected and uninfected Ae. aegypti strains regarding egg hatchability, pupation, adult emergence, fecundity, and adult survival.

RESULTS: The highest fecundity was observed under LD1 for uninfected Ae. aegypti, with approximately 84 eggs/female (84.0 ± 6.0), followed by wMel (Pud) mosquitoes (~78 eggs/female, 78.0 ± 5.2) and uninfected mosquitoes (~75 eggs/female,74.6 ± 23.3) under LD4 diet in the F0 generation. The uninfected Ae. aegypti females exhibited significantly lower mortality risk under LD2 (Hazard Ratio (HR)=0.56<1, P<0.001), with a high median survival of 57 days compared to all other diets.

DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that LD1 (fish feed) can be recommended as the superior larval diet for the mass rearing of Wolbachia-transinfected strains, although both LD1 and LD4 diets demonstrated positive effects on all the Ae. aegypti strains. Meanwhile, LD4 (dog biscuit + brewer's yeast) can be recommended for the routine rearing of uninfected Ae. aegypti colonies, as it is comparatively cost-effective and readily available in India. These findings could contribute to the large-scale mosquito rearing programs under the Wolbachia strategy, ultimately supporting the implementation of sustainable vector control approaches for arboviral disease management.},
}

@article {pmid41456898,
year = {2025},
author = {Mao, C and Zhang, Q and Zhang, J and Li, X},
title = {Omics Analysis of Lignin Degradation by the Gut Microbiomes of Wood-Eating Hypomeces squamosus Fabricius.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {e70208},
doi = {10.1002/mbo3.70208},
pmid = {41456898},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {E5290504//"First Action Plan for Attracting Talents" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences-Category B/ ; },
mesh = {*Lignin/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; Wood/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; *Isoptera/microbiology/metabolism ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {Microbial degradation of lignin is important to carbon cycling. The gut microbiome of wood-feeding Hypomeces squamosus Fabricius has been shown to degrade lignin efficiently. However, the specific degradation mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of lignin degradation using omics comparative analysis, focusing on differentially expressed genes and metabolic pathways in the gut microbiome of insects fed with a lignin-rich diet. The dominant genus taxon was Pantoea (29.82%), which was predominant in insects fed with high lignin-containing Iris ensata Thunberg, whereas Wolbachia and Enterobacter were predominant in insects fed with cabbage leaves (MHS_K group). Furthermore, expression levels of carbohydrate-active enzymes from the auxiliary activities (AAs) families in the MHS_I group were 1.18 times higher than those in the MHS_K group. These mainly included lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase of the AA2 family, vanillyl-alcohol oxygenase of the AA4 family, and 1,4-benzoquinone reductase of the AA6 family. Expression levels of multiple genes encoding aromatic compound-degrading genes (2303 accounted for 75.76% of the total upregulated genes) were found, including about 0.03% was related to lignin degradation. Genes MHS-HN_11398_2 (protocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase) and MHS-HN_4821_1 (muconolactone d-isomerase) were enriched in the MHS_I group. Three lignin-degrading pathways were found: ortho-cleavage and meta-cleavage of catechol, as well as ring-opening of protocatechuate. This study provides a comprehensive and theoretical evidence of the gut microbiome roles of H. squamosus Fabricius in lignin degradation.},
}

*Lignin/metabolism
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Animals
Wood/metabolism
Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics
*Isoptera/microbiology/metabolism
*Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation & purification

@article {pmid41455508,
year = {2025},
author = {Bassini-Silva, R and da Cruz, LF and Carvalho, JT and de Souza Mello-Oliveira, V and Pesenato, IP and Calchi, AC and Castro-Santiago, AC and de Oliveira Andrade, L and da Silva Zampim, G and de Oliveira Bonaldo, R and Miranda, LFD and Subutzki, MEBS and Perrone, RF and de Quadros, RM and Ueno, TEH and Hoppe, EGL and André, MR and Duarte, JMB and Dos Santos Cruz Piveta, C and Labruna, MB and Barros-Battesti, DM and Dowling, APG and de Castro Jacinavicius, F},
title = {Sleeping with the enemy II: Expanding the ecological, molecular, and epidemiological knowledge of the tropical fowl mite, Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888).},
journal = {Parasitology international},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {103226},
doi = {10.1016/j.parint.2025.103226},
pmid = {41455508},
issn = {1873-0329},
abstract = {Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese), the tropical fowl mite from the family Macronyssidae, is a hematophagous ectoparasite of birds with increasing importance in human and animal health. This study reports new cases of human parasitism associated with O. bursa in Brazil, involving direct contact with avian hosts or their nests. These cases include new geographic records in the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina, and new associations with bird species, including the first known record in Amazona aestiva (Psittaciformes). Molecular analysis was performed on individual mites to characterize the species and investigate associated microorganisms. This study provides the first partial sequence of the cox1 gene for O. bursa and the first phylogenetic analysis for the family using this marker. Additionally, we report the first detection of Ehrlichia and Wolbachia in Brazilian specimens. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA sequences placed the Ehrlichia haplotype close to strains previously detected in Haemaphysalis spp. ticks and the Wolbachia haplotype within supergroup E. These findings expand our understanding of the ecological and microbial diversity of O. bursa, highlighting its public health relevance, and emphasize the need for further studies on its vector potential and evolutionary relationships.},
}

@article {pmid41438239,
year = {2026},
author = {de Morais Batista, F and Carcamo, PM and Nelson, E and da Silva Neto, AB and Tsuha, DH and Lahdo, V and Dos Santos, VR and Ribeiro, GS and da Silva Lopes, R and Amadeu, P and Ferreira Mendes Blanco, MV and da Costa, TR and de Melo Chalegre, KD and Riback, TIS and da Silva, CC and Ranzani, OT and Cummings, DAT and Andrews, JR and Ko, AI and Hitchings, MDT and Anders, KL and Moreira, LA and Maymone Gonçalves, CC and Croda, J},
title = {The impact of large-scale release of Wolbachia mosquitoes on dengue incidence in Campo Grande, Brazil: an ecological study.},
journal = {Lancet regional health. Americas},
volume = {54},
number = {},
pages = {101327},
pmid = {41438239},
issn = {2667-193X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The introduction of the wMel strain of Wolbachia into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes significantly reduces dengue virus transmission. We evaluated the impact of large-scale releases of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti on dengue incidence in Campo Grande, a large urban city in the Central-West region of Brazil, in the first deployment of Wolbachia as an official dengue-control strategy by the Brazilian federal government.

METHODS: Mosquitoes infected with wMel Wolbachia were released in geographically phased deployments throughout Campo Grande from December 2020 through December 2023. An ovitrap surveillance network monitored Wolbachia prevalence in local Ae. aegypti populations during and after releases. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression was used to evaluate neighborhood-level monthly notified dengue incidence (2008-2024) as a function of monthly wMel exposure status, comparing fully treated (wMel prevalence stably ≥60%) and partially treated (ongoing releases or wMel <60%) with untreated periods, accounting for seasonal variation.

FINDINGS: More than 100 million Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes were released, achieving a post-intervention mean Wolbachia prevalence of 86.4% (95% CI 84.0-88.9), with 89% of intervention areas reaching stable Wolbachia levels ≥60%. Stable establishment of wMel at ≥60% prevalence was associated with a 63.2% (95% CI 51.9-71.9) reduction in dengue incidence.

INTERPRETATION: Our results demonstrate successful large-scale Wolbachia establishment in Ae. aegypti populations and a substantial epidemiological impact on dengue incidence in an urban Brazilian setting. This study provides robust evidence supporting Wolbachia deployment as an effective, sustainable public health intervention and validates its implementation as a federal government-supported dengue control strategy in Brazil.

FUNDING: This work was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.},
}

@article {pmid41432350,
year = {2025},
author = {Minaei, ME and Yousefi Nojookambari, N and Ghodraty, M and Yazdansetad, S},
title = {Wolbachia as a transformative tool for mosquito-borne disease control: a comprehensive review of mechanisms, efficacy, and future directions.},
journal = {Pathogens and global health},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-11},
doi = {10.1080/20477724.2025.2604222},
pmid = {41432350},
issn = {2047-7732},
abstract = {Mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and malaria continue to pose significant public health challenges worldwide. Traditional control methods, including the use of insecticides and environmental management, have shown limited effectiveness due to insecticide resistance and logistical challenges. Wolbachia-based strategies, which leverage the bacterium's unique ability to manipulate mosquito reproduction and block pathogens, present a promising, albeit not universally applicable, method for reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Field trials have demonstrated significant but variable efficacy. This systematic review synthesizes the latest findings on Wolbachia-based interventions, focusing on their mechanisms, efficacy, and potential for large-scale implementation. We conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies published between 1990 and 2025. Our review highlights the promising results of Wolbachia-based strategies in reducing mosquito populations and disease transmission, while also addressing the challenges and limitations of this approach. We conclude that Wolbachia-based strategies hold great potential for revolutionizing mosquito-borne disease control, but further research and careful consideration of ecological and ethical implications are necessary for their successful implementation.},
}

@article {pmid41430507,
year = {2025},
author = {Barlow, A and Penington, S and Adams, B},
title = {Analysis of a household-scale model for the invasion of Wolbachia into a resident mosquito population.},
journal = {Journal of mathematical biology},
volume = {92},
number = {1},
pages = {18},
pmid = {41430507},
issn = {1432-1416},
abstract = {In areas infested with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes it may be possible to control dengue, and some other vector-borne diseases, by introducing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the wildtype population. Thus far, empirical and theoretical studies of Wolbachia release have tended to focus on the dynamics at the community scale. However, Ae. aegypti mosquitoes typically dwell in and around the same houses as the people they bite and it can be insightful to explore what happens at the household scale where small population sizes lead to inherently stochastic dynamics. Here we use a continuous-time Markov framework to develop a stochastic household model for small populations of wildtype and Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. We investigate the transient and long term dynamics of the system, in particular examining the impact of stochasticity on the Wolbachia invasion threshold and bistability between the wildtype-only and Wolbachia-only steady states previously observed in deterministic models. We focus on the influence of key parameters which determine the fitness cost of Wolbachia infection and the probability of Wolbachia vertical transmission. Using Markov and matrix population theory, we derive salient characteristics of the system including the probability of successful Wolbachia invasion, the expected time until invasion and the probability that a Wolbachia-infected population reverts to a wildtype population. These attributes can inform strategies for the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. In addition, we find that releasing the minimum number of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes required to displace a resident wildtype population according to the deterministic model, only results in that outcome about 20% of the time in the stochastic model; a significantly larger release is required to reach a steady state composed entirely of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes 90% of the time.},
}

@article {pmid41421639,
year = {2025},
author = {Espinosa, AC and Gómez, RJV and Duque-Granda, D and Cadavid-Restrepo, GE and Junca, H and Herrera, CXM},
title = {Evidence of eurythermal behavior and microbiota differentiation in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus from the Colombian Amazon biome.},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107951},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107951},
pmid = {41421639},
issn = {1873-6254},
abstract = {Temperature is one of the most important factors influencing mosquito development, vector competence, and microbiome composition, affecting the disease transmission cycle by either facilitating or inhibiting pathogen establishment. This study aimed to estimate temperature preference and its correlation with bacterial communities in populations of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from the urban area of Leticia, Amazonas. Temperature preference profiles were obtained by introducing 50 individuals of each species and sex in six replicates for one hour into a device with a temperature gradient of 19-36°C. Subsequently, a metataxonomic analysis of bacterial communities was performed using DNA extracted from whole mosquito body groups associated with temperature ranges defined by their statistical significance. First, it was determined that females of both species preferred temperatures between 23-28°C. Meanwhile, Ae. aegypti males showed a larger temperature preference range (21-28°C) than Ae. albopictus males (25-28°C). Regarding bacterial communities, an increase in diversity was observed in males of both species with rising temperatures, whereas the opposite occurred in females. The Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) associated with Asaia (2.88%), Cedecea (45.80%), Elizabethkingia (77.78%), and Klebsiella (8.90%) were the most abundant genera in Ae. aegypti. In comparison, Ae. albopictus exhibited a high abundance of Elizabethkingia (36.34%), Pseudomonas (95.08%), and Wolbachia (12.73%). Interestingly, Elizabethkingia varied in abundance according to sex and temperature in both species. It was determined that the structure of Aedes bacterial communities in the Amazon was influenced by sex, species, and temperature, indicating high plasticity and ubiquity according to temperature profiles.},
}

@article {pmid41390744,
year = {2025},
author = {Malik, K and Jousselin, E and Clamens, AL and Sugimoto, S and Wieczorek, K},
title = {Molecular phylogeny of the Acer-feeding aphid subfamily Drepanosiphinae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the evolution of its endosymbiotic consortia.},
journal = {Zoological letters},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {9},
pmid = {41390744},
issn = {2056-306X},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The Drepanosiphinae is a Holarctic subfamily of Aphididae comprising six genera: Drepanaphis, Drepanosiphoniella, Drepanosiphum, Megalosiphonaphis, Shenahweum, and Yamatocallis, all of which exhibit strict host plant associations, primarily with Acer species. Despite long-standing taxonomic attention, evolutionary relationships within the group remain poorly resolved, and some important aspects of their biology, such as their patterns of association with symbionts, have been unexplored despite evidence that species in the subfamily might be involved in atypical nutritional symbioses. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of this subfamily and investigate the evolution of its endosymbiotic consortia. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using multiple DNA markers, employing both Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) approaches. Endosymbionts were characterized using high-throughput sequencing of a fragment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The resulting phylogenies are largely congruent across markers and methods and consistently support the monophyly of Drepanosiphinae. Drepanaphis and Drepanosiphum form a well-supported clade as sister to Drepanosiphoniella, while Yamatocallis and Megalosiphonaphis form a distinct, more distantly related clade. Within Drepanaphis, species group according to host plant use rather than traditional morphological groupings, revealing three host-associated clades: rubrum, saccharum, and grandidentatum. Endosymbiont characterization revealed that, in addition to the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, most Drepanosiphinae species also host a Sodalis-like bacterium, consistent with previous genomic evidence for a dual nutritional symbiosis with this bacterium. However, Sodalis was absent in most Yamatocallis species, indicating a complex and potentially dynamic evolutionary history of symbiotic relationships within the subfamily. Patterns of association with Wolbachia, Rickettsia, Fukatsuia, Serratia and Arsenophonus suggest a limited role in nutrition. By integrating phylogenetic reconstruction with symbiont profiling, this study provides the most comprehensive evolutionary framework to date for Drepanosiphinae and reinforces the view that nutritional symbioses in aphids are evolutionarily dynamics.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40851-025-00255-2.},
}

@article {pmid41390508,
year = {2025},
author = {Niu, YD and Fan, QH and Wang, ZH and Wang, MK and Zhao, DS and Wang, MR and Wu, BX and Hong, XY and Bing, XL},
title = {Wolbachia enhances ovarian development in the rice planthopper Laodelphax striatellus through elevated energy production.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-67660-1},
pmid = {41390508},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {32020103011//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32572809//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
abstract = {The endosymbiont Wolbachia can both benefit host nutrition and manipulate host reproduction to its own advantage. However, the mechanisms of its nutritional benefits remain unclear. We show that Wolbachia enhances ovarian development in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus by boosting energy production. Wolbachia-infected females have increased fecundity, accelerated ovarian development, and prolonged oviposition. Enhanced activity of mitochondrial complex I is linked to increased ATP production and the expression of energy metabolism-related genes. We further identify that Wolbachia-synthesized riboflavin is crucial for ATP production and ovarian development. A riboflavin transporter, slc52a3a, positively correlates with Wolbachia density and is required for normal ovarian maturation. Our findings demonstrate that Wolbachia-produced riboflavin drives energy production and accelerates ovarian maturation, thus improving host fecundity. This research reveals insights into symbiont-host metabolic interactions and underscores the role of nutrient delivery in symbiosis.},
}

@article {pmid41386869,
year = {2025},
author = {Allahem, A and Alajmi, R and Alajami, MA and Al-Ghamdi, S and Bashir, MA and Zeb, J and Alarjani, KM and Al-Malahi, NM and Abdel-Gaber, R},
title = {Molecular Detection of natural bacterial flora within Culex pipiens pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) in Aleppo, Syria.},
journal = {Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology},
volume = {23},
number = {4},
pages = {100604},
doi = {10.1016/j.jgeb.2025.100604},
pmid = {41386869},
issn = {2090-5920},
abstract = {Culex pipiens complex members have been known as important vectors of medical and veterinary arthropod-borne diseases for many pathogens (viral, bacterial, parasitic). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate natural bacterial flora within the Culex pipiens pipiens (Linnaeus,1758) collected from Aleppo City, Syria. Specimens of Cx. p. pipiens were identified based on a pictorial key. The presence of bacterial species was investigated using the PCR technique and special culture media. Results indicated the presence of mine bacterial species, including Wolbachia pipiens, Moraxella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Corynebacterium kutsceri, Clostridium tetani, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Wolbachia controls the sexual behavior of mosquitoes and therefore can be used in biocontrol.},
}

@article {pmid41385576,
year = {2025},
author = {Florez, D and Cortez, R and Hyman, JM and Qu, Z},
title = {Improving Wolbachia-based control programs in urban settings: Insights from spatial modeling.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {19},
number = {12},
pages = {e0013787},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0013787},
pmid = {41385576},
issn = {1935-2735},
abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue remain major global public health challenges, especially in areas facing rapid climate change. Conventional mosquito control often proves ineffective or unsustainable, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. One promising strategy is releasing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium that reduces mosquito-borne virus transmission. However, spatial heterogeneity across release areas complicates large-scale Wolbachia deployment, particularly in complex urban landscapes. High spatial variation and limited access to certain regions can cause establishment failures, waste resources, and disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities. To address this, we developed a partial differential equation model that simulates the spatial spread of Wolbachia in mosquito populations. The model incorporates practical pre-release measures such as insecticide spraying and repeated releases, while accounting for variation in urban landscapes that influence mosquito movement. We identified strategies for optimizing Wolbachia releases under two common constraints: limited release size and limited pre-release insecticide effectiveness. Our results show that, under a release-size constraint, Wolbachia can establish in low-dispersal areas (e.g., backyards or gated communities) even without insecticide. In contrast, in higher-dispersal areas (e.g., parks or city blocks), reducing the wild mosquito population by 35% prior to release accelerates Wolbachia establishment within nine months. When insecticide efficacy is limited to 35%, releases smaller than the constrained maximum can still achieve 90% Wolbachia infection in low-dispersal areas, but larger releases are required in high-dispersal settings. Our simulations further suggest that splitting releases into 2-5 weekly batches can outperform a single large release, even without pre-release interventions. These findings highlight the potential of tailoring pre-release interventions and release strategies to local mosquito dispersal characteristics, offering actionable insights for cost-effective and efficient Wolbachia-based vector control programs.},
}

@article {pmid41379883,
year = {2025},
author = {Berardi, L and Colvin, A and West, M and Odorizzi, G and Starai, VJ},
title = {Wbm0152, an outer membrane lipoprotein of the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi, inhibits yeast ESCRT complex activity.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {12},
pages = {e1013383},
doi = {10.1371/journal.ppat.1013383},
pmid = {41379883},
issn = {1553-7374},
abstract = {Human pathogenic filarial nematodes of the family Onchocercidae, including Brugia malayi and Onchocerca volvulus, cause debilitating filarial diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and river blindness. These arthropod-borne pathogens are obligately colonized by the Gram-negative intracellular alphaproteobacterium, Wolbachia, which is essential for nematode sexual reproduction, long-term survival, and pathogenicity in the mammalian host. Like many intracellular bacteria, Wolbachia likely uses numerous surface-exposed and secreted effector proteins to regulate its ability to persist and replicate within nematode host cells. However, due to the inability to cultivate Wolbachia in the laboratory and the genetic intractability of both filarial nematodes and the bacterium, the molecular underpinnings that define the bacterium:nematode relationship are almost completely unknown. In this work, we show that the expression of a Wolbachia outer membrane lipoprotein, wBm0152, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae inhibits the activity of the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT), a highly conserved complex essential for autophagy, endosomal maturation, nuclear envelope repair and viral budding in eukaryotic cells. Wbm0152 expression strongly disrupts endosomal maturation, leading to defects in ubiquitylated protein turnover. Using in vivo bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we find that Wbm0152 interacts with the Vps2p subunit of the ESCRT-III subcomplex as well as the Vps2p ortholog (BmVps2, Bm6583b) from a Wolbachia host nematode, Brugia malayi. These data suggest a novel role of ESCRT in Wolbachia persistence, providing insight into the elusive relationship between these two organisms.},
}

@article {pmid41366724,
year = {2025},
author = {Papachristos, K and Miller, WJ and Klasson, L},
title = {A co-speciation dilemma and a lifestyle transition with genomic consequences in Wolbachia of Neotropical Drosophila.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12340-z},
pmid = {41366724},
issn = {1471-2164},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Long-term persistent symbiotic associations may result in co-speciation and can be inferred if species trees of hosts and symbionts are congruent in topology and divergence times. Co-speciation has been seen to occur relatively frequently in obligate associations, but is less common in parasitic or facultative ones, mainly due to the difference in horizontal transmission rates. The long-term vertical inheritance and close host association of obligate endosymbionts also generally result in smaller genomes than in facultative endosymbionts. Here, we investigate co-speciation and genome reduction using highly similar strains of the endosymbiont Wolbachia infecting Drosophila species from the willistoni and saltans groups, where only one strain, wPau, infecting D. paulistorum, is obligate.

RESULTS: We sequenced the Wolbachia genomes from five species of the willistoni and saltans groups and constructed phylogenies. Topological congruence was found between these Wolbachia strains and the nuclear DNA of their hosts, except for wPau and D. paulistorum, but full topological congruence was observed between Wolbachia and the host mitochondrial DNA. However, assuming temporal congruence, we estimated extremely low evolutionary rates in Wolbachia of 10[- 10]-10[- 11] changes/site/year. Additionally, the obligate wPau strain was found to have a larger genome than closely related facultative strains, mainly due to an ongoing expansion of an IS4 element. Furthermore, wPau has lost a large proportion of its prophage WO genes, but the cif genes, known to be involved in the CI phenotype, are intact. Finally, nine of the eleven genes from the prophage WO-associated Undecim cluster are uniquely duplicated.

CONCLUSIONS: The congruent topologies between Wolbachia and their willistoni and saltans group hosts indicate co-speciation. However, the high similarity between Wolbachia strains, which results in low mutation rate estimates, challenges this interpretation. Contrary to the expectations of the genome reduction theory, we observed an increase in genome size in the obligate wPau strain, potentially driven by a decreased population size. Finally, the duplication of the Undecim cluster, despite a major loss of other prophage-associated genes, suggests that the genes in the Undecim cluster are under strong selection and potentially play a role in the obligate association between wPau and their D. paulistorum hosts.},
}

@article {pmid41350619,
year = {2025},
author = {Pham, NT and Duplouy, A and See, J and Knowles, LS and Marquina, E and Gallice, G and Molleman, F and Oostra, V},
title = {A high-quality draft genome assembly of the Neotropical butterfly, Batesia hypochlora (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae).},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12394-z},
pmid = {41350619},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {2021/43/B/NZ8/00966//Narodowym Centrum Nauki/ ; 2021/43/B/NZ8/00966//Narodowym Centrum Nauki/ ; 321543//Research Council of Finland/ ; NEOF1388//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; MR/V024744/2//UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship/ ; SR20-1273//British Ecological Society/ ; },
abstract = {We report a long-read high-coverage reference genome assembly of the Neotropical butterfly, Batesia hypochlora (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae). This represents the first reference genome in the Biblidinae subfamily, a clade subject to ongoing studies on seasonal and climate adaptation in the Amazon. We assembled the genome from PacBio HiFi long reads (66X coverage), polished it with Illumina short reads (15X coverage), and annotated it using PacBio IsoSeq RNA data. We observed 15 chromosome-sized scaffolds, varying in length from 13.2 Mbp to 37.6 Mbp (median, 24.3 Mbp), which combined to form a total genome size of 395.788 Mbp. This assembly is highly contiguous (contig N50 of 25.14 Mbp) and complete (BUSCO completeness score of 98.6% and 0.2% duplication rate). Repeat annotation revealed that the genome comprises approximately one-third transposable elements. Gene prediction using RNA-seq evidence identified 19,395 genes, of which 17,400 were assigned to 2,883 orthogroups, including genomes of the fruit fly, silk moth, and three other Nymphalid butterfly species. The high sequencing depth also allowed us to assemble the genomes of the mitochondria and the common endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. The mitochondrial genome was fully assembled (15,540 bp in size) with all expected genes annotated. The Wolbachia genome was fragmented, and we determined that it belongs to the B-supergroup. The high-quality assembly of B. hypochlora can represent the subfamily in further comparative analysis of evolution and provide a key resource for ongoing work to explore reproductive biology and adaptations to seasonality in Neotropical butterflies.},
}

@article {pmid41349209,
year = {2025},
author = {Asselin, AK and Engelstädter, J and Johnson, KN},
title = {Dynamics of virus infection in a Wolbachia-infected host.},
journal = {Virology},
volume = {615},
number = {},
pages = {110759},
doi = {10.1016/j.virol.2025.110759},
pmid = {41349209},
issn = {1096-0341},
abstract = {Wolbachia is a bacterium that blocks viruses and protects its arthropod hosts from infection. Whilst Wolbachia blocking is used as a strategy to prevent mosquito-borne disease, the mechanisms of Wolbachia-mediated viral blocking are not well characterised. Several mechanisms have been implicated, but it is often unclear their contribution to the overall blocking and how broadly they apply across host-virus-Wolbachia systems. Wolbachia's impact on viral dynamics and pathogenicity in individual Drosophila hosts was measured to explore what Wolbachia-mediated changes dominate the blocking phenotype. The empirical data was combined with a dynamical model to look at the impact of a series of parameters. This model described changes through time to susceptible cells, infected cells, and free virion particles. Results showed that Wolbachia reduced the accumulation of viral RNA and infectious viruses. The maximum amount of viral RNA was lower in individuals with Wolbachia, while the maximum amount of infectious virus was the same. These viral dynamics of Wolbachia-infected individuals could be recapitulated with a lower rate of viral infection of susceptible cells, lower viral release, a smaller number of susceptible cells or smaller burst size or various combinations of these processes. Experimental testing of the importance of these processes may be required to resolve their contribution to Wolbachia-mediated virus blocking. As further empirical data is added, the dynamical modelling approach may help guide decisions on which large impact mechanisms to focus on for functional approaches.},
}

@article {pmid41345699,
year = {2025},
author = {Yilmaz, A and Kasap, OE},
title = {Prevalence of Wolbachia in natural sand fly (diptera: psychodidae) populations from Türkiye and its potential role in mitochondrial divergence.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13071-025-07157-4},
pmid = {41345699},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {2211-A National PhD Scholarship Program//TÜBİTAK/ ; 101057690//European Commission/ ; 10038150 and 10038150//UK Research and Innovation/ ; TBAG 105T205 and SBAG 114S999//Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu/ ; 09D01601002 and 01001601001//Hacettepe University Scientific Research Unit/ ; W911QY-16-C-0160//AFHSB-GEIS/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of various pathogens, most notably Leishmania spp. Symbiotic bacteria have recently gained considerable attention owing to their effects on hosts and on other organisms co-infecting the same host. In this study, we investigated the natural Wolbachia infection status of sand fly taxa distributed in Türkiye and examined its potential role in driving the deep mitochondrial divergence observed within certain taxa.

METHODS: We analysed 858 sand fly specimens, mostly collected between 2005 and 2016, with additional samples obtained in 2023. Specimens were morphologically identified, and the mitochondrial cox1 gene was sequenced for DNA barcoding. For selected taxa showing marked mitochondrial divergence, species delimitation methods were applied, and genetic diversity indices and neutrality tests were calculated. Wolbachia infection was detected via PCR amplification of the wsp gene, and strain diversity was characterised using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of five housekeeping genes. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between infection status and mitochondrial lineage, sex or collection period.

RESULTS: Wolbachia infection was detected in 16.67% of specimens, occurring exclusively in Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. major s.l., Ph. tobbi, Ph. economidesi and Sergentomyia minuta. Analyses of wsp and MLST data identified all sequences as belonging to Supergroup A, with multiple strains present within and across host taxa. Infection among the five Ph. major s.l. lineages delineated by species delimitation was significantly associated with lineage, with lineages 3-5 showing a higher probability of infection. The reduced haplotype and nucleotide diversity, along with a significant negative deviation from neutrality observed in lineage 5, suggest a selective sweep likely driven by Wolbachia infection.

CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first comprehensive screening of Wolbachia infection in sand fly taxa distributed across Türkiye, during which several novel Wolbachia strains were identified. Our findings suggest a potential role of Wolbachia infection in driving lineage differentiation within certain sand fly taxa. However, further detailed investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms by which Wolbachia influences sand fly diversification and to assess the broader epidemiological implications related to sand fly-borne diseases (SFBDs).},
}

@article {pmid41332712,
year = {2025},
author = {Romo, R and Ricks, E and Ogden, R and Bonnette, PE and Olson, SC and Pearman, K and Call, GB and Chaston, JM},
title = {Whole-body homogenates restore disrupted microbiota composition in a model insect better than feces or no restoration treatment.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.11.17.688872},
pmid = {41332712},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Antibiotic treatment can disrupt gut microbiota and pose challenges and opportunities for the establishment or restoration of healthy microbial communities. Using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster , as an experimental model, we evaluated the impact of two types of microbial transplants-fly feces and whole-body fly homogenates-on host microbiota composition, following, or independent of, tetracycline-induced community disruption. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we compared community beta diversity between treatments. We show that antibiotic treatment significantly altered microbiota composition and community structure relative to untreated controls. Flies inoculated with whole body homogenates of age-matched, antibiotic-free flies had a more similar microbial community composition to the untreated communities than flies exposed to fly feces or to flies that received no restoration treatment. We also found that the presence of Wolbachia was associated with variation in microbiota composition and specific locomotor functions. These findings show that whole-body homogenates are a superior method for microbiota restoration in Drosophila melanogaster and contribute to a growing body of research on microbial community restoration following disturbance.

IMPORTANCE: Gut microbes play a critical role in animal biology, influencing digestion, immunity, development, and behavior. Disruptions to the gut microbiota-whether from antibiotics, disease, or other interventions-can have lasting effects, and restoring these communities remains an important challenge across biological and biomedical research. Model organisms like fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) provide a powerful system for testing microbial restoration methods because their gut communities are relatively simple and easy to manipulate. In this study, we compared various strategies for repopulating the microbiota of flies following antibiotic treatment. We found that flies fed whole-body homogenates of untreated flies more closely resembled the microbiota of untreated flies than flies exposed to fly feces or to flies that received no restoration treatment. These findings contribute to broader efforts to understand and develop methods for microbiota recovery following disturbance and suggest applications across animal systems.},
}

@article {pmid41329508,
year = {2025},
author = {Suliman, Y and Li, Z and Sinha, A and Dyer, PD and Hartley, CS and Ettwiller, L and Darby, AC and Carlow, CK and Makepeace, BL},
title = {Erratum: Cappable-seq reveals the transcriptional landscape of stress responses in the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia.},
journal = {Microbial genomics},
volume = {11},
number = {12},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001584},
pmid = {41329508},
issn = {2057-5858},
}

@article {pmid41326105,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, S and Li, S and Yang, D and Wen, C and Wen, J},
title = {Wolbachia-mediated regulation of EscrGST1 modulates pesticide resistance in Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {216},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {106743},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106743},
pmid = {41326105},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/drug effects ; Neonicotinoids/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; *Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; *Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Weevils/microbiology/drug effects/genetics ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism/genetics ; Nitro Compounds/pharmacology ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; RNA Interference ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted intracellular symbiont widely distributed in arthropods, regulates diverse host functions including detoxification. Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a specialist borer pest of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, it exclusively damages the host tree through larval boring and adult supplemental feeding, constituting a major wood-boring insect in China's forestry ecosystems. This study investigated the role of Wolbachia in modulating the detoxification capacity of E. scrobiculatus. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses demonstrated that 21-day tetracycline treatment (15 mg/mL) effectively eliminated Wolbachia (99.96 % reduction). Compared to symbiotic controls, Wolbachia-depleted weevils exhibited significantly reduced activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), while carboxylesterase (CES) activity increased. Subsequently, transcriptomic analysis further revealed that Wolbachia-depleted weevils exhibited diminished expression of the detoxification gene EscrGST1 and reduced tolerance to the insecticides imidacloprid and cypermethrin. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of EscrGST1 induced a compensatory increase in Wolbachia abundance during gene suppression, demonstrating a bidirectional regulatory mechanism between symbiont dynamics and host detoxification pathways. These findings demonstrate that Wolbachia mediates pesticide resistance in E. scrobiculatus by modulating EscrGST1 activity, providing novel strategies for controlling E. scrobiculatus, and offering new perspectives for developing pest control approaches through targeted disruption of symbiotic relationships.},
}

Animals
*Wolbachia/physiology/drug effects
Neonicotinoids/pharmacology
*Insecticides/pharmacology
*Insecticide Resistance/genetics
*Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism
*Weevils/microbiology/drug effects/genetics
Pyrethrins/pharmacology
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism/genetics
Nitro Compounds/pharmacology
Glutathione Transferase/metabolism/genetics
Symbiosis
RNA Interference
Tetracycline/pharmacology

@article {pmid41315436,
year = {2025},
author = {Chng, KK and Liew, JWK and Ang, SC and Zulkifli, MF and Chong, CS and Tan, CH and Lu, D},
title = {Enhanced mosquito sex separation using NaCl for optimised sterile insect technique and incompatible insect technique programmes.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {42818},
pmid = {41315436},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Mosquito Control/methods ; *Sodium Chloride/pharmacology ; Larva/drug effects ; *Culicidae/drug effects/physiology ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Pupa/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Accurate separation of sexes is pivotal for the success of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) mosquito control programmes. We present a novel approach utilising a 15% sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment coupled with an automated mechanical separation system to significantly reduce female contamination among released males. Our findings not only demonstrated a 30-fold reduction in female contamination rates but also offer insights into the effects of salinity on mosquito larvae and pupae. This integrated strategy enhances the efficiency of large-scale mosquito production for disease control programmes.},
}

Animals
Female
Male
*Mosquito Control/methods
*Sodium Chloride/pharmacology
Larva/drug effects
*Culicidae/drug effects/physiology
*Pest Control, Biological/methods
Pupa/drug effects

@article {pmid41313632,
year = {2025},
author = {Arai, H and Nishikawa, Y and Konagaya, T and Kogawa, M and Kifushi, M and Takeyama, H and Anbutsu, H and Kageyama, D},
title = {Single-cell genome analysis of a feminizing Wolbachia in Eurema butterflies reveals a shared origin with male-killing Wolbachia.},
journal = {Microbial genomics},
volume = {11},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001578},
pmid = {41313632},
issn = {2057-5858},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics/classification ; *Butterflies/microbiology/genetics ; Male ; Female ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Feminization ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia is a ubiquitous endosymbiont in arthropods that is maternally transmitted and affects host reproduction in various ways. Among these, skewing the host sex ratio towards females, either by killing males (male killing) or producing exclusively functional females (feminization or parthenogenesis), is considered advantageous for Wolbachia. In the butterfly Eurema mandarina, individuals harbouring the Wolbachia strain wFem exclusively produce female offspring. This occurs through a two-step mechanism in which Wolbachia blocks the transmission of the Z chromosome from Z0 females and feminizes the resultant Z0 offspring. Given the unique characteristics of wFem, understanding its genomic features is crucial to uncover the evolution and mechanisms of Wolbachia-induced reproductive manipulation. However, technical challenges in isolating wFem from co-infecting, closely related, non-male-killing/non-feminizing wCI Wolbachia strain have hindered genomic analyses of wFem. In this study, we established a closed circular genome of wFem by developing a series of Wolbachia purification, cell sorting and single-cell genome sequencing techniques. wFem genome, ~1.3 Mb in size, specifically encodes male-killing gene homologues (Em-oscar and wmk) and other putative virulence factors that are absent in wCI. In addition, wFem carried prophage elements that showed high similarity to previously characterized male-killing-associated prophages in Wolbachia strains. This study highlights the shared functional genomic features between feminizing and male-killing Wolbachia in Lepidoptera and suggests a mechanistic link between these two Wolbachia-induced reproductive phenotypes.},
}

Animals
*Wolbachia/genetics/classification
*Butterflies/microbiology/genetics
Male
Female
*Genome, Bacterial
Single-Cell Analysis
Symbiosis
Phylogeny
Feminization

@article {pmid41302914,
year = {2025},
author = {Bykov, R and Shatalova, E and Andreeva, I and Khodakova, A and Ryabinin, A and Demenkova, M and Ilinsky, Y},
title = {Endosymbiotic Bacteria Spiroplasma and Wolbachia in a Laboratory-Reared Insect Collection.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16111168},
pmid = {41302914},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {24-24-00378//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Many insect and other arthropod species are maintained as non-model laboratory stocks and are used for fundamental and applied studies. Their biology may be affected by symbionts, such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Thirty stocks of different insect species that are maintained at the Laboratory of biological control of phytophagous and phytopathogens in the Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies were screened to find Spiroplasma/Wolbachia-host associations. We used 16S rDNA and fusA loci for Spiroplasma characterization and five MLST genes for Wolbachia. Seven out of thirty stocks harbored symbionts. Five stocks were infected with only Wolbachia, one with only Spiroplasma, and one with both symbionts. Two stocks were occasionally characterized by false-positive signals of Spiroplasma infection that were explained by contamination from food sources, viz. infected insects. Five Wolbachia isolates belonged to supergroup B and one to supergroup A. Only the MLST haplotype of Nabis ferus was previously known (ST-522), while the other haplotypes contained new alleles. One Spiroplasma isolate was clustered in the Ixodetis clade and another was basal to the Apis clade. We noted the importance of non-model insects for fundamental studies of host-symbiont interactions and their significance for applied research and practice.},
}

@article {pmid41302872,
year = {2025},
author = {Mu, K and Zhang, B and Cai, Z and Chen, J and Zhang, J and Su, J},
title = {Diversity and Influencing Factors of Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Tetranychus truncatus Sourced from Major Crops in Xinjiang.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16111126},
pmid = {41302872},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2022B02043//Key Research and Development Project of Autonomous Region/ ; U2003112//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024B02003//Key Research and Development Project of the Xinjiang/ ; },
abstract = {The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated in northwest China, boasts a unique geographical position and a consequent variety of environmental characteristics. T. truncatus is prevalent throughout this region as the primary pest affecting various crops. In this study, we analyzed the microbial community structures of endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus collected from 17 regions and three host plants in Xinjiang using 16S rRNA sequencing. Through composition analysis of the endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus from Xinjiang, it was found that the dominant bacterial phyla were Pseudomonadota and Bacillota. At the genus level, in addition to Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Spiroplasma (common symbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus), the infection rate of Rickettsia in T. truncatus in Xinjiang was found to be 92.8%. The diversity of the endosymbiotic bacteria community in T. truncatus is shaped by both host plant species and geographical region. Specifically, the endosymbiotic bacterial diversity in T. truncatus populations on corn was significantly higher than that observed in populations on cotton and soybean (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we discovered the diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus was significantly higher in southern Xinjiang than in northern Xinjiang (p < 0.05).},
}

@article {pmid41298832,
year = {2025},
author = {Gaudillat, B and Duployer, M and Scussel, S and Lejarre, Q and Esnault, J and Sinon, D and Jean-Bonnelame, A and Donet, S and Amade, M and Desir, H and Pool, H and Sinon, K and Savy, S and Sultan, N and Jean-Baptiste, K and Biscornet, L and François, J and Rocamora, G and Mavingui, P and Tortosa, P and Cattel, J},
title = {Production and shipment of wolbachia-infected eggs allows the control of aedes albopictus through the incompatible insect technique on a remote island.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s42003-025-09269-0},
pmid = {41298832},
issn = {2399-3642},
abstract = {Climate and land-use changes are accelerating the spread of the mosquito Aedes albopictus, a major arbovirus vector, leading to the emergence and autochthonous transmission of dengue or chikungunya viruses in temperate regions such as Italy and France. This has prompted the development of alternative control strategies to counteract growing insecticide resistance. The Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) uses mass releases of Wolbachia-infected males that sterilize wild females through Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI). We conducted a six-month IIT suppression trial on a remote island in the Western Indian Ocean using a novel Aedes albopictus line with a single Wolbachia infection inducing bi-directional CI. This ensures both released males and accidentally released females are incompatible, avoiding population replacement, a common limitation of standard IIT. The trial was conducted under operational conditions, with release numbers adjusted to wild population densities. Eggs were produced in a central insectary over 1000 km away, shipped by plane and boat to the release site. Our results show: (i) over 95% suppression within a few weeks of treatment, (ii) effective prevention of population replacement, and (iii) successful long-distance egg shipment. These findings support the feasibility, scalability, and field-readiness of this environmentally friendly vector control approach.},
}

@article {pmid41297850,
year = {2025},
author = {Dell'Aglio, E and Ferrarini, MG and Rebollo, R},
title = {Epigenetics and non-coding RNAs in host-endosymbiont interactions: insights from Wolbachia and beyond.},
journal = {Current opinion in insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101464},
doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2025.101464},
pmid = {41297850},
issn = {2214-5753},
abstract = {Symbioses are widespread in nature and are among major evolutionary forces. Insects have recurrently established intracellular symbioses with bacteria, balancing between immune responses and homeostasis. The processes involved in endosymbiosis establishment, maintenance, and control have recently been associated with epigenetic pathways and non-coding RNAs, which are known to regulate a wide range of cellular processes, including development, differentiation, immune response, and metabolism. Using the well-studied Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti model as a reference, we summarize how these mechanisms influence host gene expression, endosymbiont maintenance, and antiviral defence. Beyond Wolbachia, only a few examples have provided functional evidence of the role of epigenetics in regulating natural insect-bacteria associations. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that epigenetic factors can act as mediators of host-endosymbiont coordination; however, determining if such factors are drivers or by-products of symbiosis establishment will require further investigation.},
}

@article {pmid41289906,
year = {2025},
author = {Thongmeesee, K and Aung, A and Narapakdeesakul, D and Kamkong, P and Chatchaisuriya, A and Satidsommon, P and Kerdrojwongkul, S and Lilertlam, S and Charoensiri, S and Tiawsirisup, S},
title = {Incidental amplification of Wolbachia sequences in fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) collected from pets in Thailand using 16S rDNA universal primers for hemoplasma detection.},
journal = {Research in veterinary science},
volume = {198},
number = {},
pages = {105984},
doi = {10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105984},
pmid = {41289906},
issn = {1532-2661},
abstract = {Fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) are common ectoparasites of cats and dogs in Thailand, and they can serve as vectors for various pathogens with zoonotic potential [e.g., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas)]. Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. have been well described in fleas collected from cats and dogs. Contrarily, only one study reported hemoplasmas in fleas collected from cats in Thailand, and information regarding hemoplasmas in fleas collected from dogs is limited. This study used 16S rDNA universal primers in a previous study to investigate hemoplasmas in fleas collected from cats and dogs. Unfortunately, the primers inadvertently amplified the partial sequences of Wolbachia spp. endosymbionts in fleas. All obtained sequences were analyzed using nucleotide BLAST and phylogenetic analysis. Based on the results, the Wolbachia sequences were placed into two subsupergroups (I-1 and I-2) with sequences from Ctenocephalides felis and C. orientis. Although these 16S rDNA primers used in this study might be capable of amplifying hemoplasmas in mammalian hosts, additional Sanger sequencing might be required to confirm PCR products as hemoplasma sequences when these primers are used for cPCR in arthropod samples.},
}

@article {pmid41287058,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, T and Han, Q and Zhang, D and Khan, J and Lin, D and Al-Jawabreh, A and Aziz, A},
title = {Population genetic diversity and natural Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti from Pakistan.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {486},
pmid = {41287058},
issn = {1756-3305},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Aedes/microbiology/genetics/classification ; Pakistan/epidemiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/genetics ; Haplotypes ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Phylogeography ; Dengue/transmission/epidemiology ; Female ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti, the principal vector of dengue and other arboviruses, is widely distributed in Pakistan, yet its population genetics and endosymbiont status remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the genetic structure, haplotype diversity, and phylogeographic patterns of Ae. aegypti in dengue-endemic regions of Pakistan, and to screen for natural Wolbachia infections to provide baseline data for surveillance and vector control.

METHODS: Ovitrap collections were conducted in 2021 across the provinces of Punjab (Bakkar) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Charsadda, DI Khan, Kohat, and two sites within Peshawar: Hayat Abad and Tarnab). Following the morphological identification of adult Ae. aegypti, we extracted genomic DNA from confirmed specimens to amplify and sequence a 658-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. Phylogenetic analyses, haplotype network construction, and population differentiation statistics were performed. Additionally, 300 field-caught adult mosquitoes were screened for Wolbachia using validated conventional and quantitative PCR assays targeting the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene.

RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis of 166 COI sequences (92 from Pakistan) revealed a monophyletic Ae. aegypti clade with 99.65-100% sequence identity, with Pakistani isolates clustering with those from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and India. In total, 13 global haplotypes were identified, with Hap_3 dominating (53%) and shared across regions. Within Pakistan, eight haplotypes were detected, including region-specific variants, yielding high overall diversity (Hd 0.69; π = 0.007). District-level analysis showed that DI Khan and Bakkar had the highest haplotype diversity (Hd 0.73 and 0.71) but low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.005-0.006), whereas Kohat exhibited no haplotype diversity. Population structure was higher in Pakistan (FST 0.26; Nm 0.7) than globally (FST 0.17; Nm 1.19), consistent with low gene flow among Pakistani populations. No natural Wolbachia infections were detected in Ae. aegypti.

CONCLUSIONS: Aedes aegypti in Pakistan belong to a globally monophyletic lineage and show moderate mitochondrial diversity with higher population structure than the global population. The lack of detected Wolbachia infections suggests that natural strains are either absent or occur at very low prevalence. These findings provide a baseline for surveillance and support integrating Wolbachia-based biocontrol alongside conventional interventions in Pakistan.},
}

Animals
*Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification
*Aedes/microbiology/genetics/classification
Pakistan/epidemiology
*Genetic Variation
Phylogeny
*Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/genetics
Haplotypes
Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics
Genetics, Population
Phylogeography
Dengue/transmission/epidemiology
Female

@article {pmid41274877,
year = {2025},
author = {Finch, E and Chang, CC and Kucharski, A and Sim, S and Ng, LC and Lowe, R},
title = {Climate variation and serotype competition drive dengue outbreak dynamics in Singapore.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-66411-6},
pmid = {41274877},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {MR/N013638/1//RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC)/ ; },
abstract = {Dengue poses a rapidly increasing threat to global health, with Southeast Asia among the most affected regions. Climate-informed early warning systems can help mitigate outbreaks; however, prediction of large outbreaks with sufficient lead time remains a challenge. In this study, we quantified the role of climatic variation and serotype competition in shaping dengue risk in Singapore using over 20 years of weekly case data. We integrated these insights into a forecasting framework capable of predicting dengue outbreaks up to two months ahead and generated counterfactual projections to assess the impact of novel interventions, such as Wolbachia. While a climate-informed model improved predictive power by 54% compared to a seasonal baseline, including serotype information increased this to 60%, better explaining interannual variation in dengue incidence. By incorporating serotype competition as a proxy for population immunity, this work advances the field of climate-informed dengue prediction and demonstrates the value of long-term virus surveillance.},
}

@article {pmid41269708,
year = {2025},
author = {Bao, GR and Elsheikha, HM and Hou, XW and Zhao, JX and Shang, KM and Su, JW and Liu, R and Ni, HB and Zhang, XX and Ma, H},
title = {Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Culex pipiens pallens and Culex tritaeniorhynchus from Four Regions in Chinese: Composition, Function, and Antibiotic Resistance.},
journal = {Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1177/15303667251394200},
pmid = {41269708},
issn = {1557-7759},
abstract = {Background: Understanding the composition, structure, and function of mosquito gut microbiota is critical for developing microbial-based strategies to control mosquito-borne diseases. Regional variations in gut microbial diversity and abundance may influence pathogen transmission and facilitate the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Methods: Adult Culex pipiens pallens and Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes were collected from four provinces in China. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region. Taxonomic profiles were determined at the phylum and genus levels, and functional characteristics of the gut bacterial community were inferred from 16S rRNA gene data using predictive functional profiling tools. In addition, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 49 cultured bacterial isolates to identify antibiotic and insecticide resistance genes. Results: At the phylum level, Proteobacteria (49.87-99.69%) and Firmicutes (3.43-49.81%) dominated the mosquito gut microbiota. At the genus level, Wolbachia (13.67-61.96%), Acinetobacter (1.46-29.57%), Staphylococcus (0.53-37.80%), and Providencia (13.64-19.20%) were predominant. Functional profiling revealed regional variation in microbial communities, particularly in genes associated with metabolic processes. WGS analysis of bacterial isolates demonstrated a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes, especially those conferring multiclass resistance, whereas insecticide resistance genes were detected at lower frequencies. Conclusion: This study reveals significant regional differences in the composition and functional potential of mosquito gut microbiota, accompanied by widespread antimicrobial resistance among cultured isolates. These findings provide critical insights for identifying microbial targets and developing region-specific microbial or genetic control strategies for mosquito-borne diseases.},
}

@article {pmid41266614,
year = {2025},
author = {Wiles, EL and Kakumanu, ML and Schal, C},
title = {Wolbachia-supplemented B-vitamins are critical for blood digestion in the bed bug Cimex lectularius.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {40962},
pmid = {41266614},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2023348287//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; NC02639//U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Bedbugs/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; *Riboflavin/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Digestion ; Symbiosis ; *Vitamin B Complex/pharmacology ; Biotin/pharmacology ; Female ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont, acts as an obligate nutritional mutualist in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius. Wolbachia in C. lectularius (wCle) supplements B-vitamins, namely riboflavin (B2) and biotin (B7), which are deficient in the bed bug's diet of vertebrate blood. Experimental elimination of wCle significantly impairs fitness in bed bugs, resulting in slow development, low egg production and egg hatch rate, and smaller adult body size. Although this obligatory symbiosis has been well-documented, the specific physiological mechanisms by which wCle-supplemented B-vitamins promote bed bug fitness remain unclear. We hypothesized that B-vitamin deficiency impairs digestion in aposymbiotic bed bugs, and in this study we investigated the effects of wCle elimination on three digestive processes in the bed bug - diuresis, erythrocyte (red blood cell) lysis, and protein catabolism. Our results show that wCle elimination significantly slows both diuresis and protein catabolism. We also demonstrate that riboflavin is critical for the breakdown of hemoglobin, the main protein component of red blood cells, but not albumin, the main protein component of plasma. We propose that the lack of wCle-supplemented riboflavin results in systemic protein deficiency, driving various fitness-related deficits in aposymbiotic bed bugs. These findings enhance our understanding of bed bug digestive physiology and the wCle-bed bug nutritional mutualism, with broader implications for other blood-feeding arthropods.},
}

Animals
*Bedbugs/microbiology/physiology/metabolism
*Wolbachia/physiology
*Riboflavin/pharmacology/metabolism
*Digestion
Symbiosis
*Vitamin B Complex/pharmacology
Biotin/pharmacology
Female

@article {pmid41265508,
year = {2025},
author = {Andrade do Rosário, A and Posada-Lopez, L and Rocha, MF and Werneck, GL and Galvis-Ovallos, F},
title = {Natural occurrence of Wolbachia in Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais - Brazil.},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107920},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107920},
pmid = {41265508},
issn = {1873-6254},
abstract = {Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis of high epidemiological relevance, caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmaniinae subfamily, mainly of the Leishmania genus and transmitted by hematophagous phlebotomine sand flies. Vector-borne disease control faces significant challenges, and innovative strategies towards the vector - such as the use of the endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia - have gained prominence for their ability to manipulate the reproduction of their hosts and modulate their immunity, reducing pathogen transmission. However, little is known about natural Wolbachia infection in the sand fly population. This study aimed to assess the circulation of Wolbachia in sand flies from Montes Claros, a visceral leishmaniasis-endemic area in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 1.191 females Lutzomyia longipalpis were analyzed, and Wolbachia DNA was detected in 30 samples (2.5%), with a homogeneous presence among the points sampled. DNA sequences revealed a single strain, wPup, that has not been previously described in sand flies. The positive Wolbachia samples were also tested for Leishmania spp, however, no DNA was detected.},
}

@article {pmid41256236,
year = {2025},
author = {Arfan, I and Sulistyorini, L and Sulistyowati, M and Rizky, A and Elias, SM},
title = {Prevention and control of dengue and Aedes mosquitoes in South and Southeast Asia: Interventions, challenges, and future recommendations.},
journal = {Dialogues in health},
volume = {7},
number = {},
pages = {100253},
pmid = {41256236},
issn = {2772-6533},
abstract = {Dengue fever, caused by a virus transmitted through Aedes mosquitoes, has become a major health issue in South and Southeast Asia. This review explores various preventive and control interventions for dengue implemented in South and Southeast Asia, the challenges faced, and recommendations to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of these control efforts. The scoping review was conducted by searching articles published between 2014 and 2024 through databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and ProQuest. A total of 1599 studies were identified, and 25 articles were eventually analyzed. The findings indicate various intervention approaches in both regions. Key challenges identified in this review include community engagement and participation, resource, logistics, and data management issues, public perceptions and knowledge, control methods and evaluation of effectiveness, and social and economic issues. These challenges hinder the effectiveness of interventions. Recommendations to strengthen future interventions include: enhancing community involvement through continuous training, improving monitoring and evaluation with technology-based solutions, and expanding the use of technologies like Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes and spatial repellents. Expanding public awareness campaigns, strengthening school and community-based education, and improving training for health workers are also essential. Lastly, adopting a combined approach is crucial for achieving more effective and sustainable results in dengue prevention.},
}