The effect of Edhazardia aedis infection on the composition of Aedes aegypti microbiota
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Date
2022-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are vectors for dangerous pathogens like dengue virus, yellow fever virus, and Zika virus. Mosquitoes like this species are susceptible to infection by a fungal parasite called microsporidia. Edhazardia aedis, a species of microsporidia, are highly specialized intracellular obligate parasites of Aedes aegypti. With this project we aimed to evaluate the impact that infection by E. aedis has on the size and composition of the Ae. aegypti midgut microbiome. We hypothesize that, should E. aedis be introduced to larval mosquitoes and persist to adulthood, that its presence may impact the adult female's microbiome in some way. If E. aedis is proven able to affect the size or composition of the mosquito microbiome, it may demonstrate the parasite's potential to impact mosquito traits relevant to disease transmission. The microbiome's importance in modulating the host immune response and lifespan may be impacted by E. aedis' known impact on the mosquito's reproductive fitness and longevity. To evaluate whether or not there was any impact by E. aedis on the mosquito microbiome composition, we generated three replicates consisting of 2 groups of mosquitoes: one that would remain uninfected and one that would be infected with E. aedis microsporidia. We then dissected the midguts of adult females in both infective groups, plated their homogenate, and observed the colonies that were able to grow and the total CFU/mL of each. The results from this data demonstrate a notable change in midgut composition between microsporidia infected and microsporidia uninfected groups.
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Keywords
microsporidia, vector disease, aedes aegypti, edhazardia aedis, microbiome