Mosquitoes Reared in Nearby Insectaries at the Same Institution Have Significantly Divergent Microbiomes

Laura E Brettell, Ananya F Hoque, Tara S Joseph, Vishaal Dhokiya, Emily A Hornett, Grant L Hughes, Eva Heinz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The microbiome influences critical aspects of mosquito biology and variations in microbial composition can impact the outcomes of laboratory studies. To investigate how biotic and abiotic conditions in an insectary affect the composition of the mosquito microbiome, a single cohort of Aedes aegypti eggs was divided into three batches and transferred to three different climate-controlled insectaries within the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The bacterial microbiome composition was compared as mosquitoes developed, the microbiome of the mosquitoes' food sources was characterised, environmental conditions over time in each insectary were measured, and mosquito development and survival were recorded. While developmental success was similar across all three insectaries, differences in microbiome composition were observed between mosquitoes from each insectary. Environmental conditions and bacterial input via food sources varied between insectaries, potentially contributing to the observed differences in microbiome composition. At both adult and larval stages, specific members of the mosquito microbiome were associated with particular insectaries; the insectary with less stable and cooler conditions resulted in a slower pupation rate and higher diversity of the larval microbiome. These findings underscore that even minor inconsistencies in rearing conditions can affect the composition of the mosquito microbiome, which may influence experimental outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere70027
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology
Volume27
Issue number1
Early online date8 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2025

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Microbiota
  • Aedes/microbiology
  • Larva/microbiology
  • Bacteria/classification
  • Female
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics

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