Date of Award
12-2020
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biology/Environmental Biology
First Advisor
Douglas C. Woodhams
Second Advisor
Michael P. Shiaris
Third Advisor
Robert F. Chen
Abstract
The study of mosquito microbiomes promises a deeper understanding of factors influencing interactions between mosquito hosts, human pathogens, and the environment. While several studies have focused on tripartite interactions between host, pathogen, and microbiome, far fewer have analyzed the environmental factors that shape these interactions and provide the basis for the formation of microbial communities in the mosquito host. Additionally, the use of Wolbachia and similar anti-arboviral symbionts in mosquitoes to control pathogen transmission has emerged as a popular idea for mosquito control and requires further investigation. The works presented here address changes in mosquito microbiomes, including the abundance of anti-arboviral microbes, due to habitat and temperature differences. Mosquito microbiomes were found to be specific to a given location and larval habitat, and differed significantly between mosquito taxa in situ in Rwanda. The anti-arboviral microbes present in hosts also differed by generations at high temperatures. The results presented here cement the idea that environmental factors shape mosquito microbiomes and ultimately can alter transmission potential of mosquito-borne pathogens through changes to the microbiome. Future work should focus on better understanding additional environmental factors and utilizing our understanding of these environmental influences to inform mosquito control practices and arboviral transmission prevention.
Recommended Citation
Tokash-Peters, Amanda G., "Mosquito Microbiomes: Understanding the Interface Between Microbiome, Environment, and Human Pathogens" (2020). Graduate Doctoral Dissertations. 620.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/doctoral_dissertations/620