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

Brettell, Laura, Hoque, Ananya, Joseph, Tara, Dhokiya, Vishaal, Hornett, Emily, Hughes, Grant ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7567-7185 and Heinz, Eva ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4413-3756 (2025) 'Mosquitoes Reared in Nearby Insectaries at the Same Institution Have Significantly Divergent Microbiomes'. Environmental Microbiology, Vol 27, Issue 1, e70027.

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 510 Mosquitoes
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Vector Biology Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.70027
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2025 11:06
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2025 11:06
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/25965

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