INVESTIGATING THE MOSQUITO MYCOBIOTA: FROM BASIC KNOWLEDGE TO POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL

Mosquito control is a crucial aspect of public health, especially in regions where mosquitoes pose a threat for disease transmission. Traditional vector control methods such as insecticides have proven effective but are often associated with environmental concerns and the development of insecticide resistance. In recent years, there has been growing interest in alternative approaches. Understanding composition and function of mosquito microbial communities could have profound implications for new vector control strategies. While the bacterial community has been deeply studied, the fungal component is still little appreciated. It is reported that budding yeasts associated with larvae and/or adult mosquitoes are involved in symbiotic associations, but extensive investigations of the fungal community in mosquito breeding sites is still lacking. The present work represents an in-depth characterization of the larval mycobiota in wild mosquitoes. NGS analysis has unveiled a diverse fungal community including Ascomycota (budding yeasts) and Basidiomycota in vector mosquitoes including Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens and Aedes koreicus. Fungi such as Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, and Candida parapsilosis were detected across all analysed species, whereas Hyaloraphidium and Microidium were associated with Cx. pipiens and Ae. koreicus, respectively. Metagenomic outcomes were confirmed using culture-dependent methods and the isolated fungal strains were processed by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to extract and analyse the yeast volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Results provide the base for next functional tests of selected fungi, that are aimed at the evaluation of attractant properties towards gravid mosquitoes or entomopathogenic activity against larvae. Fungal blends might be used for the implementation of ‘lure and kill’ formulations to be released in artificial or natural breeding sites of mosquitoes. Such innovative fungal-based products might contribute to mosquito control through a sustainable ‘ready to use’ technology.