Mosquito larvae develop more quickly when they are in the presence of specific bacteria, a finding from a recent study that could benefit global health initiatives.
A new study indicates that mosquito larvae grow at a faster rate when exposed to certain types of bacteria, which may be advantageous for global health efforts.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is known for transmitting diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and Zika.
Health programs combat these diseases by breeding and releasing male mosquitoes that do not bite, are sterile, or inhibit disease transmission.
These large-scale release strategies can be significantly more effective than widespread insecticide spraying, especially since many mosquitoes have developed resistance to common chemical treatments.
This recent research, conducted by the universities of Exeter and Wageningen, focused on how Asaia bacteria impact the growth of mosquito larvae.
Findings from the study indicated that the presence of Asaia shortened the larvae’s development time by one day, which could greatly enhance mass-rearing programs that aim to produce millions of adult mosquitoes.
Professor Ben Raymond from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall explained, “Every species, including humans, relies on a ‘microbiome’—a diverse array of microorganisms residing in the body.”
“The Asaia bacteria have been proposed as beneficial components of mosquito microbiomes, but this has not been thoroughly researched in Aedes aegypti before,” he added.
He continued: “We understand that Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae cannot develop properly without a microbiome, and our research indicates that two species of Asaia can have a positive impact.”
The typical larval stage for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes lasts around 10 days, so reducing this time by one day could significantly enhance mass production efforts.
In this investigation, researchers introduced Asaia bacteria into the water where mosquito larvae grew.
Two specific species of these bacteria were found to speed up larval growth.
The exact reason for this acceleration remains unclear, though the bacteria do not appear to offer direct nutritional advantages.
Instead, they seem to alter the overall bacterial environment, decreasing the population of certain other bacteria, including some possibly harmful species.
Moreover, Asaia bacteria deplete oxygen in the water, creating a setting that fosters the release of hormones credited with encouraging development.
