Characterization of the Microbiota of Nyssorhynchus darlingi in an Endemic Malaria Area

• Grant number: 25/05661-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla
• Grantee: Alanis Botelho Hosoi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The project investigates the microbiota of the mosquito Nyssorhynchus darlingi, the primary vector of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, focusing on its relationship with the transmission of Plasmodium. Malaria, an endemic disease in the region, is transmitted by female mosquitoes that acquire the parasite by biting infected humans. The study aims to characterize the intestinal and salivary gland microbiota of the mosquito using metagenomic techniques to identify bacteria that, according to the literature, may influence Plasmodium infection and insecticide resistance. The microbiota can either inhibit or favor the development of the parasite, making it a potential tool for disease control. The work includes the collection of mosquitoes in the São Sebastião neighborhood, in Barcelos (AM), an area with a high incidence of malaria, and metagenomic analysis of samples to identify bacterial communities associated with susceptibility or resistance to infection. The methodology involves DNA extraction, genomic library preparation, high-performance sequencing, and bioinformatic analyses to determine the diversity and function of the microbiota. The results may contribute to innovative vector control strategies, such as paratransgenesis, aiming to reduce malaria transmission in endemic areas. (AU)