Microbiota potentialized larvicidal action of imidazolium salts against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 16164 - 8
• Main Authors: Pilz-Junior, Harry Luiz, de Lemos, Alessandra Bittencourt, de Almeida, Kauana Nunes, Corção, Gertrudes, Schrekker, Henri Stephan, Silva, Carlos Eugenio, da Silva, Onilda Santos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 07-11-2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 45; 45/22; 45/77; 631/326; 631/326/41; Aedes - microbiology; Aedes aegypti; Animals; Aquatic insects; Bacteria; Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - growth & development; Culicidae; Dengue fever; Diptera; Feeding behavior; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Imidazoles - pharmacology; Insecticides - pharmacology; Larva - microbiology; Larvae; Larvicides; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Microbiota; Mosquitoes; multidisciplinary; Salts; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Species diversity; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52687-4

Mosquitoes are important vectors of pathogens due to their blood feeding behavior.
Aedes aegypti
(Diptera: Culicidae) transmits arboviruses, such as dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. This species carries several bacteria that may be beneficial for its biological and physiological development. Therefore, studying the response of its microbiota to chemical products could result in vector control. Recently, imidazolium salts (IS) were identified as effective
Ae
.
aegypti
larvicides. Considering the importance of the mosquito microbiota, this study addressed the influence of IS on the bacteria of
Ae
.
aegypti
larvae. After exposition of larvae to different IS concentrations, the cultured microbiota was identified through culturomics and mass spectrometry, and the non-cultivated microbiota was characterized by molecular markers. In addition, the influence of the IS on axenic larvae was studied for comparison. There was an alteration in both cultivable species and in their diversity, including modifications in bacterial communities. The axenic larvae were less susceptible to the IS, which was increased after exposing these larvae to bacteria of laboratory breeding water. This highlights the importance of understanding the role of the larval microbiota of
Ae
.
aegypti
in the development of imidazolium salt-based larvicides. Such effect of IS towards microbiota of
Ae
.
aegypti
larvae, through their antimicrobial action, increases their larvicidal potential.