Abstract
The ascomycete yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus is a mutualistic symbiont of different insects, including diptera vectors of diseases. Although fungal symbioses have been so far poorly characterized, the topic is gaining attention as yeast-insect interactions can provide pivotal information on insect biology, such as their environmental adaptation or vectorial capability. We review the symbiosis between W. anomalus and mosquitoes, which implies nutritional and protective functions. Furthermore, we focus on antiplasmodial effects of W. anomalus in malaria vectors and discuss the yeast potential for the “symbiotic control” (SC) of mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs).
Highlights
Mosquitoes comprise different species that are vectors of pathogens to humans and other animals
The strain of W. anomalus identified in the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi produces a killer toxin (KT) with wide antimicrobial activities that may protect the host from entomopathogenic microbes (Ricci et al, 2011b)
It may participate by fermentation to the breakdown of sugar while still residing on the flowers, as well as in the insect gut after the nectar collection, as suggested in A. mellifera (Tauber et al, 2019). Another contribution of W. anomalus in digestive processes may be exerted in adult female mosquitoes after the blood ingestion, since the yeast is among the few microbes that persist in the midgut after blood ingestion (Cappelli et al, 2019)
Summary
Mosquitoes comprise different species that are vectors of pathogens to humans and other animals. The strain of W. anomalus identified in the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi produces a killer toxin (KT) with wide antimicrobial activities that may protect the host from entomopathogenic microbes (Ricci et al, 2011b).
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