Sciences Animales Paris-Saclay

Publication Front Immunol. 2022 BIPAR

Anti-microbiota vaccine reduces avian malaria infection within mosquito vectors

In this study, we showed that anti-microbiota vaccination in birds targeting Enterobacteriaceae bacteria within mosquito midguts modulates the mosquito microbiota and disrupt Plasmodium relictum development in its natural vector Culex quinquefasciatus. This study is the first proof of concept that anti-microbiota vaccines can be used as a novel tool to control malaria transmission and potentially other vector-borne pathogens.

Domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) were experimentally infected with P. relictum and/or immunized with live vaccines containing different strains of Escherichia coli. Immunization of birds induced E. coli-specific antibodies. The midgut microbial communities of mosquitoes fed on Plasmodium-infected and/or E. coli-immunized birds were different from those of mosquitoes fed on control birds. Notably, mosquito midgut microbiota modulation was associated with a significant decrease in the occurrence of P. relictum oocysts and sporozoites in the midguts and salivary glands of C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. A significant reduction in the number of oocysts was also observed. We hypothesize that antibodies against midgut commensal bacteria induce infection-refractory states in the mosquito microbiome impairing pathogen development in the vector tissues (see figure below). These findings unequivocally suggest that anti-microbiota vaccines can be used as a novel tool to control malaria transmission and potentially other vector-borne pathogens. 

Contact :
Dr. Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
INRAE,
UMR BIPAR (INRAE, ANSES, EnvA).
22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie
94700 Maisons-Alfort
France
Email: alejandro.cabezas@vet-alfort.fr
Tel: +33 (0) 63 12 35 191

See also

Aželytė Justė, Wu-Chuang Alejandra, Žiegytė Rita, Platonova Elena, Mateos-Hernandez Lourdes, Maye Jennifer, Obregon Dasiel, Palinauskas Vaidas, Cabezas-Cruz Alejandro. 2022. Anti-Microbiota Vaccine Reduces Avian Malaria Infection Within Mosquito Vectors. Frontiers in Immunology. Vol. 13. DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.841835

Modification date : 14 September 2023 | Publication date : 31 March 2022 | Redactor : UMR BIPAR - Edition SAPS P. Huan