Certain members of the microbiota associated with Ae. aegypti mosquitoes may alter its ability to transmit pathogens, survival, and other phenotypic traits. A significant fraction of Ae. aegypti microbiota is acquired during larval development from the water in the breeding sites. However, not all the bacteria found in the breeding sites are found in the emerging adults. Thus, with this project we aim (i) to evaluate the natural variability of bacterial communities associated with Ae. aegypti, (ii) to assess their transferability from the breeding site to the corresponding adult mosquitoes, and finally (iii) to understand their influence on the vectorial capacity of mosquitoes.
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