Microbial Interactions with Insect Hosts: Mechanisms, Evolution and Ecological Implications
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2025) | Viewed by 1041
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue explores the intricate and dynamic relationships between microorganisms and their insect hosts, focusing on symbiotic mechanisms, evolutionary adaptations, and ecological consequences. Insects rely on microbial partners for critical functions such as nutrient acquisition, immune modulation, and behavioral regulation. Conversely, microbial symbionts often depend on host-specific niches for survival and transmission, with vertical (parent-to-offspring) and horizontal transfer mechanisms shaping these associations. Recent advances in multi-omics technologies, synthetic microbial consortia design, and co-culture systems have unveiled novel insights into host-microbe metabolic crosstalk, co-evolutionary trajectories, and the role of microbiota in insect adaptation to environmental stressors. Contributions may address microbe-mediated insect development, chemical signaling in mutualistic or pathogenic interactions, and applications in pest/vector control or sustainable agriculture.
Prof. Dr. Jin-Hua Xiao
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- insect-microbe symbiosis
- host-microbe coevolution
- microbial-mediated behavior
- insect adaptive evolution
- cross-domain evolution
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