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: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 27
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
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- insect-microbe symbiosis
- host-microbe coevolution
- microbial-mediated behavior
- insect adaptive evolution
- cross-domain evolution
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
