Insect–Bacteria Interactions: Symbiosis, Pathogenesis and Applications in Pest Control
A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Behavior and Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 50
Special Issue Editors
Interests: insect endosymbiosis; insect gut microbe; morphology and function of exocrine glands in ants; integrated control of forest pests
Interests: symbiosis; host–microbe; host–parasitoid; defensive mutualism; aphids; heritable symbionts; symbiont genomes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Insects represent the most diverse group of animals on Earth, with their remarkable success and adaptability partly attributed to the complex relationships they have with microorganisms. Bacteria, in particular, play critical roles in insect development, reproduction, and immunity, profoundly influencing insect ecology and evolution.
Most insects engage in symbiosis with bacteria, with outcomes that fall on a continuum between parasitism and mutualism. Beneficial symbioses provide nutrition or defense to the host in exchange for housing or other resources, whereas other bacterial associations may harm hosts, including those with reproductive parasites such as Wolbachia. Insects also regularly interact with bacterial pathogens that benefit their own fitness by causing disease.
Overall, insect-associated bacteria serve as important mediators and modulators of ecological interactions among insects, plants, and natural enemies, creating intricate multi-trophic relationships that influence ecosystem dynamics. The application of these complex interactions in pest management has emerged as a promising frontier in biological control. Understanding these interactions opens new avenues for developing environmentally sustainable approaches to pest control.
This Special Issue aims to present current knowledge on insect–bacteria interactions, encompassing
- Symbiotic relationships between insects and bacteria;
- Mechanisms of symbiosis establishment, maintenance, and function;
- Coevolutionary dynamics between insects and their bacterial partners;
- Bacterial applications in pest control.
We welcome submissions of original research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on insect–bacteria interactions. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the topics listed below.
Prof. Dr. Hong He
Prof. Dr. Kerry M. Oliver
Guest Editors
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. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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
- heritable symbiosis
- gut-associated microbes
- defensive symbiosis
- nutritional symbiosis
- pathogenic microbes
- pest management applications
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