Microbiota in Insects

Dear Colleagues,

Studies focusing on insect-associated microbiota have highlighted that microorganisms influence many aspects of host biology, such as development, survival, reproduction, immunity, behavior or even vector competence. This means that insects can no longer be considered as isolated entities and instead should be considered as inseparable from their microbiota with which they interact and form a holobiont. However, the understanding of insect–microbiota relationships as well as molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic interactions is still scarce and has been mainly limited either to bacteria or to phytophagous insects. Insect-associated microbiota is composed of complex microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, protists, viruses, and nematodes) with various biological functions that deserve further exploration. Better knowledge of the role of microbiota in insect biology is thus essential to maintain insect diversity conservation or promote the development of new pest and vector control strategies.

Concerning this Special Issue of the journal Microorganisms, we cordially invite you to submit research papers, review articles or short communications presenting recent advances related to our knowledge of insect–microbiota interactions in terms of microbiota functions, molecular mechanisms of interactions, environmental impacts on insect–microbiota, insect–microbiota coevolution, and microbiota-based strategies for pest or vector control.

Dr. Patricia Luis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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