Microbiota-mediated blocking of plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in Anopheles: a systematic review
- 1Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- 2Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
- 3Department of Biochemistry, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Abstract
IntroductionThe development of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in the mosquito, Anopheles, is essential for malaria transmission. Despite the unsurprising fact that the mosquito microbiota has become a major factor in the modulation of the competence of mosquitoes, the specific types of microbial taxa and mechanisms affecting the development of the sporozoite are not well synthesized. This systematic review brings together and critically evaluates the available evidence to understand the role of microbiota in the development of P. falciparum sporozoites in Anopheles mosquitoes with a specific focus on the salivary gland microbiome. MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases (2000-2026) was conducted, and 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Extraction and synthesis of data were conducted in the form of a narrative in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE’s tool for animal studies. ResultsThe Wolbachia effects varied by strain and species: wAlbB caused a 3.4- to 3.7-fold decrease in sporozoites, wAnga-Mali had a negative correlation with 95% presence, and there was no correlation for wAnmo in An. moucheti. All African countries (1–57% prevalence) were consistently affected by Microsporidia MB, with no fitness costs. Serratia ureilytica Su_YN1 inhibited ~98% of parasites using outer membrane vesicles loaded with AmLip, which targets parasites via the phosphatidylcholine scavenging pathway. 93% transmission blocking was obtained in mouse models with engineered symbionts (transgenesis + paratransgenesis). DiscussionThe mosquito microbiota plays a significant, but strain-, species-, and context-dependent role in the development of P. falciparum sporozoites. The Microsporidia and Serratia species are promising candidates for field deployment, offering sustainable, environmentally friendly complements to chemical insecticides for malaria vector control.
Related
- Cryo-EM mapping of circumsporozoite protein epitope accessibility and visualization of antibody-induced shedding on Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites
- Suppression of Plasmodium falciparum infection by Microsporidia MB in wild Anopheles arabiensis populations
- Genotypic evidence of vector-mediated selection on Plasmodium falciparum in infected field-collected Anopheles mosquitoes
- Identification of Plasmodium sporozoites using angle-resolved scattered light pulse shapes
- Additional blood meals increase mosquito infectivity by accelerating the transcriptional development of Plasmodium sporozoites
BibTeX
@article{olafusi2026microbiotamediated,
title = {{Microbiota-mediated blocking of plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in Anopheles: a systematic review}},
author = {Celestina O. Olafusi and Celestina O. Olafusi and Celestina O. Olafusi and Mercy E. Tebamifor and Mercy E. Tebamifor and Tobiloba I. Bejapade and Tobiloba I. Bejapade and Israel S. Afolabi and Olubanke O. Ogunlana and Olubanke O. Ogunlana},
journal = {Frontiers in Insect Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/finsc.2026.1958166},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1958166},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microbiota-mediated blocking of plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in Anopheles: a systematic review
AU - Celestina O. Olafusi
AU - Celestina O. Olafusi
AU - Celestina O. Olafusi
AU - Mercy E. Tebamifor
AU - Mercy E. Tebamifor
AU - Tobiloba I. Bejapade
AU - Tobiloba I. Bejapade
AU - Israel S. Afolabi
AU - Olubanke O. Ogunlana
AU - Olubanke O. Ogunlana
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Frontiers in Insect Science
DO - 10.3389/finsc.2026.1958166
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1958166
AB - IntroductionThe development of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in the mosquito, Anopheles, is essential for malaria transmission. Despite the unsurprising fact that the mosquito microbiota has become a major factor in the modulation of the competence of mosquitoes, the specific types of microbial taxa and mechanisms affecting the development of the sporozoite are not well synthesized. This systematic review brings together and critically evaluates the available evidence to understand the role of microbiota in the development of P. falciparum sporozoites in Anopheles mosquitoes with a specific focus on the salivary gland microbiome. MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases (2000-2026) was conducted, and 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Extraction and synthesis of data were conducted in the form of a narrative in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE’s tool for animal studies. ResultsThe Wolbachia effects varied by strain and species: wAlbB caused a 3.4- to 3.7-fold decrease in sporozoites, wAnga-Mali had a negative correlation with 95% presence, and there was no correlation for wAnmo in An. moucheti. All African countries (1–57% prevalence) were consistently affected by Microsporidia MB, with no fitness costs. Serratia ureilytica Su_YN1 inhibited ~98% of parasites using outer membrane vesicles loaded with AmLip, which targets parasites via the phosphatidylcholine scavenging pathway. 93% transmission blocking was obtained in mouse models with engineered symbionts (transgenesis + paratransgenesis). DiscussionThe mosquito microbiota plays a significant, but strain-, species-, and context-dependent role in the development of P. falciparum sporozoites. The Microsporidia and Serratia species are promising candidates for field deployment, offering sustainable, environmentally friendly complements to chemical insecticides for malaria vector control.
SN - 2673-8600
ER -