# Bacteriophage modulation of mosquito microbiota

> **NIH NIH R21** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $245,625

## Abstract

SUMMARY
 Mosquito associated bacteria have a major impact on larval development, life span, vector competence
and mating preferences. Multiple studies have deciphered the taxonomic diversity of bacteria associated
with various mosquito species. It has been shown that altered microbiota affects multiple mosquito life traits.
Despite these studies, the functional role of individual bacterial taxa and their interactions with each other in
the mosquito gut remains unknown. To study the role of individual bacteria from a complex community,
targeted modulation of the mosquito microbiota is desired. Bacteriophages provide a perfect tool for
selective removal of targeted bacteria from microbiota. This proposal aims to utilize bacteriophages to
selectively modulate the mosquito microbiota and study its effect of various mosquito life-history traits.
Based on literature and our own studies, we have identified five bacterial taxa that are frequently associated
with various mosquito species. In aim 1, we will isolate bacteriophages from various environmental
sources capable of infecting selected mosquito gut bacteria. In our preliminary experiments we have already
successfully isolated multiple bacteriophages capable of selectively infecting various mosquito gut bacteria.
In aim 2, we will use isolated bacteriophages to selectively modulate the microbiota of adult Aedes and
Anopheles mosquitoes. The effect of this altered microbiota on mosquito life span, fecundity and vector
competence will be studied. In aim 3, we will use isolated bacteriophages to selectively modulate the
microbiota in larval breeding water. We will evaluate the effect of altered microbiota on larval development,
and vector competence, lifespan and fecundity of adult mosquitoes. Our preliminary data with gnotobiotic
larvae has shown that addition of bacteriophages to larval breeding water can affect the larval development.
This project will be the first ever use of bacteriophages in the mosquito microbiota research and has the
potential to be developed into a novel technique to control mosquito borne diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10111458
- **Project number:** 5R21AI146398-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** George Dimopoulos
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $245,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10111458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10111458, Bacteriophage modulation of mosquito microbiota (5R21AI146398-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10111458. Licensed CC0.

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