Different mosquito species host Wickerhamomyces anomalus (Pichia anomala): perspectives on vector-borne diseases symbiotic control

The genetic manipulation of microbial community associated to hematophagus insects is particularly relevant for public health application. Within mosquito populations, this relationship has been overlooked until recently. New advances in molecular biotechnology propose the genetic manipulation of mosquitoes symbionts to prevent the transmission of pathogens to humans by interfering with the obligatory life cycle stages within the insect thorough the use of effector molecules. This approach, defined as ‘paratransgenesis’, has opened the way towards the investigation and characterization of microbes residing in the mosquito body and especially those that localise in the gut. Some interesting bacteria have been identified as candidates for this genetic modification however endosymbiont yeasts still remain largely unexplored with little information on the symbiotic relationship to date. Here we review the recent report of symbiotic relationship between Wickerhamomyces anomalus (Pichia anomala) and several mosquito vector species as promising methods to implement for control of mosquito-borne diseases.