Investigating mechanisms for disseminating the Plasmodium-inhibiting Microsporidia MB symbiont in Anopheles arabiensis

Insects harbor a plethora of beneficial microbes. These microbes are transmitted either vertically (from mother to offspring) or horizontally. Many of these microbes are 'health-enhancing' protect their insect host from disease causing agents. In the malaria mosquito, one such microbe is Microsporidia MB, which prevents these mosquitoes from becoming infected with malaria. This symbiotic microbe seems to be a promising candidate for blocking malaria transmission due to 'blocking phenotype' and ability to persistence across several generations (mother to offspring transmission). This proposed study will shed light on possible pathways for increasing the Microsporidia MB infection rate in wild mosquitoes, with the aim of furthering the prospect of using this symbiont to control malaria.