Bacterial flora as indicated by PCR-temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) of 16S rDNA gene fragments from isolated guts of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:In this study, we tested the capacity of Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE)-based fingerprinting of 16S rDNA PCR fragments to assess bacterial composition in a single isolated sand fly gut. Bacterial content was studied in different life stages of a laboratory-reared colony of Phlebotomus duboscqi and in a wild-caught Phlebotomus papatasi population. Our study demonstrates that a major reorganization in the gut bacterial community occurs during metamorphosis of sand flies. Chloroflexi spp. was dominant in the guts of pre-imaginal stages, although Microbacterium spp. and another as yet unidentified bacteria were detected in the gut of the adult specimen. Interestingly, Microbacterium spp. was also found in all the adult guts of both species. We demonstrate that the analysis of bacterial diversity in an individualized sand fly gut is possible with fingerprinting of 16S rDNA. The use of such methodology, in conjunction with other culture-based methods, will be of great help in investigating the behavior of the Leishmania-bacterial community in an ecological context. Journal of Vector Ecology 36 (Supplement 1): S144-S147. 2011.

Socially transmitted gut microbiota protect bumble bees against an intestinal parasite

“…In contrast, Trypanosoma cruzi, the cause of Chagas disease, is inhibited by a strain of Serratia marcescens in its insect vector Rhodnius prolixus (31). Recently, a specific gut bacterial community has also been found in the phlebotomine sand-fly vectors of leishmaniasis, which might interact with Leishmania parasites (44). Similar phenomena occur when transplanting feces from humans with a healthy gut flora to patients with an antibiotics-induced disturbed gut flora that is associated with severe Clostridium difficile infections.…”

Diversity of the Bacterial and Fungal Microflora from the Midgut and Cuticle of Phlebotomine Sand Flies Collected in North-Western Iran

“…Some studies have investigated a correlation between the presence of midgut bacteria and the development of parasites in flies. A high concentration of bacteria (mainly Gram-negative) in the midgut of mosquitoes as well as sand flies was reported to either completely or partly influence the development of parasites [2], [20], [29], [30]. In mosquitoes, a wide range of bacterial strains such as Serratia , Klebsiella , Acinetobacter , Micrococcus , Escherichia, Enterobacter , Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus were pointed out as being symbionts in gut flora [31], [32], [33].…”

Aerobic bacterial flora of biotic and abiotic compartments of a hyperendemic Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) focus

“…The insect alimentary canal is the main colonizing site of many microorganisms. Sand flies acquire bacteria at the larval stage from food and the breeding soil, and at the adult stage through contaminated sugar meals derived from plant leaves and fruits or aphid honeydew [ 28 ]. Sand fly females may also ingest bacteria while feeding on a blood meal; however, blood meals are usually sterile, while sugar meals from different sources may contain a variety of contaminating microorganisms [ 29 ].…”