Larval mosquito feeding and microbial interactions

成蚊在水生、异养、幼虫栖息地的生长和生产是主要的 成虫存在和密度的决定因素，并强烈影响媒介能力，但它受到 将折射性有机物质转化为可摄取和可消化的微生物生物量。树洞 几种蚊子的栖息地是我们研究这一现象的模式系统。我们的长期目标是 量化蚊子产生的生物学基础和制约因素，以确定蚊子产生的效率 利用这些资源，阐述一个现实的幼虫生长模型，并从基因上转化 幼虫栖息地中的细菌产生抗幼虫毒素。跨3个具体目标的研究方法包括 一种功能性无菌(无菌)实验系统，其中包括 可供应微生物；利用稳定同位素分析(13C/12C；15N/14N)进行跟踪 幼虫食物的来源；微生物群落的分子特征和操纵。 微生物代谢的促生长作用和腐殖质的抑制作用将是 分析过了。提出了发育到变态的时间和质量的反应范数概念。 (化蛹)被认为是灵活的生活史特征，营养上被限制在化蛹窗口内。一个 在这里阐述了增长模型，其中阐述了食物转化效率，因此我们将 反复测试对不同品质食物来源的生长反应。四种蚊子共享 相同的幼虫栖息地和资源(Ochlerotatus triseriatus、Ochlerotatus Japan onicus、Aedes albopictus和T 库蚊，所有人类病原体的媒介)将进行比较，以评估在以下条件下的增长率 激烈的种内和种间竞争，都是为了预测竞争结果和潜力 用于生态置换，并量化幼虫食物利用的相对效率。 微生物群落(细菌、真菌和原生动物)将通过微生物生物量和 生长措施，功能基因阵列的使用，以及聚合物降解酶的估计， 包括木聚糖酶、纤维素酶、几丁质酶。微生物中黄杆菌成分的操作 将开展利用分子遗传学工具表达感兴趣的蛋白质和基因的社区， 包括微生物毒素基因和协同几丁质酶。

The growth and production of adult mosquitoes from aquatic, heterotrophic, larval habitats is the primary determinant of adult presence and density, and strongly influences vectorial capacity, but it is constrained by conversion of refractile organic material into ingestible and digestible microbial biomass. The tree hole habitat of several mosquito species is our model system to study this phenomenon. Our long term goals are to quantify the biological basis for and constraints on mosquito production, to identify the efficiency of utilization of these resources, to elaborate a realistic model of larval growth, and to genetically transform bacteria in larval habitats to produce anti-larval toxins. Research approaches across 3 specific aims include a functionally axenic (germ-free) experimental system into which individual food sources including microorganisms can be provisioned; the utilization of stable isotope analyses (13C/12C; 15N/14N) to track larval foods to their sources; and molecular characterization and manipulation of the microbial community. Growth enhancing effects of microbial metabolism, and inhibiting effects of humic substances, will be analyzed. A reaction norm concept is proposed in which developmental time to and mass at metamorphosis (pupation) are postulated to be flexible life history traits nutritionally constrained into a pupation window. A growth model is elaborated herein, in which food conversion efficiencies are elaborated, thus we will iteratively test growth responses to food sources of various qualities. Four mosquitoes species sharing the same larval habitat and resources (Ochlerotatus triseriatus, Ochlerotatus japonicus, Aedes albopictus, and t Culex pipiens, all vectors of human pathogens) will be compared to assess growth rates under conditions of intense intra- and interspecific competition, both to make predictions of competitive outcomes and potential for ecological displacement, and to quantify comparative efficiency of utilization of larval foods.The role of the microbial community (bacteria, fungi, and protozoans) will be assessed through microbial biomass and growth measures, the use of functional gene arrays, and with estimates of polymer degradation enzymes, including xylanases, cellulases, chitinases. Manipulation of the Flavobacterium component of the microbial community with molecular genetic tools to express proteins and genes of interest will be conducted, including microbial toxin genes and synergistic chitinases.