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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Pest Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400473
Research Project: Advancing Molecular Pest Management, Diagnostics, and Eradication of Fruit Flies and Invasive Species

Location: Tropical Pest Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit

Title: Toward an integrated understanding of the Lepidoptera microbiome

Author
item SHAO, YONGQI - Zhejiang University
item Mason, Charles
item FELTON, GARY - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Annual Review of Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/30/2023
Publication Date: 8/16/2023
Citation: Shao, Y., Mason, C.J., Felton, G. 2023. Toward an integrated understanding of the Lepidoptera microbiome. Annual Review of Entomology. 69:117-137. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-020723-102548.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-020723-102548

Interpretive Summary: Over the past two decades, the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies have allowed the exploration of microbiomes associated with a large number of insects. Of particular interest have been the microbiomes of lepidopterans (moths and butterflies), where there has been extensive exploration of the microbial diversity associated with these animals. In this review, we summarize and synthesize the existing literature on Lepidotpera-microbe interactions, identify the general patterns and core ecological and physiological aspects associated with these interactions, and provide recommendations for future research. While there are robust associations between lepidopterans and microorganisms, we still only have a nascent understanding of the diversity of interactions they possess.

Technical Abstract: Rapidly developing sequencing technologies and bioinformatics tools are accelerating research on the lepidopteran microbiome. Both endosymbiont and gut microbiomes are recognized as common, diverse, and integral to the host. Because lepidopterans are holometabolous, the adult microbiome must be considered. Diverse endosymbionts interact with multiple aspects of host biology. In contrast to heritable ones, many gut microbiota members are transient, and host plant, habitat, host phylogeny, and development can greatly affect gut microbiomes. However, a subset of non-pathogenic microorganisms (even minor) can stably inhabit the Lepidoptera gut in several species and likely play a role. A section also focuses on tritrophic interactions mediated by lepidopteran microbes. Last but not least, Lepidoptera microbial symbionts represent a novel source for biotechnology. A survey of recent research on the potential applications of insect symbionts highlights the merits of examining the Lepidoptera microbiome for both basic and applied science.