Journal of Mosquito Research 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 135-146 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/jmr 138 Figure 2 The interaction between gut immune response, microbiota and pathogens in mosquito females (Adopted from Gabrieli et al., 2021) Gabrieli et al. (2021) details the complex interactions between the intestinal immune response, microbiota, and pathogens after a mosquito ingests a blood meal. The blood meal not only provides the mosquito with essential nutrients, but also triggers significant changes in the intestinal environment, such as an increase in the number of bacteria that activates the IMD pathway and the release of antimicrobial peptides. While this response helps to defend against pathogens, it also affects the processing and utilization of nutrients, as some bacteria are able to resist these antibiotics and may even use these responses to promote their own survival and proliferation. Therefore, the immune regulation of mosquitoes after a blood meal is closely related to their nutritional status and survival ability, revealing a delicate balance between the host and the microecological environment. 4 Mosquito Immune Response to Pathogens 4.1 Innate immune mechanisms Mosquitoes employ a robust innate immune system to defend against a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This system includes both cellular and humoral responses. Cellular responses involve processes such as phagocytosis, where hemocytes engulf and digest pathogens, and melanization, where pathogens are encapsulated and killed by melanin deposition (Kumar et al., 2018). Humoral responses include the
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