Host and geography shape microbial communities in Kenyan mosquitoes: insights from metatranscriptomics.

ABSTRACT: Mosquitoes harbor diverse microbial communities that influence their potential to transmit pathogens. However, the ecological drivers shaping these microbiomes, particularly in under-sampled regions like Africa, remain poorly resolved. We conducted a large-scale metatranscriptomic survey of 3,940 Aedes and Culex mosquitoes from diverse ecological zones across Kenya. Our analyses revealed that viruses dominated the overall transcriptome, while bacteria exhibited the greatest taxonomic richness. Geographic location emerged as the primary driver of microbial community structure, whereas host genus identity shaped virome diversity at local or city-level scales. Culex mosquitoes harbored higher viral richness, particularly in coastal regions, while Aedes supported mo

SUBMITTER: Zhang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911392 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature