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Harnessing engineered symbionts to combat concurrent malaria and arboviruses transmission

Author

Listed:
  • Wenqian Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Han Gao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University)

  • Chunlai Cui

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    East China Normal University)

  • Lihua Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yiguan Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yifei Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Fang Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yitong Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tianyu Xia

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Sibao Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Concurrent malaria and arbovirus infections pose significant public health challenges in tropical and subtropical regions, demanding innovative control strategies. Here, we describe a strategy that employs multifunctional engineered symbiotic bacteria to suppress concurrent transmission of malaria parasites, dengue, and Zika viruses by various vector mosquitoes. The symbiotic bacterium Serratia AS1, which efficiently spreads through Anopheles and Aedes populations, is engineered to simultaneously produce anti-Plasmodium and anti-arbovirus effector proteins controlled by a selected blood-induced promoter. Laboratory and outdoor field-cage studies show that the multifunctional engineered symbiotic strains effectively inhibit Plasmodium infection in Anopheles mosquitoes and arbovirus infection in Aedes mosquitoes. Our findings provide the foundation for the use of engineered symbiotic bacteria as a powerful tool to combat the concurrent transmission of malaria and arbovirus diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenqian Hu & Han Gao & Chunlai Cui & Lihua Wang & Yiguan Wang & Yifei Li & Fang Li & Yitong Zheng & Tianyu Xia & Sibao Wang, 2025. "Harnessing engineered symbionts to combat concurrent malaria and arboviruses transmission," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57343-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57343-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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