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A new study has identified bacterial isolates collected from Crete that are capable of killing mosquito larvae in laboratory tests, raising the possibility of developing biopesticides that target vector species while minimizing environmental impact. The findings, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, focus on bacterial strains that produce metabolites lethal to Culex pipiens molestus, a mosquito species known to transmit pathogens such as West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever virus.
Biopesticides
Biopesticides are pest control substances derived from natural materials, including microbes, plants and minerals.
Metabolites
Metabolites are compounds produced through the chemical processes of living organisms.
Researchers exposed mosquito larvae to extracts derived from the metabolites of bacterial isolates obtained from soil, plants, water and dead insects collected across the island. More than 100 of the isolates tested killed all larvae within 7 days, and 37 did so in under 3 days. Three isolates achieved complete larval mortality within 24 hours. These results suggest that the metabolites produced by the isolates are rapidly acting and may offer a targeted form of mosquito control.
Targeted action with low ecological persistence
The study was conducted as part of the MicroBioPest project, a European Union–funded effort to explore microbial solutions for pest control. Researchers from the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) in Crete and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore led the work.
The isolates represented 20 bacterial genera, many of which had not previously been associated with insecticidal activity. Importantly, the study found that the mosquito larvae were killed not through bacterial infection but through exposure to bioactive compounds. This characteristic may allow for the development of products that do not require live microbes to be effective, potentially simplifying formulation and delivery strategies.
Broader applications under investigation
The research team is currently working to identify the molecular composition of the insecticidal compounds. Their analyses aim to determine whether the active agents are proteins or other metabolites. In parallel, the isolates are being tested against other mosquito strains and agricultural pests to assess their broader pesticidal potential.
Biopesticides derived from microbial sources often have low persistence in the environment, breaking down more quickly than synthetic insecticides. While this characteristic reduces ecological accumulation, it may also necessitate repeated application to maintain efficacy. Future work will focus on the development of formulations that enhance stability and usability.
The study underscores the value of biodiversity in identifying new tools for pest management and highlights a potential pathway toward safer alternatives to conventional insecticides.
Reference: Wood MJ, Kanelli K, Silva JJ, et al. Bacteria isolated from biodiverse Mediterranean island habitats yield a large array of biopesticidal metabolites against mosquito larvae. Tortosa P, ed. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2025. doi: 10.1128/aem.00966-25
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