Does the Arthropod Microbiota Impact the Establishment of Vector-Borne Diseases in Mammalian Hosts? (original) (raw)
Fig 1
How arthropod microbiota could enhance/interfere with the transmission/establishment of VBDs.
In the arthropod cavity, the arthropod microbiota can alter pathogen development, resulting in decreased or increased loads in the vectors and reduced or increased transmission. However, the impact of the pathogens on the microbiota has yet to be assessed. Once transmission has occurred, the host immune system generates a response to destroy the pathogens in the skin. Components from the pathogens themselves and the arthropod saliva are known to actively inhibit this process. The role of the arthropod microbiota, likely transmitted along with the pathogens, on the host immune system is currently unknown (dotted lines).