The Characterization of Melanaphis sacchari Microbiota and Antibiotic Treatment Effect on Insects

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Insects are rapidly adapting to novel niches, such as crops. This is the case of the sugarcane aphid, a pest from Africa that is currently spreading worldwide. In the absence of males, aphids asexually generate many females, causing important economic losses for farmers. The microbiota in the insect was characterized and the presence of Wolbachia was also reported, correlating with its asexual reproduction. Antibiotic treatment of the aphid population resulted in a decrease in its survival rate. The possibility of controlling this pest by altering its microbiota is proposed in the present work. ABSTRACT: Insects are under constant selective pressure, which has resulted in adaptations to novel niches such as crops. This is the case of the pest Melanaphis sacchari, the sugarcane aphid, native to Africa and currently spreading worldwide. The aphid undergoes successful parthenogenesis, causing important damage to a variety of crops and leading to important economic losses for farmers. A natural M. sacchari population grown in sorghum was studied to identify its microbiome through the sequencing of its 16S rDNA metagenome. A high proportion of Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, was observed. We also detected Wolbachia, which correlates with the asexual reproduction of its host. M. sacchari was challenged in a bioassay with the antibiotics oxytetracycline and streptomycin, resulting in a dose-dependent decay of its survival rate. The possibility of controlling this pest by altering its microbiota is proposed.