Genetic manipulation of insect symbionts

Abstract

Many haematophagous insects harbour bacterial symbionts, involved either in nutritional mutualism or as reproductive system parasites. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of genetically transforming these agents in an effort to express foreign genes in their host that could potentially alter the host's ability to transmit a disease pathogen (Beard et al., 1993b; Richards, 1993). As the insect-symbiont relationships of other vectors, both of human and plant pathogenic agents, are further explored, it is likely that this approach will find a broad application.