Interaction and effects of temperature preference under a controlled environment on the diversity and abundance of the microbiome in Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Characterization of the temperature effects on the abundance and richness of the microbiota of Lutzomyia longipalpis, insect vector of Leishmania infantum in America, is an aspect of pivotal importance to understand the interactions between temperature, bacteria, and Leishmania infection. We developed and used a customized device with a temperature gradient (21–34 °C) to assess the temperature preferences of wild females of Lu. longipalpis collected in a rural area (Ricaurte, Cundinamarca, Colombia). Each replicate consisted of 50 females exposed to the gradient for an hour. At the end of the exposure time, insects were collected and separated by the temperature ranges selected varying from 21 °C to 34 °C. They were organized in 17 pools from which total DNA extracts were obtained, and samples were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing analyzes. The most abundant phyla across the different temperature ranges were Proteobacteria (17.22–90.73 %), Firmicutes (5.99–77.21 %) and Actinobacteria (1.56–59.85 %). Results also showed an abundance (30 % to 57.36 %) of Pseudomonas (mainly at temperatures of 21–29 °C and 34 °C) that decreased to 6.55 %-13.20 % at temperatures of 31–33 °C, while Bacillus increase its abundance to 67.24 % at 29–33 °C. Serratia also had a greater representation (49.79 %), specifically in sand flies recovered at 25–27 °C. No significant differences were found at α-diversity level when comparing richness using the Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Chao1 indices, while β-diversity differences were found using the Bray-Curtis index (F-value of 3.5073, p-value < 0.013, R-squared of 0,4889), especially in the groups of Lu. longipalpis associated at higher temperatures (29–33 °C). It was also possible to detect the presence of endosymbionts such as Spiroplasma and Arsenophonus in the range of 29–33 °C. Rickettsia was only detected in Lu. longipalpis sand flies recovered between 25–27 °C. It was possible to characterize Lu. longipalpis microbiota in response to intraspecific temperature preferences and observe changes in bacterial communities and endosymbionts at different ranges of said environmental variable, which may be important in its vector competence and environmental plasticity to adapt to new climate change scenarios.