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Fly Foregut and Transmission of Microbes

Summary

This research examines how flies transmit bacteria, viruses and other microbes through specialized structures in their digestive system, particularly the crop – a storage organ in their foregut. The study reveals that flies are not just simple mechanical carriers of germs, but have complex relationships with the microbes they transport. This has important implications for public health, agriculture and food safety. Key impacts on everyday life: – Helps explain how flies contaminate food and spread diseases in homes and restaurants – Provides insights for developing better fly control methods to prevent food contamination – Improves understanding of antibiotic resistance spread by flies between farms and urban areas – Informs better sanitation practices in food processing and healthcare facilities – Suggests new approaches for controlling agricultural pests and plant diseases spread by flies

Background

Adult dipterans comprise about 20% of all insect diversity and have evolved various structures that enable acquisition and transmission of microbes. The morphological and anatomical structures of adult dipterans, including legs, wings, mouthparts and setae, provide perfect sites for acquisition, adhesion and transmission of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The foregut structures, particularly the crop, play a crucial role in microbial storage and transmission but have been historically understudied compared to the midgut.

Objective

This review focuses on the legs, mouthparts, and foregut structures (especially the crop) as major structures involved in dipteran vectoring ability. It aims to examine how these front-end structures initially contact or ‘collide’ with microbes prior to entering the midgut and their role in pathogen transmission.

Results

The review found that the legs and mouthparts are generally involved in mechanical transmission of microbes. The crop is involved in more than just mechanical transmission – it serves as a storage site where microbes are taken up with meals, stored, and where horizontal transmission of bacterial resistance has been demonstrated. The crop also deposits microbes via regurgitation. Various aspects of crop regulation were found to influence microbial transmission. Biofilm formation within the crop was identified as an important factor in pathogen persistence.

Conclusion

The dipteran foregut, particularly the crop, plays multiple crucial roles beyond just nutrient storage. It serves as a protected chamber for both beneficial and pathogenic microbes, facilitates horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance, and enables pathogen transmission through regurgitation. Understanding these foregut-microbe interactions is essential for addressing both human health concerns and agricultural impacts of fly-vectored pathogens.
  • Published in:Advances in Insect Physiology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.1016/bs.aiip.2019.10.001
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