Topic: Insect Microbiomes and Host–Microbe Interactions

Insect-associated microbiomes are highly diverse and functionally versatile, influencing host nutrition, development, immunity, and ecological adaptation. These microbial communities include both beneficial symbionts that support host physiology and fitness, and pathogenic microbes that challenge host defenses. Understanding how insect hosts integrate and respond to these contrasting microbial influences is critical for unraveling the ecological, evolutionary, and mechanistic principles underlying insect health, disease resistance, and vector competence.

Recent advances in multi-omics approaches, high-resolution sequencing, and experimental manipulations are revealing the complex and context-dependent dynamics of insect microbiomes across molecular, physiological, and ecological scales. These insights provide opportunities to harness beneficial microbes for improving host fitness, while also informing strategies to mitigate pathogen transmission and manage insect-borne diseases. This Special Issue invites studies that explore both fundamental mechanisms and applied approaches across the full spectrum of insect-microbe interactions.

We encourage submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

● Diversity, assembly, and functional roles of insect microbiomes;

● Beneficial symbionts and microbiome-mediated support of host physiology;

● Mechanisms of microbiome-mediated immunity and interference with pathogens;

● Tripartite interactions among insect hosts, symbionts, and pathogens;

● Microbiome determinants of vector competence, host fitness, and ecological adaptation;

● Microbiome-informed strategies for pest management, vector control, and biodiversity conservation.

Insect microbiome, host-microbe interactions, symbiosis, host-pathogen interactions, insect immunity, microbial ecology, beneficial microbes