Exploiting symbiotic interactions for vector/disease control

Arthropods transmit a variety of diseases to humans and animals, including arboviruses, bacteria and parasites. No efficient treatments or control methods are available for many vector-borne diseases, especially for emerging diseases. Therefore, the development of alternative strategies aiming at controlling disease transmission is encouraged worldwide. Although transmission phenomenon is a result of complex interactions involving several actors evolving in a changing environment, the biotic relationship between pathogens and their vectors represents a key step in successful disease transmission. Recent studies highlighted a strong impact of microbiomes on the life-history traits of arthropod hosts. This chapter emphasizes those biotic interactions having an impact on adaptive traits influencing disease transmission. Evidence in behavioral alterations of vector populations/individuals with relevance to vector-pathogen transmission mitigation is reviewed. Opportunities to take advantage of such biotic processes in the control of vector-borne diseases in different epidemiological, entomological and environmental settings are explored.