Diversity and Functioning of Microorganisms Associated with Hemipteran Insects

The insect order Hemiptera, comprising more than 80,000 described species worldwide, includes cicadas, leafhoppers, planthoppers, aphids, psyllids, scale insects, stink bugs, water bugs, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and many others. Hemipterans are characterized by highly specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts and exploit a wide range of liquid food sources, including plant sap, invertebrate body fluids, and vertebrate blood. Consequently, many hemipteran species are of considerable agricultural, hygienic, and medical importance as pests and disease vectors.Because nutritionally imbalanced diets such as plant sap and vertebrate blood are deficient in essential amino acids, vitamins, and other key nutrients, many hemipterans have evolved intimate and often obligate associations with microbial symbionts. These microorganisms reside in diverse host environments, including the gut lumen, body cavity, and/or specialized cells known as bacteriocytes, where they provide essential nutritional functions. As a result, microbial symbionts represent promising targets for the control and management of economically important hemipteran pests.In addition to these essential symbionts, many hemipterans harbor facultative microbial associates whose presence is not required for host survival but can profoundly influence a variety of host traits, either beneficially or detrimentally. Some phytophagous hemipterans, such as aphids and whiteflies, serve as vectors of plant-pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and fungi, whereas blood-feeding species, including triatomine bugs, are notorious vectors of human diseases. Certain microbial associates are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring across generations, while others are reacquired from the environment during each host generation.The importance of microbial symbioses in hemipteran insects is now firmly established, and a substantial body of research has accumulated over decades. Nevertheless, given the extraordinary diversity of Hemiptera, current knowledge likely represents only the tip of the iceberg, and many aspects of these host-microbe interactions still remain unexplored. We therefore propose the Research Topic “Diversity and Functioning of Microorganisms Associated with Hemipteran Insects” as a platform to bring together and showcase recent advances in this rapidly developing research field. This collection will provide an opportunity to highlight emerging discoveries, identify knowledge gaps, and promote a more comprehensive understanding of the diversity, evolution, ecology, and functional significance of microorganisms associated with hemipteran insects.We welcome high-quality submissions that provide scientifically rigorous and innovative insights into microorganisms associated with hemipteran insects, as well as their genomic, molecular, cellular, physiological, ecological, evolutionary, and environmental significance. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:o Mutualistic, commensalistic, and parasitic microbial associations with hemipteran insects.o Hemipteran-associated microbiomes and their roles in host physiology, ecology, behavior, and evolution.o Endosymbiotic and bacteriocyte-associated microorganisms of hemipteran insects.o Gut-associated symbiotic microorganisms of hemipteran insects.o Microbial pathogens of hemipteran insects.o Viral infections and virus-host associations in hemipteran insects.o Interactions between hemipteran insects and environmental microorganisms.o Omics-based approaches to understanding the biology and functioning of hemipteran-microbe associations.o Microorganism-mediated management and control of hemipteran pests.o Other topics related to the diversity, function, and evolution of microorganisms associated with hemipteran insects.Submissions addressing fundamental or applied aspects of these associations are equally encouraged. Topic editors: Takema Fukatsu, Yu MATSUURA, Yudai Nishide, Kazutaka Takeshita, Shantanu Shukla, Anna Michalik, Shuji Shigenobu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/87326/diversity-and-functioning-of-microorganisms-associated-with-hemipteran-insects