Data from: Biotic and abiotic factors shape the microbiota of wild-caught populations of the arbovirus vector Culicoides imicola

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are known vectors of arboviruses
affecting human and animal health. However, little is known about
Culicoides imicola microbiota and its influence on this insect’s biology.
In this study, the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on C. imicola
microbiota was characterized using shotgun-metagenomic sequencing of whole
body DNA samples. Wild-caught C. imicola adult nulliparous females were
sampled in two locations from Sicily, Italy. The climatic variables of
temperature and soil moisture from both localities were recorded together
with potential host blood meal sources. Shared core microbiome among C.
imicola populations included Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Halomonas,
Candidatus Zinderia, Propionibacterium, and Schizosaccharomyces. Specific
and unique taxa were also found in C. imicola from each location,
highlighting similarities and differences in microbiome composition
between both populations. DNA and protein identification showed
differences in host preferences between both populations with Homo sapiens
and Canis lupus familiaris L. being the preferred blood meal source in
both locations. A principal component analysis showed that the combined
effect of host preferences (H. sapiens) and local soil moisture factors
shape the microbiome composition of wild-caught populations of C. imicola.
These results contribute to characterizing the role of the microbiome in
insect adaptation and its utility in predicting geographic expansion of
Culicoides species with potential implications for the control of
vector-borne diseases.