Mosquito sex and active mycobiota are important drivers of fructose metabolism in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus

Floral nectars of plants contain natural sugar sources such as fructose, which are a primary energy resource for adult mosquitoes. Despite the importance of these carbohydrates for mosquito metabolism, comprehensive metabolic pathways involved in sugar assimilation are limited when considering the mosquito as a holobiont. This study aimed to identify fructose-related mosquito metabolic pathways in both sexes, as well as the dynamics of the active gut mycobiota over time, by using 13C-metabolomic and stable isotope probing approach coupled with high-throughput sequencing. Our results showed significant differences in metabolic pathways between males and females highlighting different modes of central carbon metabolism regulation. Different active fungi were identified over time and phenomena of competition and synergy within the active mycobiota, as well as potential cross-feeding interactions were highlighted. In addition, certain active fungal taxa were correlated with fructose-derived metabolites. Altogether, our results provide novel insights into the mosquito carbohydrate metabolism and demonstrate that dietary fructose related to mosquito sex is an important determinant of mosquito metabolism, further highlighting a key role for mosquito active mycobiota interactions in regulating the course of fructose assimilation. This study opens new avenues for future research on mosquito-microbiota trophic interactions related to plant-nectar-derived sugar.