Compositions and related methods for controlling vector-borne diseases

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and compositions useful for human health, e.g., for targeting one or more microorganisms resident in a host insect (e.g., arthropod, e.g., insect, e.g., pathogen vector), the modulation resulting in a decrease in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes a modulating agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is detrimental to the host. By disrupting microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, or microbial diversity, the modulating agent described herein may be used to decrease the fitness of a variety of insects that carry vector-borne pathogens that cause disease in humans.

1 . A method of decreasing fitness of a vector for a human pathogen, the method comprising:
 delivering an antimicrobial peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with one or more of the following: cecropin (SEQ ID NO: 82), melittin, copsin, drosomycin (SEQ ID NO: 93), dermcidin (SEQ ID NO: 81), andropin (SEQ ID NO: 83), moricin (SEQ ID NO: 84), ceratotoxin (SEQ ID NO: 85), abaecin (SEQ ID NO: 86), apidaecin (SEQ ID NO: 87), prophenin (SEQ ID NO: 88), indolicidin (SEQ ID NO: 89), protegrin (SEQ ID NO: 90), tachyplesin (SEQ ID NO: 91), or defensin (SEQ ID NO: 92) to the vector.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery comprises delivering the antimicrobial peptide to at least one habitat where the vector grows, lives, reproduces, feeds, or infests. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide is delivered in an insect comestible composition for ingestion by the vector. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide is formulated as a liquid, a solid, an aerosol, a paste, a gel, or a gas composition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insect is at least one of a mosquito, midge, louse, sandfly, tick, triatomine bug, tsetse fly, or flea. 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide having at least 90% sequence identity with one or more of the following: cecropin, melittin, copsin, drosomycin, dermcidin, andropin, moricin, ceratotoxin, abaecin, apidaecin, prophenin, indolicidin, protegrin, tachyplesin, or defensin formulated for targeting a microorganism in a vector for a human pathogen. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide is at a concentration of about 0.1 ng/g to about 100 mg/g in the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide further comprises a targeting domain. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide further comprises a cell penetrating peptide.