Compositions and related methods for controlling vector-borne diseases

Abstract

Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods useful for animal health, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host insect (e.g., arthropod, e.g., insect, e.g., pathogen vector), the alteration resulting in a decrease in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an 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 agents described herein may be used to decrease the fitness of a variety of insects that carry vector-borne pathogens that cause disease in animals.

1 . A method of decreasing fitness of a vector for an animal 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 an animal 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.