REL2/NF-κB pathway modulates midgut bacterial homeostasis in Anopheles gambiae.

A recent study by Zaković et al. demonstrates that disruption of REL2 in mosquitoes induces gut dysbiosis dominated by Serratia species, increases mosquito mortality after blood feeding, and unexpectedly reduces susceptibility to malaria infection. These findings reveal complex, functionally significant crosstalk between host immunity, gut microbiota, and the development of malaria parasites.