Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42188181›Full record

ReviewInsects2026

When Small Meets Smaller: Immune Modulation and Virulence Strategies in Insect-Bacteria Interactions.

Tommaso Bianchi, Maristella Mastore, Davide Banfi, Ameni Loulou, Silvia Quadroni, Maurizio F Brivio

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Insects, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Tommaso BianchiLaboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DiSTA), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0009-0006-4826-9385
Maristella MastoreLaboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DiSTA), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0514-521X
Davide BanfiLaboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DiSTA), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Ameni LoulouLaboratory of Bio-Aggressors and Integrated Protection in Agriculture, Department of Plant Health and Environment, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Tunis 1082, Tunisia.
Silvia QuadroniLaboratory of Ecology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1295-2108
Maurizio F BrivioLaboratory of Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DiSTA), University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1002-0422

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Insects represent powerful experimental systems for investigating host-microorganism interactions, providing valuable insights into bacterial pathogenicity, immune regulation, symbiosis, and antimicrobial discovery. This review examines the complex relationships between insects and bacteria, focusing on the mechanisms that control infection, immune activation, and microbial adaptation. Particular attention is given to the routes of pathogen entry and to the conserved innate immune pathways that coordinate host defenses, including the Toll, Imd, Duox, and Jak/Stat signaling cascades. The review illustrates how bacterial pathogens exploit toxins, immune evasion strategies, and metabolic adaptation to overcome host defenses, while insects rely on tightly regulated cellular and humoral responses, antimicrobial peptides, melanization, and microbiota-mediated homeostasis. Interactions between pathogenic and commensal bacteria in the insect gut are discussed in the context of immune tolerance, dysbiosis, and ecological adaptation. The dual role of bacterial virulence factors in both pathogenesis and symbiosis is highlighted through examples involving entomopathogenic bacteria such as

Indexed as

alternative modelsentomopathogenevasion strategieshost–microorganismimmune pathwaysimmune priminginfection routes

Identifiers

PMID42188181
PMCPMC13207255

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.