Microbes and Insect Senses: How Tiny Helpers Shape Behavior
Official title: Microbial Modulation of Insect Sensory Plasticity
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11429075 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research program explores how microbes living in insects influence their senses and behaviors that affect disease transmission and crop health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,511 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165839-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429075 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; research focuses on insects and their microbes.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not anticipated from this basic insect-focused study.
What this research studies
If this program succeeds, it will map how microbes in insects change the way they smell, taste, and respond to environments in both fruit flies and mosquitoes. The team will study the molecular signals and gene changes that connect microbial presence to sensory-driven actions like feeding, mating, and seeking hosts. They will also examine how climate, pollution, and habitat variety alter these microbe–insect relationships in real-world settings. The results could reveal new ways to reduce disease spread and crop losses by targeting microbial influences on insect behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Ultimately, findings could lead to novel, eco-friendly strategies to curb vector-borne diseases and protect crops.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that microbes can alter insect behavior, but this project aims to expand understanding across multiple species and environments.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Jennifer S — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Sun, Jennifer S
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.