MALDI-TOF MS profiling and its contribution to mosquito-borne diseases: a systematic review

Mosquito-borne diseases are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths per year. The identification and control of the vectors that transmit pathogens to humans are crucial for disease prevention and management. Currently, morphological and molecular approaches are the standard methods used for vector identification, however, they present several limitations. In the last decade, matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) profiling emerged as an innovative technology in Biological Sciences and is now considered as a relevant tool for the identification of pathogens and arthropods. Beyond species identification, this tool can be relevant for the determination of different life traits of arthropod vectors. The purpose of the present systematic review was to highlight the contribution of MALDI-TOF MS to the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases. Published articles from January 2003 to September 2023 were retrieved, considering different aspects of mosquito life traits which could be determinant in the transmission of diseases and vector management. The screening of scientific literature resulted in the selection of 54 published articles that assessed MALDI-TOF MS profiling to study various biological factors such species identification, life expectancy, gender, trophic preferences, microbiota and insecticide resistance. Although a large majority of the selected articles focused on species identification, the present review shows that MALDI-TOF MS profiling is promising for identifying various mosquito life traits with rapidity, high throughput capacity, reliability and low cost. The strength and weakness of this proteomic tool for vector control and surveillance are discussed.