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Mehmood N, Hassan A, Zhong X, Zhu Y, Ouyang G, Raza T, Zia S, Chen X, Huang Q. Entomopathogenic fungi-based silver nanoparticles: a potential substitute of synthetic insecticides to counter behavioral and physiological immunity in Aedes aegypti mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33292-z. [PMID: 38613759 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33292-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Excessive use of synthetic insecticides has resulted in environmental contamination and adverse effects on humans and other non-target organisms. Entomopathogenic fungi offer eco-friendly alternatives; however, their application for pest control requires significant advancement owing to limitations like slow killing time and effectiveness only when applied in higher amounts, whereas exposure to UV radiation, high temperature, and humidity can also reduce their viability and shelf-life. The nanoparticles synthesized using fungal extracellular extracts provide a new approach to use fungal pathogens. Our study focused on the synthesis of Metarhizium anisopliae-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and evaluation of their efficiency on various physiological and behavioral parameters of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The synthesis, size (27.6 d.nm, PDI = 0.209), zeta potential (- 24.3 mV), and shape of the AgNPs were determined through dynamic light scattering, scanning and transmission electron microscopic, and UV-visual spectroscopic analyses (432 nm). Our results showed significantly reduced survival (100% decrease in case of 3.2 and 1.8 μL/cm2 volumes, and 60% decrease in case of 0.8 μL/cm2 volume), phenoloxidase activity (t = 39.91; p = 0.0001), and gut microbiota, with increased oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in AgNPs-challenged mosquitoes. Furthermore, the AgNPs-exposed mosquitoes presented a concentration-specific decrease in flight locomotor activity (F = 17.312; p < 0.0001), whereas no significant changes in antifungal activity, self-grooming frequencies, or time spent were found. These findings enhance our understanding of mosquito responses to AgNPs exposure, and offer a more efficient mosquito control strategy using entomopathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Mehmood
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xueshan Zhong
- Yuexiu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, 510055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guang Ouyang
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Taqi Raza
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Samta Zia
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaomin Chen
- Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Mehmood N, Hassan A, Zhong X, Zhu Y, Ouyang G, Huang Q. Entomopathogenic fungal infection following immune gene silencing decreased behavioral and physiological fitness in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 195:105535. [PMID: 37666588 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi are a promising category of biocontrol agents with mosquitocidal properties. Prior studies have proved their potential to reduce fecundity, human biting and vector competence, all of them together determine vectorial capacity of the mosquitoes. Unfortunately, conventional vector control strategies are inadequate with growing problem of insecticide resistance and environmental deterioration. Therefore, alternate vector control measures are immediately needed and to accomplish that, an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological defense mechanisms of the mosquitoes against fungal infection is essential. In this study, fitness was considered with respect to different behavioral (self-grooming and flight), physiological (antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides) parameters and survival rates as compared to the control group. We found a significant upregulation in CLSP2, TEP22, Rel1 and Rel2 genes at multiple time periods of fungal infection, which indicates the successful fungal infection and activation of Toll and IMD pathways in mosquitoes. RNAi-mediated silencing of Rel1 and Rel2 genes (transcription factors of Toll and IMD pathways, respectively) significantly reduced the survival, self-grooming frequencies and durations, and flight locomotor activity among adult Ae. aegypti female mosquitoes. Moreover, Rel1 and Rel2 knockdown significantly decreased antifungal activity and antimicrobial peptides expression levels in target mosquitoes. These results indicate an overall decrease in fitness of the mosquitoes after fungal challenge following Rel1 and Rel2 silencing. These findings provide an improved understanding of behavioral and physiological responses in mosquitoes with altered immunity against entomopathogenic fungal infections which can guide us towards the development of novel biocontrol strategies against mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Mehmood
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ali Hassan
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xueshan Zhong
- Yuexiu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongzhang Zhu
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guang Ouyang
- Guangzhou Yongliang Environmental Protection Technology Service CO., LTD, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qiuying Huang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Delivery and effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito and tick control: current knowledge and research challenges. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106627. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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