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Reingold V, Faigenboim A, Matveev S, Haviv S, Belausov E, Vilcinskas A, Ment D. Transcriptional reprogramming in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum and its aphid host Myzus persicae during the switch between saprophytic and parasitic lifestyles. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:917. [PMID: 39358701 PMCID: PMC11446092 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10824-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fungus Metarhizium brunneum has evolved a remarkable ability to switch between different lifestyles. It develops as a saprophyte, an endophyte establishing mutualistic relationships with plants, or a parasite, enabling its use for the control of insect pests such as the aphid Myzus persicae. We tested our hypothesis that switches between lifestyles must be accompanied by fundamental transcriptional reprogramming, reflecting adaptations to different environmental settings. RESULTS We combined high throughput RNA sequencing of M. brunneum in vitro and at different stages of pathogenesis to validate the modulation of genes in the fungus and its host during the course of infection. In agreement with our hypothesis, we observed transcriptional reprogramming in M. brunneum following conidial attachment, germination on the cuticle, and early-stage growth within the host. This involved the upregulation of genes encoding degrading enzymes and gene clusters involved in synthesis of secondary metabolites that act as virulence factors. The transcriptional response of the aphid host included the upregulation of genes potentially involved in antifungal activity, but antifungal peptides were not induced. We also observed the induction of a host flightin gene, which may be involved in wing formation and flight muscle development. CONCLUSIONS The switch from saprophytic to parasitic development in M. brunneum is accompanied by fundamental transcriptional reprogramming during the course of the infection. The aphid host responds to fungal infection with its own transcriptional reprogramming, reflecting its inability to express antifungal peptides but featuring the induction of genes involved in winged morphs that may enable offspring to avoid the contaminated environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Reingold
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Food & Environment, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Adi Faigenboim
- Institute of Plant Science, ARO, The Volcani Institute, Rishon Le Zion, Israel
| | - Sabina Matveev
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Food & Environment, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sabrina Haviv
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Eduard Belausov
- Institute of Plant Science, ARO, The Volcani Institute, Rishon Le Zion, Israel
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig Universität Giessen, Giessen, 35392, Germany
- Branch Bioresources of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, 35392, Germany
| | - Dana Ment
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
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Martins JLA, Franzin ML, Ferreira DDS, Magina LCR, Martins EF, Mendonça LVP, Neves WDS, Pallini A, Valicente FH, Schmidt JM, Elliot SL, Venzon M. Metarhizium-Inoculated Coffee Seeds Promote Plant Growth and Biocontrol of Coffee Leaf Miner. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1845. [PMID: 39338519 PMCID: PMC11433645 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12091845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) has a multifunctional life cycle, establishing as a plant endophyte and acting as entomopathogenic fungi. Metarhizium robertsii and Metarhizium brunneum can be associated with coffee plants and provide enhanced protection against a major pest of coffee, the coffee leaf miner (CLM) (Leucoptera coffeella). This association would be an easily deployable biological control option. Here we tested the potential of inoculating coffee seeds with M. robertsii and M. brunneum collected from the soil of coffee crops in the Cerrado (Brazil) for control of the CLM and the enhancement of plant growth with a commonly used fungicide. We conducted the experiment in a greenhouse and after the seedlings grew, we placed them in a cage with two couples of CLMs. We evaluated the CLM development time, reproduction, and plant growth traits. We observed a longer development time of CLMs when fed on plants inoculated with both isolates. In addition, the CLMs laid fewer eggs compared to those fed on plants without fungal inoculation. Plant growth was promoted when seeds were inoculated with fungi, and the fungicide did not affect any evaluated parameter. Coffee seed inoculation with M. robertsii and M. brunneum appears to provide protection against CLMs and promote growth improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Elem Fialho Martins
- Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Viçosa 36570-000, Brazil
| | | | - Wânia Dos Santos Neves
- Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Viçosa 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Angelo Pallini
- Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
| | | | - Jason M Schmidt
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Tifton, GA 31793 0000, USA
| | - Simon Luke Elliot
- Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Madelaine Venzon
- Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Viçosa 36570-000, Brazil
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Kaczmarek A, Katarzyna Wrońska A, Irena Boguś M. Octanoic acid kills Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by affecting two major defence systems: cuticular free fatty acids and immunocompetent cells. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108165. [PMID: 38986766 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
This work examines the insecticidal activity of octanoic acid (C8:0), a short-chain fatty acid detected in entomopathogenic fungus - Conidiobolus coronatus medium, against Lucilia sericata larvae and adults. The LD50 value was calculated as 3.04±0.26 µg/mg (3040 mg/kg) of insect body mass, which places the compound in category 5 of acute toxicity (slightly hazardous). The presented research also describes its probable mechanism, with a particular focus on changes in two main insect defense mechanisms: (1) the composition of the cuticle (GC-MS analysis) and (2) immunocompetent cells (microscopic analysis of cultured hemocytes). More precisely, octanoic acid application resulted in changes in cuticular free fatty acid (FFA) profiles in both adults and larvae; generally, treatment increased short-chain FFAs, and a decrease of middle- and long-chain FFAs. Both in vivo and in vitro applications of octanoic acid resulted in vacuolisation, disintegration, and destruction of nets formed by plasmatocytes. As the compound has also previously been found to be toxic against Galleria mellonella, it appears to have lethal potential against insects in both the Orders Diptera and Lepidoptera, indicating it may have strong entomopathogenic potential. It is worth noting that octanoic acid is approved as a food additive with well-documented insecticidal activity, and hence may be a valuable component in the design of new insecticides that are safe for both humans and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kaczmarek
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Anna Katarzyna Wrońska
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Mieczysława Irena Boguś
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Science, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland; Biomibo, Strzygłowska 15, 04-872 Warsaw, Poland
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Slowik AR, Hesketh H, Sait SM, De Fine Licht HH. Thermal ecology shapes disease outcomes of entomopathogenic fungi infecting warm-adapted insects. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 204:108106. [PMID: 38621520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The thermal environment is a critical determinant of outcomes in host-pathogen interactions, yet the complexities of this relationship remain underexplored in many ecological systems. We examined the Thermal Mismatch Hypothesis (TMH) by measuring phenotypic variation in individual thermal performance profiles using a model system of two species of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) that differ in their ecological niche, Metarhizium brunneum and M. flavoviride, and a warm-adapted model host, the mealworm Tenebrio molitor. We conducted experiments across ecologically relevant temperatures to determine the thermal performance curves for growth and virulence, measured as % survival, identify critical thresholds for these measures, and elucidate interactive host-pathogen effects. Both EPF species and the host exhibited a shared growth optima at 28 °C, while the host's growth response was moderated in sublethal pathogen infections that depended on fungus identity and temperature. However, variances in virulence patterns were different between pathogens. The fungus M. brunneum exhibited a broader optimal temperature range (23-28 °C) for virulence than M. flavoviride, which displayed a multiphasic virulence-temperature relationship with distinct peaks at 18 and 28 °C. Contrary to predictions of the TMH, both EPF displayed peak virulence at the host's optimal temperature (28 °C). The thermal profile for M. brunneum aligned more closely with that of T. molitor than that for M. flavoviride. Moreover, the individual thermal profile of M. flavoviride closely paralleled its virulence thermal profile, whereas the virulence thermal profile of M. brunneum did not track with its individual thermal performance. This suggests an indirect, midrange (23 °C) effect, where M. brunneum virulence exceeded growth. These findings suggest that the evolutionary histories and ecological adaptations of these EPF species have produced distinct thermal niches during the host interaction. This study contributes to our understanding of thermal ecology in host-pathogen interactions, underpinning the ecological and evolutionary factors that shape infection outcomes in entomopathogenic fungi. The study has ecological implications for insect population dynamics in the face of a changing climate, as well as practically for the use of these organisms in biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R Slowik
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C., Denmark; UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom; School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| | - Helen Hesketh
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
| | - Steven M Sait
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
| | - Henrik H De Fine Licht
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C., Denmark.
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Shang J, Song S, Wang C. Metarhizium robertsii. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:192-193. [PMID: 37989602 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Junmei Shang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuangxiu Song
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chengshu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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Nicoletti R, Russo E, Becchimanzi A. Cladosporium-Insect Relationships. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:78. [PMID: 38276024 PMCID: PMC10820778 DOI: 10.3390/jof10010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The range of interactions between Cladosporium, a ubiquitous fungal genus, and insects, a class including about 60% of the animal species, is extremely diverse. The broad case history of antagonism and mutualism connecting Cladosporium and insects is reviewed in this paper based on the examination of the available literature. Certain strains establish direct interactions with pests or beneficial insects or indirectly influence them through their endophytic development in plants. Entomopathogenicity is often connected to the production of toxic secondary metabolites, although there is a case where these compounds have been reported to favor pollinator attraction, suggesting an important role in angiosperm reproduction. Other relationships include mycophagy, which, on the other hand, may reflect an ecological advantage for these extremely adaptable fungi using insects as carriers for spreading in the environment. Several Cladosporium species colonize insect structures, such as galleries of ambrosia beetles, leaf rolls of attelabid weevils and galls formed by cecidomyid midges, playing a still uncertain symbiotic role. Finally, the occurrence of Cladosporium in the gut of several insect species has intriguing implications for pest management, also considering that some strains have proven to be able to degrade insecticides. These interactions especially deserve further investigation to understand the impact of these fungi on pest control measures and strategies to preserve beneficial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Nicoletti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Center for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 81100 Caserta, Italy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.R.); (A.B.)
| | - Elia Russo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.R.); (A.B.)
| | - Andrea Becchimanzi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy; (E.R.); (A.B.)
- BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
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Peterson H, Ahmad I, Barbercheck ME. Maize response to endophytic Metarhizium robertsii is altered by water stress. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289143. [PMID: 38011108 PMCID: PMC10681223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
To defend against damage from environmental stress, plants have evolved strategies to respond to stress efficiently. One such strategy includes forming mutualist relationships with endophytes which confer stress-alleviating plant defensive and growth promoting effects. Metarhizium robertsii is an entomopathogen and plant-protective and growth-promoting endophyte. To determine the context dependency of the relationship between M. robertsii and maize, we conducted a greenhouse experiment that imposed stress as deficit and excess soil moisture on maize plants which were inoculated or not inoculated with M. robertsii and measured plant growth and defense indicators. Maize height and endophytic root colonization by M. robertsii were positively correlated in the deficit water treatment, but not in the adequate or excess water treatments. The relative expression of ZmLOX1 in the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis pathway was significantly greater in M. robertsii-inoculated than in non-inoculated plants, but water treatment had no effect. There was significant interaction between M. robertsii and water treatments on foliar concentrations of JA and jasmonoyl isoleucine (JA-ILE), suggesting that water stress impacts M. robertsii as a modulator of plant defense. Water stress, but not inoculation with M. robertsii, had a significant effect on the expression of MYB (p = 0.021) and foliar concentrations of abscisic acid (p<0.001), two signaling molecules associated with abiotic stress response. This study contributes toward understanding the highly sophisticated stress response signaling network and context dependency of endophytic mutualisms in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Peterson
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Imtiaz Ahmad
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Mary E. Barbercheck
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
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Xie X, Wang Y, Jin S, He L, Jia Z, Huang B. MrCreC, a carbon catabolite repression gene, is required for the growth, conidiation, stress tolerance and virulence of Metarhizium robertsii. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:108009. [PMID: 37863281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
As a key component of carbon source metabolism in fungi, CreC WD40 repeat protein is regulated by carbon catabolite repression (CCR). However, the understanding of the functions of CreC in entomopathogenic fungi is currently limited. Here, CreC in Metarhizium robertsii (MrCreC) was identified, and its roles in fungal development, conidiation, environmental stress response, and insecticidal virulence were explored. MrCreC is localized to cytoplasm, and MrCreC deletion affects fungal growth on various nutrients. Compared to the wild type, the sporulation of ΔMrCreC strain was significantly decreased by 60.3%. Further qPCR analysis found that deletion of MrCreC resulted in repression of sporulation-related genes such as AbaA, FlbA, Flbc, MedA, FlbD, FluG, and wetA. In addition, MrCreC loss did not alter heat stress tolerance but resulted in enhanced tolerance to UV-B. Interestingly, bioassays showed that the virulence following exposures to topical applications or injection of conidial suspensions of both infection and injection was impaired compared with that of the wild type. Further analysis showed that the adhesion and cuticle penetration genes in ΔMrCreC was down-regulated during infection, and the appressorial formation rate was significantly reduced. A deletion of MrCreC significantly also reduced immune escape and nutrient utilization genes in insect hemocoel. In conclusion, MrCreC is involved in the growth, development and virulence of M. robertsii. These findings advance our understanding of the function of CCR pathway-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyun Xie
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
| | - Yulong Wang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Shaoxia Jin
- Taiyuan City Road Green Maintenance Center, Taiyuan 030000, China
| | - Lili He
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zefeng Jia
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China.
| | - Bo Huang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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Piña-Torres IH, Dávila-Berumen F, González-Hernández GA, Torres-Guzmán JC, Padilla-Guerrero IE. Hyphal Growth and Conidia Germination Are Induced by Phytohormones in the Root Colonizing and Plant Growth Promoting Fungus Metarhizium guizhouense. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:945. [PMID: 37755053 PMCID: PMC10532501 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Beneficial associations are very important for plants and soil-dwelling microorganisms in different ecological niches, where communication by chemical signals is relevant. Among the chemical signals, the release of phytohormones by plants is important to establish beneficial associations with fungi, and a recently described association is that of the entomopathogenic ascomycete fungus Metarhizium with plants. Here, we evaluated the effect of four different phytohormones, synthetic strigolactone (GR24), sorgolactone (SorL), 3-indolacetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3), on the fungus Metarhizium guizhouense strain HA11-2, where the germination rate and hyphal elongation were determined at three different times. All phytohormones had a positive effect on germination, with GA3 showing the greatest effect, and for hyphal length, on average, the group treated with synthetic strigolactone GR24 showed greater average hyphal length at 10 h of induction. This work expands the knowledge of the effect of phytohormones on the fungus M. guizhouense, as possible chemical signals for the rapid establishment of the fungus-plant association.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Israel Enrique Padilla-Guerrero
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta s/n, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico; (I.H.P.-T.); (F.D.-B.); (G.A.G.-H.); (J.C.T.-G.)
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Jones AM, Panaccione DG. Ergot Alkaloids Contribute to the Pathogenic Potential of the Fungus Aspergillus leporis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0041523. [PMID: 37212708 PMCID: PMC10304750 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00415-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistically pathogenic fungi have varying potential to cause disease in animals. Factors contributing to their virulence include specialized metabolites, which in some cases evolved in contexts unrelated to pathogenesis. Specialized metabolites that increase fungal virulence in the model insect Galleria mellonella include the ergot alkaloids fumigaclavine C in Aspergillus fumigatus (syn. Neosartorya fumigata) and lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide (LAH) in the entomopathogen Metarhizium brunneum. Three species of Aspergillus recently found to accumulate high concentrations of LAH were investigated for their pathogenic potential in G. mellonella. Aspergillus leporis was most virulent, A. hancockii was intermediate, and A. homomorphus had very little pathogenic potential. Aspergillus leporis and A. hancockii emerged from and sporulated on dead insects, thus completing their asexual life cycles. Inoculation by injection resulted in more lethal infections than did topical inoculation, indicating that A. leporis and A. hancockii were preadapted for insect pathogenesis but lacked an effective means to breach the insect's cuticle. All three species accumulated LAH in infected insects, with A. leporis accumulating the most. Concentrations of LAH in A. leporis were similar to those observed in the entomopathogen M. brunneum. LAH was eliminated from A. leporis through a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene knockout, and the resulting strain had reduced virulence to G. mellonella. The data indicate that A. leporis and A. hancockii have considerable pathogenic potential and that LAH increases the virulence of A. leporis. IMPORTANCE Certain environmental fungi infect animals occasionally or conditionally, whereas others do not. Factors that affect the virulence of these opportunistically pathogenic fungi may have originally evolved to fill some other role for the fungus in its primary environmental niche. Among the factors that may improve the virulence of opportunistic fungi are specialized metabolites--chemicals that are not essential for basic life functions but provide producers with an advantage in particular environments or under specific conditions. Ergot alkaloids are a large family of fungal specialized metabolites that contaminate crops in agriculture and serve as the foundations of numerous pharmaceuticals. Our results show that two ergot alkaloid-producing fungi that were not previously known to be opportunistic pathogens can infect a model insect and that, in at least one of the species, an ergot alkaloid increases the virulence of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail M. Jones
- West Virginia University, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel G. Panaccione
- West Virginia University, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Chen W, Yuan W, He R, Pu X, Hu Q, Weng Q. Screening of Fungal Strains and Formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae to Control Phyllotreta striolata in Chinese Flowering Cabbage. INSECTS 2023; 14:567. [PMID: 37367383 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The cabbage flea beetle (CFB; Phyllotreta striolata) seriously damages the production of Chinese flowering cabbage (CFC; Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis), which is a key leafy vegetable in South China. A large number of chemical insecticides have been sprayed to control this pest; as a result, residues and resistances are becoming an issue. It is necessary to develop biocontrol technologies to address this issue. (2) Methods: Fungal strains were selected based on bioactivity against CFB, and CFC seed pelletization with fungal conidia was subject to evaluation of control efficacy against CFB. The effective mixture of fungus and chemical insecticide was determined based on safety and joint toxicology tests. (3) Results: The screening of 103 strains from 14 genera identified the Metarhizium anisopliae strain MaGX19S02 (Ma) as the one with the highest virulence. The LC50s of Ma to CFB adult and second instar larvae on day 9 post-treatment were 3.04 × 106 and 27.2 × 106 spores/mL, respectively. In the pot test, the pelletization of CFC seeds with Ma conidia (50/25/12.5 mg in 1 g seed with 4 g fillers) demonstrated significant CFB mortalities (45-82%) 20 days after the larvae were introduced. In the field test, the seed pelletization achieved 57-81% control efficacy 14 days after sowing. Furthermore, the combination of Ma with chlorfenapyr (Chl) demonstrated a synergistic effect against CFB; based on this result, we prepared the mixture formulation of 20% Ma-Chl wettable powder (WP). The assessment of the effects of 20% Ma-Chl WP (500× diluent) against CFB revealed 93.33% mortality in the pot test and 61.3% control efficacy in the field test on day 7 post-treatment. (4) Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the potential of Ma to control CFB in the field. Seed pelletization with Ma conidia effectively controlled CFB larvae and protected CFC seedlings, wherein a mixture formulation of 20% Ma-Chl WP had substantial efficacy in controlling CFB adults. Our research provides new methods for CFB biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wenjing Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Renkun He
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xinhua Pu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qiongbo Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qunfang Weng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Entomopathogenic Fungi-Mediated Solubilization and Induction of Fe Related Genes in Melon and Cucumber Plants. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020258. [PMID: 36836372 PMCID: PMC9960893 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Endophytic insect pathogenic fungi have a multifunctional lifestyle; in addition to its well-known function as biocontrol agents, it may also help plants respond to other biotic and abiotic stresses, such as iron (Fe) deficiency. This study explores M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain attributes for Fe acquisition. Firstly, direct attributes include siderophore exudation (in vitro assay) and Fe content in shoots and in the substrate (in vivo assay) were evaluated for three strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium bruneum. The M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain showed a great ability to exudate iron siderophores (58.4% surface siderophores exudation) and provided higher Fe content in both dry matter and substrate compared to the control and was therefore selected for further research to unravel the possible induction of Fe deficiency responses, Ferric Reductase Activity (FRA), and relative expression of Fe acquisition genes by qRT-PCR in melon and cucumber plants.. In addition, root priming by M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain elicited Fe deficiency responses at transcriptional level. Our results show an early up-regulation (24, 48 or 72 h post inoculation) of the Fe acquisition genes FRO1, FRO2, IRT1, HA1, and FIT as well as the FRA. These results highlight the mechanisms involved in the Fe acquisition as mediated by IPF M. brunneum EAMa 01/58-Su strain.
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da Silva Camargo M, Geremia F, Sbaraini N, Staats CC, Filho MS, Schrank A. Molecular characterization of a novel victorivirus (order Ghabrivirales, family Totiviridae) infecting Metarhizium anisopliae. Arch Virol 2023; 168:83. [PMID: 36757570 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05716-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Here, we report the occurrence and complete genome sequence of a novel victorivirus infecting Metarhizium anisopliae, named "Metarhizium anisopliae victorivirus 1" (MaVV1). The genome is 5353 bp in length and contains two open reading frames (ORFs), encoding a coat protein and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), that overlap at the octanucleotide sequence AUGAGUAA. These ORFs showed sequence similarity to the corresponding ORFs of Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus L (68.23%) and Ustilaginoidea virens RNA virus 13 (58.11%), respectively, both of which belong to the family Totiviridae. Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp sequences revealed that MaVV1 clustered with members of the genus Victorivirus. This is the first genome sequence reported for a virus belonging to the genus Victorivirus infecting the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus da Silva Camargo
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Felipe Geremia
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nicolau Sbaraini
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Marcio Silva Filho
- Department of Genetics, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Deparment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology of Filamentous Fungi Laboratory, Biotechnology Center, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 9500 Bento Gonçalves AveLab 217, Campus Box 43421, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970, Brazil.
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14
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Zhang X, Peng X, Yang G, Chen Q, Jin D. The Colonization and Effect of Isaria cateinannulata on Buckwheat Sprouts. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:plants12010145. [PMID: 36616274 PMCID: PMC9824485 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of entomogenous fungi as endophytes is currently an area of active research. Isaria cateniannulata is an important entomogenous fungus that has been employed for the active control of a range of pests in agricultural and forestry settings, but its direct impact on plants remains to be evaluated. Herein, we assessed the ability of I. cateniannulata to colonize buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum and F. tataricum, and its impact on buckwheat defense enzyme activity and physiological indexes. The majority of fungal submerge condia was able to enter into leaves through stomata and veins, and this was followed by conidial attachment, lytic enzyme secretion, conidial deformation, and enhanced defensive enzyme activity within buckwheat, followed by the repair of damaged tissue structures. I. cateniannulata populations on buckwheat leaf surfaces (in CFU/g) reached the minimum values at 24 h after inoculation. At this time, the blast analysis revealed that the sequence identity values were 100%, which was consistent with the sequence of I. cateniannula. The number of I. cateniannulata submerge conidia colonized in the buckwheat leaves gradually rose to peak levels on 7 d post-inoculation, and then gradually declined until 10 d, at which time the buckwheat plant growth index values increased. This study provided novel evidence that I. cateniannulata could be leveraged as an endophytic fungus capable of colonizing buckwheat plants and promoting their growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaona Zhang
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Research Center of Buckwheat Industry Technology, College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Xue Peng
- Research Center of Buckwheat Industry Technology, College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Guimin Yang
- Research Center of Buckwheat Industry Technology, College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Qingfu Chen
- Research Center of Buckwheat Industry Technology, College of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Daochao Jin
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-139-8403-0739
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15
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López-Rodríguez L, Burrola-Aguilar C, Garibay-Orijel R, Estrada-Zúñiga ME, Matías-Ferrer N, Argüelles-Moyao A. Cordyceps mexicana sp. nov., parasitizing Paradirphia sp. moths: A new sister species of the Cordyceps militaris complex, distributed in central Mexican Quercus-Pinus mixed forests. Mycologia 2022; 114:732-747. [PMID: 35687062 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2022.2058854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cordyceps s.l. is a paraphyletic group of ascomycete fungi that exhibit multifunctional lifestyles, that is, as saprotrophs, endophytes, and pathogens of insects, spiders, fungi, and grasses. The family Cordycipitaceae includes macroscopically similar species that have been erroneously considered to be conspecific with Cordyceps militaris. In this study, we describe a new species within the C. militaris complex that is distributed in the Quercus-Pinus forests of central Mexico on the basis of its morphology, phylogenetic relationships, and life cycle. Phylogenetically, Cordyceps mexicana is a well-supported new sister species of the C. militaris complex. It is distinguished by the morphology of its conidiophore, host association, and geographic distribution. This species parasitizes pupae of Paradirphia sp. (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) and might be macroscopically confused with C. militaris. Its stromata are large, can measure up to 10 cm in length, and the fertile part is always bright yellow. This species develops whitish mycelial cords that emerge from the stromata and grow toward the host. Microscopically, it develops asci with filiform ascospores disarticulating in part-spores. Its life cycle and geographic distribution are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena López-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Bióticos, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Highway Toluca - Ixtlahuaca, Kilometer 15.5, Toluca 50200, México
| | - Cristina Burrola-Aguilar
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Bióticos, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Highway Toluca - Ixtlahuaca, Kilometer 15.5, Toluca 50200, México
| | - Roberto Garibay-Orijel
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - María Elena Estrada-Zúñiga
- Centro de Investigación en Recursos Bióticos, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Highway Toluca - Ixtlahuaca, Kilometer 15.5, Toluca 50200, México
| | | | - Andrés Argüelles-Moyao
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
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16
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Páramo MER, Dos Santos KR, Filgueiras MDG, Fernandes ÉKK, Montalva C, Humber RA, Luz C. Activity Against Musca domestica of Hypocrealean Fungi Isolated from Culicids in Central Brazil and Formulated in Vermiculite. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 51:474-482. [PMID: 35575878 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-022-00963-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Musca domestica L. is a cosmopolitan nuisance of high sanitary importance. Entomopathogenic fungi are innovative and attractive tools for integrated control of the housefly to overcome insufficient levels of control caused by increasing resistance of this pest against chemical insecticides. High virulence of a fungal strain is a prerequisite to develop a mycoinsecticide, and the present study investigated the potential of hypocrealean fungi from the genera Beauveria, Clonostachys, Cordyceps, Akanthomyces, Metarhizium, and Tolypocladium, isolated from mosquitoes in Central Brazil against M. domestica. The highest mortalities (larvae, pupae, and adults) were caused by Metarhizium humberi IP 478 (98%) and IP 421 (90%), Metarhizium anisopliae IP 432 (85%), Beauveria bassiana IP 433 (82%), and Tolypocladium cylindrosporum IP 425 (68%) after a 23-day exposure of initially pre-pupating third instar larvae to conidia mixed with vermiculite. Lethal concentrations to kill 90% of adults of IP 433 and IP 478 were 5 × 107 and 108 conidia g-1 substrate, respectively. Fifty percent of adults were killed within 4 to 5 days of exposure initially as pupae close to emergence to substrate treated with conidia of IP 478 or IP 433 at 1.1 × 108 conidia g-1, respectively. The other fungal strains tested were less virulent. The results demonstrate high potentials for conidial preparations in vermiculite of IP 433 and IP 478 as candidates for the biological control of both pre-pupating larvae, pupae, and emerging adults of houseflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel E Rueda Páramo
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE), Univ Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karine R Dos Santos
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Marcos D G Filgueiras
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Éverton K K Fernandes
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Cristian Montalva
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Lab de Salud de Bosques, Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Univ Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Richard A Humber
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- USDA-ARS Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Christian Luz
- Lab de Patologia de Invertebrados (LPI), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Univ Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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17
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Erler S, Eckert JH, Steinert M, Alkassab AT. Impact of microorganisms and entomopathogenic nematodes used for plant protection on solitary and social bee pollinators: Host range, specificity, pathogenicity, toxicity, and effects of experimental parameters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 302:119051. [PMID: 35219794 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pollinating bees are stressed by highly variable environmental conditions, malnutrition, parasites and pathogens, but may also by getting in contact with microorganisms or entomopathogenic nematodes that are used to control plant pests and diseases. While foraging for water, food, or nest material social as well as solitary bees have direct contact or even consume the plant protection product with its active substance (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.). Here, we summarize the results of cage, microcolony, observation hive assays, semi-field and field studies using full-size queen-right colonies. By now, some species and subspecies of the Western and Eastern honey bee (Apis mellifera, A. cerana), few species of bumble bees, very few stingless bee species and only a single species of leafcutter bees have been studied as non-target host organisms. Survival and reproduction are the major criteria that have been evaluated. Especially sublethal effects on the bees' physiology, immune response and metabolisms will be targets of future investigations. By studying infectivity and pathogenic mechanisms, individual strains of the microorganism and impact on different bee species are future challenges, especially under field conditions. Overall, it became evident that honey bees, bumble bees and few stingless bee species may not be suitable surrogate species to make general conclusions for biological mechanisms of bee-microorganism interactions of other social bee species. Solitary bees have been studied on leafcutter bees (Megachile rotundata) only, which shows that this huge group of bees (∼20,000 species worldwide) is right at the beginning to get an insight into the interaction of wild pollinators and microbial plant protection organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Erler
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Jakob H Eckert
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Michael Steinert
- Institute of Microbiology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Abdulrahim T Alkassab
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Messeweg 11-12, 38104, Braunschweig, Germany
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18
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Liu W, Yu SH, Zhang HP, Fu ZY, An JQ, Zhang JY, Yang P. Two Cladosporium Fungi with Opposite Functions to the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect Have Different Genome Characters. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8030286. [PMID: 35330288 PMCID: PMC8949958 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects encounter infection of microorganisms, and they also harbor endosymbiosis to participate in nutrition providing and act as a defender against pathogens. We previously found the Chinese white wax scale insect, Ericerus pela, was infected and killed by Cladosporium sp. (pathogen). We also found it harbored Cladosporium sp. (endogensis). In this study, we cultured these two Cladosporium fungi and sequenced their genome. The results showed Cladosporium sp. (endogensis) has a larger genome size and more genes than Cladosporium sp. (pathogen). Pan-genome analysis showed Cladosporium sp. (endogensis)-specific genes enriched in pathways related to nutrition production, such as amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism. These pathways were absent in that of Cladosporium sp. (pathogen). Gene Ontology analysis showed Cladosporium sp. (pathogen)-specific genes enriched in the biosynthesis of asperfuranone, emericellamide, and fumagillin. These terms were not found in that of Cladosporium sp. (endogensis). Pathogen Host Interactions analysis found Cladosporium sp. (endogensis) had more genes related to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence than Cladosporium sp. (pathogen). Cytotoxicity assay indicated Cladosporium sp. (pathogen) had cytotoxicity, while Cladosporium sp. (endogensis) had no cytotoxicity. These characters reflect the adaptation of endosymbiosis to host-restricted lifestyle and the invader of the entomopathogen to the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, China; (W.L.); (Z.-Y.F.); (J.-Q.A.)
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Shu-Hui Yu
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (S.-H.Y.); (H.-P.Z.)
| | - Hong-Ping Zhang
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China; (S.-H.Y.); (H.-P.Z.)
| | - Zuo-Yi Fu
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, China; (W.L.); (Z.-Y.F.); (J.-Q.A.)
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Jia-Qi An
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, China; (W.L.); (Z.-Y.F.); (J.-Q.A.)
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Jin-Yang Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China;
| | - Pu Yang
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, China; (W.L.); (Z.-Y.F.); (J.-Q.A.)
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, China
- Correspondence:
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Iwanicki NS, Botelho ABRZ, Klingen I, Júnior ID, Rossmann S, Lysøe E. Genomic signatures and insights into host niche adaptation of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium humberi. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:6449448. [PMID: 34865006 PMCID: PMC9210286 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The genus Metarhizium is composed of species used in biological control programs of agricultural pests worldwide. This genus includes common fungal pathogen of many insects and mites and endophytes that can increase plant growth. Metarhizium humberi was recently described as a new species. This species is highly virulent against some insect pests and promotes growth in sugarcane, strawberry, and soybean crops. In this study, we sequenced the genome of M. humberi, isolate ESALQ1638, and performed a functional analysis to determine its genomic signatures and highlight the genes and biological processes associated with its lifestyle. The genome annotation predicted 10633 genes in M. humberi, of which 92.0% are assigned putative functions, and ∼17% of the genome was annotated as repetitive sequences. We found that 18.5% of the M. humberi genome is similar to experimentally validated proteins associated with pathogen-host interaction. Compared to the genomes of eight Metarhizium species, the M. humberi ESALQ1638 genome revealed some unique traits that stood out, e.g., more genes functionally annotated as polyketide synthases (PKSs), overrepresended GO-terms associated to transport of ions, organic and amino acid, a higher percentage of repetitive elements, and higher levels of RIP-induced point mutations. The M. humberi genome will serve as a resource for promoting studies on genome structure and evolution that can contribute to research on biological control and plant biostimulation. Thus, the genomic data supported the broad host range of this species within the generalist PARB clade and suggested that M. humberi ESALQ1638 might be particularly good at producing secondary metabolites and might be more efficient in transporting amino acids and organic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Sant′Anna Iwanicki
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil
- Corresponding author: (N.S.I.); (E.L.)
| | | | - Ingeborg Klingen
- Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Ås 1431, Norway
| | - Italo Delalibera Júnior
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Simeon Rossmann
- Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Ås 1431, Norway
| | - Erik Lysøe
- Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Ås 1431, Norway
- Corresponding author: (N.S.I.); (E.L.)
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20
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Brancini GTP, Hallsworth JE, Corrochano LM, Braga GÚL. Photobiology of the keystone genus Metarhizium. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 226:112374. [PMID: 34954528 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Metarhizium fungi are soil-inhabiting ascomycetes which are saprotrophs, symbionts of plants, pathogens of insects, and participate in other trophic/ecological interactions, thereby performing multiple essential ecosystem services. Metarhizium species are used to control insect pests of crop plants and insects that act as vectors of human and animal diseases. To fulfil their functions in the environment and as biocontrol agents, these fungi must endure cellular stresses imposed by the environment, one of the most potent of which is solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Here, we examine the cellular stress biology of Metarhizium species in context of their photobiology, showing how photobiology facilitates key aspects of their ecology as keystone microbes and as mycoinsectides. The biophysical basis of UV-induced damage to Metarhizium, and mechanistic basis of molecular and cellular responses to effect damage repair, are discussed and interpreted in relation to the solar radiation received on Earth. We analyse the interplay between UV and visible light and how the latter increases cellular tolerance to the former via expression of a photolyase gene. By integrating current knowledge, we propose the mechanism through which Metarhizium species use the visible fraction of (low-UV) early-morning light to mitigate potentially lethal damage from intense UV radiation later in the day. We also show how this mechanism could increase Metarhizium environmental persistence and improve its bioinsecticide performance. We discuss the finding that visible light modulates stress biology in the context of further work needed on Metarhizium ecology in natural and agricultural ecosystems, and as keystone microbes that provide essential services within Earth's biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme T P Brancini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-903, Brazil.
| | - John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Luis M Corrochano
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Gilberto Ú L Braga
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-903, Brazil.
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21
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Souza DA, Oliveira CMD, Tamai MA, Faria M, Lopes RB. First report on the natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in populations of the leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): Pathogen identifications and their incidence in maize crops. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:980-988. [PMID: 34776235 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis is one of the most important pests of maize in Latin America. Here we report, for the first time, the natural occurrence of two fungal species infecting the adult stage of this pest. In 2020, insects killed by a pale bluish green fungus in irrigated maize fields located in Northeast Brazil were found attached to the abaxial surface of leaves. Using morphological characters and multigenic phylogeny, it was identified as Metarhizium brasiliense. In the beginning of 2021, the same pathogen was seen on adults in a maize field in the Central-Western region, alongside an entomophthoralean fungus during an epizootic. The latter pathogen was molecularly identified as a species in the genus Batkoa. The number of Batkoa-infected leafhoppers, displaying the typical swollen abdomen and extended wings, reached an average of 1.88 per maize leaf (86.42% of the sampled adults). The incidence of M. brasiliense was higher in plots in the Northeastern region (0.22 and 0.53 adult per leaf) when compared to the Central-Western region (0.04 adult per leaf). The report of D. maidis adults infected by M. brasiliense in agricultural settings located in different geographic regions and over 550 km apart indicates probable widespread occurrence of this pathogen in Brazil. Moreover, this opens the possibility of more applied biological control studies and, perhaps, the development of new tools to manage D. maidis populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Aguiar Souza
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB W5 North Avenue, Brasília Federal District, 70770-917, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Antonio Tamai
- Bahia State University, UNEB, BR 242 Road km 4, Barreiras, Bahia, 47800-000, Brazil
| | - Marcos Faria
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB W5 North Avenue, Brasília Federal District, 70770-917, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Biaggioni Lopes
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, PqEB W5 North Avenue, Brasília Federal District, 70770-917, Brazil.
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22
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Kaczmarek A, Boguś MI. The Impact of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus on the Free Fatty Acid Profile of the Flesh Fly Sarcophaga argyrostoma. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12110970. [PMID: 34821771 PMCID: PMC8623223 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The interaction between insect and fungus is characterised on the one hand by the parasite developing more effective strategies of host exploitation, and on the other, by the host mounting increasingly robust defences though Red Queen dynamics or coevolutionary arms races. Furthermore, depending on gene flow and differences in selection pressure between sites, both host and parasite may demonstrate local adaptation to their counterpart or develop more general resistance or offensive traits. As the cuticle is considered the first line of defence of the insect, changes in the FFA profile may well influence susceptibility or resistance to fungal invasion. Our findings indicate that Sarcophaga argyrostoma demonstrates stage-specific resistance to Conidiobolus coronatus infection and suggests that FFAs play a role in resistance to fungal infection in flesh flies. These findings not only increase our knowledge of the entomopatogenic potential of fungi, but also of the growing level of infection by C. coronatus in humans and other mammals. Also, the presented research suggests that FFAs demonstrate antifungal activity which may be helpful in designing new antifungal treatments. Abstract The chemical composition of the insect cuticle varies remarkably between species and their life stages. It can affect host resistance and substrate utilization by invading entomopathogen fungi, such as the soil fungus Conidiobolus coronatus. In this study, Sarcophaga argyrostoma flies were exposed to sporulating C. coronatus colonies for 24 h; the pupae were resistant, but the adults demonstrated 60% mortality. Although the pupae demonstrated no sign of infection nor any abnormal development, our findings indicate that after 24 h of contact with the fungus, the pupae demonstrated a 25.2-fold increase in total cuticular free fatty acids (FFAs) and a 1.9-fold decrease in total internal FFAs. Also, the cuticular FFA increased from 26 to 30, while the internal FFA class increased from 13 to 23. In exposed adults, the total mass of cuticular FFAs increased 1.7-fold, while the number of FFAs stayed the same (32 FFAs). Also, the internal FFA class increased from 26 to 35 and the total FFA mass increased 1.1-fold. These considerable differences between adults and pupae associated with C. coronatus exposure indicate developmental changes in the mechanisms governing lipid metabolism and spatial distribution in the organism, and suggest that cuticular lipids play a vital role in the defence against pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kaczmarek
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Mieczysława Irena Boguś
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland;
- BIOMIBO, Strzygłowska 15, 04-872 Warsaw, Poland
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23
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Krain A, Siupka P. Fungal Guttation, a Source of Bioactive Compounds, and Its Ecological Role-A Review. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091270. [PMID: 34572483 PMCID: PMC8467351 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Guttation is a common phenomenon in the fungal kingdom. Its occurrence and intensity depend largely on culture conditions, such as growth medium composition or incubation temperature. As filamentous fungi are a rich source of compounds, possessing various biological activities, guttation exudates could also contain bioactive substances. Among such molecules, researchers have already found numerous mycotoxins, antimicrobials, insecticides, bioherbicides, antiviral, and anticancer agents in exudate droplets. They belong to either secondary metabolites (SMs) or proteins and are secreted with different intensities. The background of guttation, in terms of its biological role, in vivo, and promoting factors, has been explored only partially. In this review, we describe the metabolites present in fungal exudates, their diversity, and bioactivities. Pointing to the significance of fungal ecology and natural products discovery, selected aspects of guttation in the fungi are discussed.
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24
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Mathulwe LL, Jacobs K, Malan AP, Birkhofer K, Addison MF, Addison P. Characterisation of Metarhizium majus (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) isolated from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240955. [PMID: 33606688 PMCID: PMC7894866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important soil-dwelling entomopathogens, which can be used as biological control agents against pest insects. EPF are capable of causing lethal epizootics in pest insect populations in agroecosystems. During a survey of the orchard soil at an organic farm, different EPF species were collected and identified to species level, using both morphological and molecular techniques. The EPF were trapped from soil samples taken from an apricot orchard. The traps, which were baited in the laboratory, used susceptible host insects, including the last-instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (wax moth larvae) and Tenebrio molitor (mealworm larvae). The potential pathogenicity of the local Metarhizium majus isolate was tested and verified using susceptible laboratory-reared last-instar T. molitor larvae. The identification of the M. majus isolated from South African soil was verified using both morphological and molecular techniques. The occurrence of M. majus in the South African soil environment had not previously been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letodi L. Mathulwe
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Karin Jacobs
- Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Antoinette P. Malan
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Ecology, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany
| | - Matthew F. Addison
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pia Addison
- Faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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