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Lu Y, Tang D, Liu Z, Zhao J, Chen Y, Ma J, Luo L, Yu H. Genomic comparative analysis of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1293077. [PMID: 38686108 PMCID: PMC11057048 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1293077] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato is a common pathogenic fungus of ants. A new species, O. fusiformispora, was described based on morphology and phylogenetic evidence from five genes (SSU, LSU, TEF1α, RPB1, and RPB2). The whole genomes of O. fusiformispora, O. contiispora, O. subtiliphialida, O. satoi, O. flabellata, O. acroasca, and O. camponoti-leonardi were sequenced and annotated and compared with whole genome sequences of other species in O. unilateralis sensu lato. The basic genome-wide characteristics of the 12 species showed that the related species had similar GC content and genome size. AntiSMASH and local BLAST analyses revealed that the number and types of putative SM BGCs, NPPS, PKS, and hybrid PKS-NRPS domains for the 12 species differed significantly among different species in the same genus. The putative BGC of five compounds, namely, NG-391, lucilactaene, higginsianin B, pyripyropene A, and pyranonigrin E were excavated. NG-391 and lucilactaene were 7-desmethyl analogs of fusarin C. Furthermore, the 12 genomes had common domains, such as KS-AT-DH-MT-ER-KR-ACP and SAT-KS-AT-PT-ACP-ACP-Te. The ML and BI trees of SAT-KS-AT-PT-ACP-ACP-Te were highly consistent with the multigene phylogenetic tree in the 12 species. This study provided a method to obtain the living culture of O. unilateralis sensu lato species and its asexual formed on the basis of living culture, which was of great value for further study of O. unilateralis sensu lato species in the future, and also laid a foundation for further analysis of secondary metabolites of O. unilateralis sensu lato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingling Lu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Dexiang Tang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Zuoheng Liu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jinmei Ma
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Lijun Luo
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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Liang X, Yu W, Meng Y, Shang S, Tian H, Zhang Z, Rollins JA, Zhang R, Sun G. Genome comparisons reveal accessory genes crucial for the evolution of apple Glomerella leaf spot pathogenicity in Colletotrichum fungi. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e13454. [PMID: 38619507 PMCID: PMC11018114 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Apple Glomerella leaf spot (GLS) is an emerging fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum fructicola and other Colletotrichum species. These species are polyphyletic and it is currently unknown how these pathogens convergently evolved to infect apple. We generated chromosome-level genome assemblies of a GLS-adapted isolate and a non-adapted isolate in C. fructicola using long-read sequencing. Additionally, we resequenced 17 C. fructicola and C. aenigma isolates varying in GLS pathogenicity using short-read sequencing. Genome comparisons revealed a conserved bipartite genome architecture involving minichromosomes (accessory chromosomes) shared by C. fructicola and other closely related species within the C. gloeosporioides species complex. Moreover, two repeat-rich genomic regions (1.61 Mb in total) were specifically conserved among GLS-pathogenic isolates in C. fructicola and C. aenigma. Single-gene deletion of 10 accessory genes within the GLS-specific regions of C. fructicola identified three that were essential for GLS pathogenicity. These genes encoded a putative non-ribosomal peptide synthetase, a flavin-binding monooxygenase and a small protein with unknown function. These results highlight the crucial role accessory genes play in the evolution of Colletotrichum pathogenicity and imply the significance of an unidentified secondary metabolite in GLS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Wei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Yanan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Shengping Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Huanhuan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | | | - Rong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Guangyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid AreasCollege of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
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Moyano A, Croce AC, Scolari F. Pathogen-Mediated Alterations of Insect Chemical Communication: From Pheromones to Behavior. Pathogens 2023; 12:1350. [PMID: 38003813 PMCID: PMC10675518 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111350] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens can influence the physiology and behavior of both animal and plant hosts in a manner that promotes their own transmission and dispersal. Recent research focusing on insects has revealed that these manipulations can extend to the production of pheromones, which are pivotal in chemical communication. This review provides an overview of the current state of research and available data concerning the impacts of bacterial, viral, fungal, and eukaryotic pathogens on chemical communication across different insect orders. While our understanding of the influence of pathogenic bacteria on host chemical profiles is still limited, viral infections have been shown to induce behavioral changes in the host, such as altered pheromone production, olfaction, and locomotion. Entomopathogenic fungi affect host chemical communication by manipulating cuticular hydrocarbons and pheromone production, while various eukaryotic parasites have been observed to influence insect behavior by affecting the production of pheromones and other chemical cues. The effects induced by these infections are explored in the context of the evolutionary advantages they confer to the pathogen. The molecular mechanisms governing the observed pathogen-mediated behavioral changes, as well as the dynamic and mutually influential relationships between the pathogen and its host, are still poorly understood. A deeper comprehension of these mechanisms will prove invaluable in identifying novel targets in the perspective of practical applications aimed at controlling detrimental insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Moyano
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Cleta Croce
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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Ding JL, Wei K, Feng MG, Ying SH. Homologs of bacterial heat-labile enterotoxin subunit A contribute to development, stress response, and virulence in filamentous entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264560. [PMID: 37809075 PMCID: PMC10556748 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enterotoxigenic bacteria commonly excrete heat-labile enterotoxins (LT) as virulence factors that consist of one subunit A (LTA) and five B subunits (LTB). In fungi, there are a large number of genes encoding the homologs of LTA, but their biological roles remain largely unknown. Methods In this study, we identified 14 enterotoxin_A domain proteins in filamentous fungus B. bassiana in which five proteins were functionally characterized. Results Five proteins displayed diverse sub-cellular localizations but perform convergent functions in stress response, development, and virulence. The loss of five LTA genes resulted in significant reduction in conidial production, blastospore formation, and the increased sensitivity to oxidative and cell wall -perturbing stresses. The virulence of five disruptants was notably weakened as indicated by topical and intrahemocoel injection assays. Notably, the loss of these five proteins led to the significant changes in the carbohydrate profiles of cellular surface, which induced the enhanced host immune reactions of encapsulation and melanization. Discussion Thus, LTA proteins contribute to the fungus-host interaction via maintaining the carbohydrate profiles of cellular surface. This study expands our understanding of the enterotoxin_A domain proteins in fungal physiology and deepens mechanisms involved in the lifestyle of fungal insect pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sheng-Hua Ying
- Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Will I, Attardo GM, de Bekker C. Multiomic interpretation of fungus-infected ant metabolomes during manipulated summit disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14363. [PMID: 37658067 PMCID: PMC10474057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40065-0] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Camponotus floridanus ants show altered behaviors followed by a fatal summiting phenotype when infected with manipulating Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani fungi. Host summiting as a strategy to increase transmission is also observed with parasite taxa beyond fungi, including aquatic and terrestrial helminths and baculoviruses. The drastic phenotypic changes can sometimes reflect significant molecular changes in gene expression and metabolite concentrations measured in manipulated hosts. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms still need to be fully characterized. To investigate the small molecules producing summiting behavior, we infected C. floridanus ants with O. camponoti-floridani and sampled their heads for LC-MS/MS when we observed the characteristic summiting phenotype. We link this metabolomic data with our previous genomic and transcriptomic data to propose mechanisms that underlie manipulated summiting behavior in "zombie ants." This "multiomic" evidence points toward the dysregulation of neurotransmitter levels and neuronal signaling. We propose that these processes are altered during infection and manipulation based on (1) differential expression of neurotransmitter synthesis and receptor genes, (2) altered abundance of metabolites and neurotransmitters (or their precursors) with known behavioral effects in ants and other insects, and (3) possible suppression of a connected immunity pathway. We additionally report signals for metabolic activity during manipulation related to primary metabolism, detoxification, and anti-stress protectants. Taken together, these findings suggest that host manipulation is likely a multi-faceted phenomenon, with key processes changing at multiple levels of molecular organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Will
- Biology Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA.
| | - G M Attardo
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of California-Davis, Davis, USA
| | - C de Bekker
- Biology Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA.
- Biology Department, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Will I, Beckerson WC, de Bekker C. Using machine learning to predict protein-protein interactions between a zombie ant fungus and its carpenter ant host. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13821. [PMID: 37620441 PMCID: PMC10449854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40764-8] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic fungi produce proteins that modulate virulence, alter host physiology, and trigger host responses. These proteins, classified as a type of "effector," often act via protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The fungal parasite Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani (zombie ant fungus) manipulates Camponotus floridanus (carpenter ant) behavior to promote transmission. The most striking aspect of this behavioral change is a summit disease phenotype where infected hosts ascend and attach to an elevated position. Plausibly, interspecific PPIs drive aspects of Ophiocordyceps infection and host manipulation. Machine learning PPI predictions offer high-throughput methods to produce mechanistic hypotheses on how this behavioral manipulation occurs. Using D-SCRIPT to predict host-parasite PPIs, we found ca. 6000 interactions involving 2083 host proteins and 129 parasite proteins, which are encoded by genes upregulated during manipulated behavior. We identified multiple overrepresentations of functional annotations among these proteins. The strongest signals in the host highlighted neuromodulatory G-protein coupled receptors and oxidation-reduction processes. We also detected Camponotus structural and gene-regulatory proteins. In the parasite, we found enrichment of Ophiocordyceps proteases and frequent involvement of novel small secreted proteins with unknown functions. From these results, we provide new hypotheses on potential parasite effectors and host targets underlying zombie ant behavioral manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Will
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
| | - William C Beckerson
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - Charissa de Bekker
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
- Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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de Menezes TA, Aburjaile FF, Quintanilha-Peixoto G, Tomé LMR, Fonseca PLC, Mendes-Pereira T, Araújo DS, Melo TS, Kato RB, Delabie JHC, Ribeiro SP, Brenig B, Azevedo V, Drechsler-Santos ER, Andrade BS, Góes-Neto A. Unraveling the Secrets of a Double-Life Fungus by Genomics: Ophiocordyceps australis CCMB661 Displays Molecular Machinery for Both Parasitic and Endophytic Lifestyles. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9010110. [PMID: 36675931 PMCID: PMC9864599 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010110] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps australis (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) is a classic entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes ants (Hymenoptera, Ponerinae, Ponerini). Nonetheless, according to our results, this fungal species also exhibits a complete set of genes coding for plant cell wall degrading Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), enabling a full endophytic stage and, consequently, its dual ability to both parasitize insects and live inside plant tissue. The main objective of our study was the sequencing and full characterization of the genome of the fungal strain of O. australis (CCMB661) and its predicted secretome. The assembled genome had a total length of 30.31 Mb, N50 of 92.624 bp, GC content of 46.36%, and 8,043 protein-coding genes, 175 of which encoded CAZymes. In addition, the primary genes encoding proteins and critical enzymes during the infection process and those responsible for the host-pathogen interaction have been identified, including proteases (Pr1, Pr4), aminopeptidases, chitinases (Cht2), adhesins, lectins, lipases, and behavioral manipulators, such as enterotoxins, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs), and Glycoside Hydrolases (GHs). Our findings indicate that the presence of genes coding for Mad2 and GHs in O. australis may facilitate the infection process in plants, suggesting interkingdom colonization. Furthermore, our study elucidated the pathogenicity mechanisms for this Ophiocordyceps species, which still is scarcely studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Almeida de Menezes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Laboratory of Integrative Bioinformatics, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Quintanilha-Peixoto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Marcelo Ribeiro Tomé
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Thairine Mendes-Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniel Silva Araújo
- Program in Bioinformatics, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Tarcisio Silva Melo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie
- Laboratory of Myrmecology, Centro de Pesquisa do Cacau, Ilhéus 45600-000, BA, Brazil
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45600-970, BA, Brazil
| | - Sérvio Pontes Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Ecology of Diseases and Forests, Nucleus of Biological Science, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35402-163, MG, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sudoeste da Bahia, Av. José Moreira Sobrinho, s/n, Jequiezinho, Jequié 45205-490, BA, Brazil
| | - Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-31-3409-3050
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Xu M, Ashley NA, Vaghefi N, Wilkinson I, Idnurm A. Isolation of strains and their genome sequencing to analyze the mating system of Ophiocordyceps robertsii. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284978. [PMID: 37130139 PMCID: PMC10153710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal genus Ophiocordyceps contains a number of insect pathogens. One of the best known of these is Ophiocordyceps sinensis, which is used in Chinese medicine and its overharvesting threatens sustainability; hence, alternative species are being sought. Ophiocordyceps robertsii, found in Australia and New Zealand, has been proposed to be a close relative to O. sinensis, but little is known about this species despite being also of historical significance. Here, O. robertsii strains were isolated into culture and high coverage draft genome sequences obtained and analyzed. This species has a large genome expansion, as also occurred in O. sinensis. The mating type locus was characterized, indicating a heterothallic arrangement whereby each strain has an idiomorphic region of two (MAT1-2-1, MAT1-2-2) or three (MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-2, MAT1-1-3) genes flanked by the conserved APN2 and SLA2 genes. These resources provide a new opportunity for understanding the evolution of the expanded genome in the homothallic species O. sinensis, as well as capabilities to explore the pharmaceutical potential in a species endemic to Australia and New Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin Xu
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Niloofar Vaghefi
- Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland, Darling Heights, Queensland, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ian Wilkinson
- GhostMothLabs, 20 Lynch Drive, Echuca, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alexander Idnurm
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Kuo HY, Chiu MC, Chou JY. Bacillus predominates in the Ophiocordyceps pseudolloydii-infected ants, and it potentially improves protection and utilization of the host cadavers. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:53. [PMID: 36602580 PMCID: PMC9816197 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03385-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial communities that colonize the cadaver environment of insects infected and killed by parasitic fungi can be selected by the sympatric fungi and provide novel impacts. In this study, we found that Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis predominate the bacterial community in Dolichoderus thoracicus ant cadavers colonized by O. pseudolloydii. The most predominant bacterial strains in these ant cadavers were hemolytic and able to produce hydrolytic enzymes for digesting the ant tissue. A relatively intense lethal effect on the co-cultured nematode was displayed by a hemolytic strain. Moreover, the antagonistic effect against pathogenic fungi detected in the bacteria sympatric with O. pseudolloydii was reported here. Naphthoquinones have been shown to confer antibacterial activities and produced by the ant-pathogenic Ophiocordyceps fungi. However, our results did not show the naphthoquinone tolerance we expected to be detected in the bacteria from the ant infected by O. pseudolloydii. The bacterial diversity in the samples associated with O. pseudolloydii infected ants as revealed in this study will be a step forward to the understanding of the roles playing by the microbial community in the native habitats of O. pseudolloydii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yu Kuo
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chung Chiu
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Yu Chou
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, 500, Changhua, Taiwan.
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Araújo J, Lebert B, Vermeulen S, Brachmann A, Ohm R, Evans H, de Bekker C. Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, Niveomyces ( Cordycipitaceae) and Torrubiellomyces ( Ophiocordycipitaceae), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. PERSOONIA 2022; 49:171-194. [PMID: 38234384 PMCID: PMC10792228 DOI: 10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
During surveys in central Florida of the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani, which manipulates the behavior of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus, two distinct fungal morphotypes were discovered associated with and purportedly parasitic on O. camponoti-floridani. Based on a combination of unique morphology, ecology and phylogenetic placement, we discovered that these morphotypes comprise two novel lineages of fungi. Here, we propose two new genera, Niveomyces and Torrubiellomyces, each including a single species within the families Cordycipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae, respectively. We generated de novo draft genomes for both new species and performed morphological and multi-loci phylogenetic analyses. The macromorphology and incidence of both new species, Niveomyces coronatus and Torrubiellomyces zombiae, suggest that these fungi are mycoparasites since their growth is observed exclusively on O. camponoti-floridani mycelium, stalks and ascomata, causing evident degradation of their fungal hosts. This work provides a starting point for more studies into fungal interactions between mycopathogens and entomopathogens, which have the potential to contribute towards efforts to battle the global rise of plant and animal mycoses. Citation: Araújo JPM, Lebert BM, Vermeulen S, et al. 2022. Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean general, Niveomyces (Cordycipitaceae) and Torrubiellomyces (Ophiocordycipitaceae), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. Persoonia 49: 171-194. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.49.05.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.P.M. Araújo
- Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, 10458 Bronx - New York, USA
| | - B.M. Lebert
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florida, 32816 Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - S. Vermeulen
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florida, 32816 Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - A. Brachmann
- Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - R.A. Ohm
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University,3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H.C. Evans
- CAB International, E-UK, Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY, UK
| | - C. de Bekker
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Central Florida, 32816 Orlando, Florida, USA
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University,3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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11
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Possible impacts of the predominant Bacillus bacteria on the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s. l. in its infected ant cadavers. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22695. [PMID: 34811424 PMCID: PMC8609033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02094-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts infected and killed by parasitoid fungi become nutrient-rich cadavers for saprophytes. Bacteria adapted to colonization of parasitoid fungi can be selected and can predominate in the cadavers, actions that consequently impact the fitness of the parasitoid fungi. In Taiwan, the zombie fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato (Clavicipitaceae: Hypocreales), was found to parasitize eight ant species, with preference for a principal host, Polyrhachis moesta. In this study, ant cadavers grew a fungal stroma that was predominated by Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis. The bacterial diversity in the principal ant host was found to be lower than the bacterial diversity in alternative hosts, a situation that might enhance the impact of B. cereus/thuringiensis on the sympatric fungus. The B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates from fungal stroma displayed higher resistance to a specific naphthoquinone (plumbagin) than sympatric bacteria from the environment. Naphthoquinones are known to be produced by O. unilateralis s. l., and hence the resistance displayed by B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates to these compounds suggests an advantage to B. cereus/thuringiensis to grow in the ant cadaver. Bacteria proliferating in the ant cadaver inevitably compete for resources with the fungus. However, the B. cereus/thuringiensis isolates displayed in vitro capabilities of hemolysis, production of hydrolytic enzymes, and antagonistic effects to co-cultured nematodes and entomopathogenic fungi. Thus, co-infection with B. cereus/thuringiensis offers potential benefits to the zombie fungus in killing the host under favorable conditions for reproduction, digesting the host tissue, and protecting the cadaver from being taken over by other consumers. With these potential benefits, the synergistic effect of B. cereus/thuringiensis on O. unilateralis infection is noteworthy given the competitive relationship of these two organisms sharing the same resource.
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12
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Elya C, De Fine Licht HH. The genus Entomophthora: bringing the insect destroyers into the twenty-first century. IMA Fungus 2021; 12:34. [PMID: 34763728 PMCID: PMC8588673 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-021-00084-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal genus Entomophthora consists of highly host-specific pathogens that cause deadly epizootics in their various insect hosts. The most well-known among these is the "zombie fly" fungus E. muscae, which, like other Entomophthora species, elicits a series of dramatic behaviors in infected hosts to promote optimal spore dispersal. Despite having been first described more than 160 years ago, there are still many open questions about Entomophthora biology, including the molecular underpinnings of host behavior manipulation and host specificity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the biology of Entomophthora fungi and enumerates the most pressing outstanding questions that should be addressed in the field. We briefly review the discovery of Entomophthora and provide a summary of the 21 recognized Entomophthora species, including their type hosts, methods of transmission (ejection of spores after or before host death), and for which molecular data are available. Further, we argue that this genus is globally distributed, based on a compilation of Entomophthora records in the literature and in online naturalist databases, and likely to contain additional species. Evidence for strain-level specificity of hosts is summarized and directly compared to phylogenies of Entomophthora and the class Insecta. A detailed description of Entomophthora's life-cycle and observed manipulated behaviors is provided and used to summarize a consensus for ideal growth conditions. We discuss evidence for Entomophthora's adaptation to growth exclusively inside insects, such as producing wall-less hyphal bodies and a unique set of subtilisin-like proteases to penetrate the insect cuticle. However, we are only starting to understand the functions of unusual molecular and genomic characteristics, such as having large > 1 Gb genomes full of repetitive elements and potential functional diploidy. We argue that the high host-specificity and obligate life-style of most Entomophthora species provides ample scope for having been shaped by close coevolution with insects despite the current general lack of such evidence. Finally, we propose six major directions for future Entomophthora research and in doing so hope to provide a foundation for future studies of these fungi and their interaction with insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Elya
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Henrik H De Fine Licht
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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13
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Zhang L, Yue Q, Wang C, Xu Y, Molnár I. Secondary metabolites from hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi: genomics as a tool to elucidate the encoded parvome. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 37:1164-1180. [PMID: 32211677 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00007h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2014 up to the third quarter of 2019 Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (HEF) produce a large variety of secondary metabolites (SMs) that are prominent virulence factors or mediate various interactions in the native niches of these organisms. Many of these SMs show insecticidal, immune system modulatory, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and other bioactivities of clinical or agricultural significance. Recent advances in whole genome sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have revealed many biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) potentially involved in SM production in HEF. Some of these BGCs are now well characterized, with the structures of the cognate product congeners elucidated, and the proposed biosynthetic functions of key enzymes validated. However, the vast majority of HEF BGCs are still not linked to SM products ("orphan" BGCs), including many clusters that are not expressed (silent) under routine laboratory conditions. Thus, investigations into the encoded parvome (the secondary metabolome predicted from the genome) of HEF allows the discovery of BGCs for known SMs; uncovers novel metabolites based on the BGCs; and catalogues the predicted SM biosynthetic potential of these fungi. Herein, we summarize new developments of the field, and survey the polyketide, nonribosomal peptide, terpenoid and hybrid SM BGCs encoded in the currently available 40 HEF genome sequences. Studying the encoded parvome of HEF will increase our understanding of the multifaceted roles that SMs play in biotic and abiotic interactions and will also reveal biologically active SMs that can be exploited for the discovery of human and veterinary drugs or crop protection agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
| | - Qun Yue
- Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
| | - Chen Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
| | - Yuquan Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing 100081, P. R. China.
| | - István Molnár
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, University of Arizona, 250 E. Valencia Rd., Tucson, AZ 85706, USA.
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14
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Zhang X, Harding BW, Aggad D, Courtine D, Chen JX, Pujol N, Ewbank JJ. Antagonistic fungal enterotoxins intersect at multiple levels with host innate immune defences. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009600. [PMID: 34166401 PMCID: PMC8263066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals and plants need to defend themselves from pathogen attack. Their defences drive innovation in virulence mechanisms, leading to never-ending cycles of co-evolution in both hosts and pathogens. A full understanding of host immunity therefore requires examination of pathogen virulence strategies. Here, we take advantage of the well-studied innate immune system of Caenorhabditis elegans to dissect the action of two virulence factors from its natural fungal pathogen Drechmeria coniospora. We show that these two enterotoxins have strikingly different effects when expressed individually in the nematode epidermis. One is able to interfere with diverse aspects of host cell biology, altering vesicle trafficking and preventing the key STAT-like transcription factor STA-2 from activating defensive antimicrobial peptide gene expression. The second increases STA-2 levels in the nucleus, modifies the nucleolus, and, potentially as a consequence of a host surveillance mechanism, causes increased defence gene expression. Our results highlight the remarkably complex and potentially antagonistic mechanisms that come into play in the interaction between co-evolved hosts and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Benjamin W. Harding
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Dina Aggad
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Damien Courtine
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Jonathan J. Ewbank
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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15
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Insect Behavioral Change and the Potential Contributions of Neuroinflammation-A Call for Future Research. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040465. [PMID: 33805190 PMCID: PMC8064348 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many organisms are able to elicit behavioral change in other organisms. Examples include different microbes (e.g., viruses and fungi), parasites (e.g., hairworms and trematodes), and parasitoid wasps. In most cases, the mechanisms underlying host behavioral change remain relatively unclear. There is a growing body of literature linking alterations in immune signaling with neuron health, communication, and function; however, there is a paucity of data detailing the effects of altered neuroimmune signaling on insect neuron function and how glial cells may contribute toward neuron dysregulation. It is important to consider the potential impacts of altered neuroimmune communication on host behavior and reflect on its potential role as an important tool in the "neuro-engineer" toolkit. In this review, we examine what is known about the relationships between the insect immune and nervous systems. We highlight organisms that are able to influence insect behavior and discuss possible mechanisms of behavioral manipulation, including potentially dysregulated neuroimmune communication. We close by identifying opportunities for integrating research in insect innate immunity, glial cell physiology, and neurobiology in the investigation of behavioral manipulation.
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16
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Genetic Underpinnings of Host Manipulation by Ophiocordyceps as Revealed by Comparative Transcriptomics. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2275-2296. [PMID: 32354705 PMCID: PMC7341126 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps fungi are globally distributed, host manipulating, specialist parasites that drive aberrant behaviors in infected ants, at a lethal cost to the host. An apparent increase in activity and wandering behaviors precedes a final summiting and biting behavior onto vegetation, which positions the manipulated ant in a site beneficial for fungal growth and transmission. We investigated the genetic underpinnings of host manipulation by: (i) producing a high-quality hybrid assembly and annotation of the Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani genome, (ii) conducting laboratory infections coupled with RNAseq of O. camponoti-floridani and its host, Camponotus floridanus, and (iii) comparing these data to RNAseq data of Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae and Camponotus castaneus as a powerful method to identify gene expression patterns that suggest shared behavioral manipulation mechanisms across Ophiocordyceps-ant species interactions. We propose differentially expressed genes tied to ant neurobiology, odor response, circadian rhythms, and foraging behavior may result by activity of putative fungal effectors such as enterotoxins, aflatrem, and mechanisms disrupting feeding behaviors in the ant.
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17
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Kobmoo N, Mongkolsamrit S, Arnamnart N, Luangsa-Ard JJ, Giraud T. Population genomics revealed cryptic species within host-specific zombie-ant fungi (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 140:106580. [PMID: 31419479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The identification and delimitation of species boundaries are essential for understanding speciation and adaptation processes and for the management of biodiversity as well as development for applications. Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato is a complex of fungal pathogens parasitizing Formicine ants, inducing zombie behaviors in their hosts. Previous taxonomic works with limited numbers of samples and markers led to the "one ant-one fungus" paradigm, resulting in the use of ant species as a proxy for fungal identification. Here, a population genomics study with sampling on three ant species across Thailand supported the existence of host-specific species in O. unilateralis s.l. with no footprints of long term introgression despite occasional host shifts and first-generation hybrids. We further detected genetic clusters within the previously delimited fungal species, with each little footprints of recombination, suggesting high levels of inbreeding. The clusters within each of O. camponoti-leonardi and O. camponoti-saundersi were supported by differentiation throughout the genome, suggesting they may constitute further cryptic species parasitizing the same host, challenging the one ant-one fungus paradigm. These genetic clusters had different geographical ranges, supporting different biogeographic influences between the north/center and the south of Thailand, reinforcing the scenario in which Thailand endured compartmentation during the latest Pleistocene glacial cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noppol Kobmoo
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand; Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France.
| | - Suchada Mongkolsamrit
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Nuntanat Arnamnart
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Janet Jennifer Luangsa-Ard
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
| | - Tatiana Giraud
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
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18
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de Bekker C. Ophiocordyceps-ant interactions as an integrative model to understand the molecular basis of parasitic behavioral manipulation. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 33:19-24. [PMID: 31358190 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps-infected ants display a substrate biting behavior that aids parasite transmission. World-wide research into this behavioral manipulation has led to new fungal species descriptions, annotated genomes, and detailed field observations. Experimentally tractable modified ant behaviors and the development of infection techniques have enabled the quest for the molecular basis of this phenomenon. Behavioral studies followed by transcriptomics, metabolomics and three-dimensional electron microscopy have led to novel mechanistic hypotheses. This multidisciplinary work represents a big leap forward. However, definitive answers have yet to be obtained. A comprehensive understanding hinges on continued integrative efforts that reveal the precise natural history, behavioral ecology and evolutionary relationships between Ophiocordyceps-ant systems, and the true functions and involvement of genes and metabolites in behavioral manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charissa de Bekker
- University of Central Florida, College of Sciences, Biology Department, 4110 Libra Drive, 32816 Orlando, FL, United States.
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