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Stajich JE, Lovett B, Lee E, Macias AM, Hajek AE, de Bivort BL, Kasson MT, De Fine Licht HH, Elya C. Signatures of transposon-mediated genome inflation, host specialization, and photoentrainment in Entomophthora muscae and allied entomophthoralean fungi. eLife 2024; 12:RP92863. [PMID: 38767950 PMCID: PMC11105155 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92863] [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] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite over a century of observations, the obligate insect parasites within the order Entomophthorales remain poorly characterized at the genetic level. In this manuscript, we present a genome for a laboratory-tractable Entomophthora muscae isolate that infects fruit flies. Our E. muscae assembly is 1.03 Gb, consists of 7810 contigs and contains 81.3% complete fungal BUSCOs. Using a comparative approach with recent datasets from entomophthoralean fungi, we show that giant genomes are the norm within Entomophthoraceae owing to extensive, but not recent, Ty3 retrotransposon activity. In addition, we find that E. muscae and its closest allies possess genes that are likely homologs to the blue-light sensor white-collar 1, a Neurospora crassa gene that has a well-established role in maintaining circadian rhythms. We uncover evidence that E. muscae diverged from other entomophthoralean fungi by expansion of existing families, rather than loss of particular domains, and possesses a potentially unique suite of secreted catabolic enzymes, consistent with E. muscae's species-specific, biotrophic lifestyle. Finally, we offer a head-to-head comparison of morphological and molecular data for species within the E. muscae species complex that support the need for taxonomic revision within this group. Altogether, we provide a genetic and molecular foundation that we hope will provide a platform for the continued study of the unique biology of entomophthoralean fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California-RiversideRiversideUnited States
| | - Brian Lovett
- Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA-ARSIthacaUnited States
| | - Emily Lee
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Angie M Macias
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Ann E Hajek
- Department of Entomology, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Benjamin L de Bivort
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Matt T Kasson
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Henrik H De Fine Licht
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Carolyn Elya
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
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Stajich JE, Lovett B, Lee E, Macias AM, Hajek AE, de Bivort BL, Kasson MT, De Fine Licht HH, Elya C. Signatures of transposon-mediated genome inflation, host specialization, and photoentrainment in Entomophthora muscae and allied entomophthoralean fungi. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.13.557621. [PMID: 37745330 PMCID: PMC10515909 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.13.557621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Despite over a century of observations, the obligate insect parasites within the order Entomophthorales remain poorly characterized at the genetic level. This is in part due to their large genome sizes and difficulty in obtaining sequenceable material. In this manuscript, we leveraged a recently-isolated, laboratory-tractable Entomophthora muscae isolate and improved long-read sequencing to obtain a largely-complete entomophthoralean genome. Our E. muscae assembly is 1.03 Gb, consists of 7,810 contigs and contains 81.3% complete fungal BUSCOs. Using a comparative approach with other available (transcriptomic and genomic) datasets from entomophthoralean fungi, we provide new insight into the biology of these understudied pathogens. We offer a head-to-head comparison of morphological and molecular data for species within the E. muscae species complex. Our findings suggest that substantial taxonomic revision is needed to define species within this group and we provide recommendations for differentiating strains and species in the context of the existing body of E. muscae scientific literature. We show that giant genomes are the norm within Entomophthoraceae owing to extensive, but not recent, Ty3 retrotransposon activity, despite the presence of machinery to defend against transposable elements(RNAi). In addition, we find that E. muscae and its closest allies are enriched for M16A peptidases and possess genes that are likely homologs to the blue-light sensor white-collar 1, a Neurospora crassa gene that has a well-established role in maintaining circadian rhythms. We find that E. muscae has an expanded group of acid-trehalases, consistent with trehalose being the primary sugar component of fly (and insect) hemolymph. We uncover evidence that E. muscae diverged from other entomophthoralean fungi by expansion of existing families, rather than loss of particular domains, and possesses a potentially unique suite of secreted catabolic enzymes, consistent with E. muscae's species-specific, biotrophic lifestyle. Altogether, we provide a genetic and molecular foundation that we hope will provide a platform for the continued study of the unique biology of entomophthoralean fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, CA United States
| | - Brian Lovett
- Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Emily Lee
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Angie M. Macias
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Ann E. Hajek
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin L. de Bivort
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Matt T. Kasson
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Henrik H. De Fine Licht
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carolyn Elya
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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Gryganskyi AP, Hajek AE, Voloshchuk N, Idnurm A, Eilenberg J, Manfrino RG, Bushley KE, Kava L, Kutovenko VB, Anike F, Nie Y. Potential for Use of Species in the Subfamily Erynioideae for Biological Control and Biotechnology. Microorganisms 2024; 12:168. [PMID: 38257994 PMCID: PMC10820730 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010168] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The fungal order Entomophthorales in the Zoopagomycota includes many fungal pathogens of arthropods. This review explores six genera in the subfamily Erynioideae within the family Entomophthoraceae, namely, Erynia, Furia, Orthomyces, Pandora, Strongwellsea, and Zoophthora. This is the largest subfamily in the Entomophthorales, including 126 described species. The species diversity, global distribution, and host range of this subfamily are summarized. Relatively few taxa are geographically widespread, and few have broad host ranges, which contrasts with many species with single reports from one location and one host species. The insect orders infected by the greatest numbers of species are the Diptera and Hemiptera. Across the subfamily, relatively few species have been cultivated in vitro, and those that have require more specialized media than many other fungi. Given their potential to attack arthropods and their position in the fungal evolutionary tree, we discuss which species might be adopted for biological control purposes or biotechnological innovations. Current challenges in the implementation of these species in biotechnology include the limited ability or difficulty in culturing many in vitro, a correlated paucity of genomic resources, and considerations regarding the host ranges of different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrii P. Gryganskyi
- Division of Biological & Nanoscale Technologies, UES, Inc., Dayton, OH 45432, USA
| | - Ann E. Hajek
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;
| | - Nataliya Voloshchuk
- Faculty of Plant Protection, Biotechnology and Ecology, National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine; (N.V.); (L.K.)
- Department of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Alexander Idnurm
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Jørgen Eilenberg
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark;
| | - Romina G. Manfrino
- CEPAVE—Center for Parasitological & Vector Studies, CONICET-National Scientific & Technical Research Council, UNLP-National University of La Plata, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
| | | | - Liudmyla Kava
- Faculty of Plant Protection, Biotechnology and Ecology, National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine; (N.V.); (L.K.)
| | - Vira B. Kutovenko
- Agrobiological Faculty of Plant Protection, National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Felicia Anike
- Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Design, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27401, USA;
| | - Yong Nie
- School of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China;
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Zhang W, Chen X, Eleftherianos I, Mohamed A, Bastin A, Keyhani NO. Cross-talk between immunity and behavior: insights from entomopathogenic fungi and their insect hosts. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae003. [PMID: 38341280 PMCID: PMC10883697 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae003] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects are one of the most successful animals in nature, and entomopathogenic fungi play a significant role in the natural epizootic control of insect populations in many ecosystems. The interaction between insects and entomopathogenic fungi has continuously coevolved over hundreds of millions of years. Many components of the insect innate immune responses against fungal infection are conserved across phyla. Additionally, behavioral responses, which include avoidance, grooming, and/or modulation of body temperature, have been recognized as important mechanisms for opposing fungal pathogens. In an effort to investigate possible cross-talk and mediating mechanisms between these fundamental biological processes, recent studies have integrated and/or explored immune and behavioral responses. Current information indicates that during discrete stages of fungal infection, several insect behavioral and immune responses are altered simultaneously, suggesting important connections between the two systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in our understanding of the physiological and molecular aspects influencing cross-talk between behavioral and innate immune antifungal reactions, including chemical perception and olfactory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, Huaxi District 550025, China
| | - Xuanyu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, Huaxi District 550025, China
| | - Ioannis Eleftherianos
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, United States
| | - Amr Mohamed
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
- Research fellow, King Saud University Museum of Arthropods, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashley Bastin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, United States
| | - Nemat O Keyhani
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
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Hajek AE, Everest TA, Clifton EH. Accumulation of Fungal Pathogens Infecting the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. INSECTS 2023; 14:912. [PMID: 38132586 PMCID: PMC10871119 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
In the eastern United States, populations of the invasive spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, are abundant and spreading. Four species of naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungi have previously been reported as infecting these planthoppers, with two of these causing epizootics. Nymphal- and adult-stage lanternflies in Pennsylvania and New York were surveyed for entomopathogenic fungal infections from October 2021 to November 2023, and assays were conducted to confirm the pathogenicity of species that were potentially pathogenic. Beauveria bassiana was the most abundant pathogen, but we report an additional 15 previously unreported species of entomopathogenic fungi infecting spotted lanternflies, all in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota). The next most common pathogens were Fusarium fujikuroi and Sarocladium strictum. While infection prevalence by species was often low, probably impacted to some extent by the summer drought in 2022, together these pathogens caused a total of 6.7% mortality. A significant trend was evident over time within a season, with low levels of infection among nymphs and higher infection levels in mid- and late-stage adults, the stages when mating and oviposition occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E. Hajek
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (T.A.E.); (E.H.C.)
| | - Thomas A. Everest
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (T.A.E.); (E.H.C.)
| | - Eric H. Clifton
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (T.A.E.); (E.H.C.)
- Research & Development, BioWorks Inc., Victor, NY 14564, USA
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