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Berasategui A, Breitenbach N, García-Lozano M, Pons I, Sailer B, Lanz C, Rodríguez V, Hipp K, Ziemert N, Windsor D, Salem H. The leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans propagates a plant pathogen in exchange for pupal protection. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4114-4127.e6. [PMID: 35987210 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many insects rely on microbial protection in the early stages of their development. However, in contrast to symbiont-mediated defense of eggs and young instars, the role of microbes in safeguarding pupae remains relatively unexplored, despite the susceptibility of the immobile stage to antagonistic challenges. Here, we outline the importance of symbiosis in ensuring pupal protection by describing a mutualistic partnership between the ascomycete Fusarium oxysporum and Chelymorpha alternans, a leaf beetle. The symbiont rapidly proliferates at the onset of pupation, extensively and conspicuously coating C. alternans during metamorphosis. The fungus confers defense against predation as symbiont elimination results in reduced pupal survivorship. In exchange, eclosing beetles vector F. oxysporum to their host plants, resulting in a systemic infection. By causing wilt disease, the fungus retained its phytopathogenic capacity in light of its symbiosis with C. alternans. Despite possessing a relatively reduced genome, F. oxysporum encodes metabolic pathways that reflect its dual lifestyle as a plant pathogen and a defensive insect symbiont. These include virulence factors underlying plant colonization, along with mycotoxins that may contribute to the defensive biochemistry of the insect host. Collectively, our findings shed light on a mutualism predicated on pupal protection of an herbivorous beetle in exchange for symbiont dissemination and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Berasategui
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany; University of Tübingen, Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections', Auf der Morgenstelle 28, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
| | - Noa Breitenbach
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Marleny García-Lozano
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Inès Pons
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Brigitte Sailer
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Electron Microscopy Facility, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Christa Lanz
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Genome Center, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Viterbo Rodríguez
- Centro Regional Universitario de Veraguas, Centro de Capacitación, Investigación y Monitoreo de la Biodiversidad en Coiba, Calle Décima, vía San Francisco, Santiago 08001, Republic of Panama
| | - Katharina Hipp
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Electron Microscopy Facility, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Nadine Ziemert
- University of Tübingen, Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections', Auf der Morgenstelle 28, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Donald Windsor
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement Avenue, Bldg. 401 Tupper, Panama City 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Hassan Salem
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
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Hafez M, Abdelmagid A, Aboukhaddour R, Adam LR, Daayf F. Fusarium Root Rot Complex in Soybean: Molecular Characterization, Trichothecene Formation, and Cross-Pathogenicity. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:2287-2302. [PMID: 33938238 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-03-21-0083-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Soybean is threatened by many pathogens that negatively affect this crop's yield and quality, such as various Fusarium species that cause wilting and root rot diseases. Fusarium root rot (FRR) in soybean can be caused by F. graminearum and other Fusarium spp. that are associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereals. Therefore, it was important to inquire whether Fusarium pathogens from soybean can cause disease in wheat and vice versa. Here, we investigated the FRR complex in Manitoba (Canada) from symptomatic plants, using both culture- and molecular-based methods. We developed a molecular diagnostic toolkit to detect and differentiate between several Fusarium spp. involved in FHB and FRR, then we evaluated cross-pathogenicity of selected Fusarium isolates collected from soybean and wheat, and the results indicate that isolates recovered from one host can infect the other host. Trichothecene production by selected Fusarium spp. was also analyzed chemically via liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in both soybean (root) and wheat (spike) tissues. Trichothecenes were also analyzed in soybean seeds from plants with FRR to check the potentiality of trichothecene translocation from infected roots to the seeds. All of the tested Fusarium isolates were capable of producing trichothecenes in wheat spikes and soybean roots, but no trichothecenes were detected in soybean seeds. This study provided evidence, for the first time, that trichothecenes were produced by several Fusarium spp. (F. cerealis, F. culmorum, and F. sporotrichioides) during FRR development in soybean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hafez
- Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Suez University, Suez, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Abdelmagid
- Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, Canada
- Department of Plant Pathology, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Reem Aboukhaddour
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lorne R Adam
- Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, Canada
| | - Fouad Daayf
- Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T2N2, Canada
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Djalali Farahani-Kofoet R, Witzel K, Graefe J, Grosch R, Zrenner R. Species-Specific Impact of Fusarium Infection on the Root and Shoot Characteristics of Asparagus. Pathogens 2020; 9:E509. [PMID: 32599821 PMCID: PMC7350344 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Soil-borne pathogens can have considerable detrimental effects on asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) growth and production, notably caused by the Fusarium species F. oxysporum f.sp. asparagi, F. proliferatum and F. redolens. In this study, their species-specific impact regarding disease severity and root morphological traits was analysed. Additionally, various isolates were characterised based on in vitro physiological activities and on protein extracts using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The response of two asparagus cultivars to the different Fusarium species was evaluated by inoculating experiments. Differences in aggressiveness were observed between Fusarium species and their isolates on roots, while no clear disease symptoms became visible in ferns eight weeks after inoculation. F. redolens isolates Fred1 and Fred2 were the most aggressive strains followed by the moderate aggressive F. proliferatum and the less and almost non-aggressive F. oxysporum isolates, based on the severity of disease symptoms. Fungal DNA in stem bases and a significant induction of pathogenesis-related gene expression was detectable in both asparagus cultivars. A significant negative impact of the pathogens on the root characteristics total root length, volume, and surface area was detected for each isolate tested, with Fred1 causing the strongest effects. No significant differences between the tested asparagus cultivars were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rita Zrenner
- Plant-Microbe Systems, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) e.V., 14979 Großbeeren, Germany; (R.D.F.-K.); (K.W.); (J.G.); (R.G.)
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Thornton CR. Detection of the 'Big Five' mold killers of humans: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Lomentospora, Scedosporium and Mucormycetes. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2019; 110:1-61. [PMID: 32386603 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are an important but frequently overlooked cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Life-threatening fungal infections mainly occur in immunocompromised patients, and are typically caused by environmental opportunists that take advantage of a weakened immune system. The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important and well-documented mold pathogen of humans, causing a number of complex respiratory diseases, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, an often fatal disease in patients with acute leukemia or in immunosuppressed bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients. However, non-Aspergillus molds are increasingly reported as agents of disseminated diseases, with Fusarium, Scedosporium, Lomentospora and mucormycete species now firmly established as pathogens of immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. Despite well-documented risk factors for invasive fungal diseases, and increased awareness of the risk factors for life-threatening infections, the number of deaths attributable to molds is likely to be severely underestimated driven, to a large extent, by the lack of readily accessible, cheap, and accurate tests that allow detection and differentiation of infecting species. Early diagnosis is critical to patient survival but, unlike Aspergillus diseases, where a number of CE-marked or FDA-approved biomarker tests are now available for clinical diagnosis, similar tests for fusariosis, scedosporiosis and mucormycosis remain experimental, with detection reliant on insensitive and slow culture of pathogens from invasive bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, tissue biopsy, or from blood. This review examines the ecology, epidemiology, and contemporary methods of detection of these mold pathogens, and the obstacles to diagnostic test development and translation of novel biomarkers to the clinical setting.
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