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Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol
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Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4492

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jiaqin Xie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
Interests: entomopathogenic fungi; insects; microbial ecology; behavior; pest control
Dr. Nicolás Pedrini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plata, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
Interests: entomopathogenic fungi; insect immunity; gene expression; fungal secondary metabolites; virulence factors metabolites; virulence factors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invertebrate insects are the largest group of animals in nature and have significant effects on ecology, human health, and indigenous flora and fauna. Pathogenic fungi, which are naturally abundant, play a crucial role in regulating insect populations and have complex interactions with them. Pathogenic fungi (i.e., entomopathogenic fungi) can infect insects by attaching, germinating, and penetrating the host's exoskeleton, ultimately proliferating within the insect's body and tissues. In response, host insects have evolved physical barriers, immune responses, microbiota, and behavioral defenses against fungal infections. Furthermore, insect pathogenic fungi are valuable for biological-based pest management as they often lead to the death of the hosts. They can also act as facultative saprophytes in the soil and enhance plant resistance to herbivores as endophytes. While the general mechanisms of the interaction between fungi and insects are known, many aspects at the molecular, physiological, and behavioral levels remain unclear. Therefore, studying the interaction between fungi and insects in this specific context would provide valuable and extensive insights. To provide the recent advances on the study of fungi and insect interactions, we encourage the submission of all related topics, in a review, article, or perspective format, for publication in this issue.

Dr. Jiaqin Xie
Dr. Nicolás Pedrini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungi
  • interaction
  • insect
  • behavior
  • physiology
  • immunity
  • endophyte
  • metabolites
  • infection
  • pest control

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3950 KiB  
Article
MaAzaR Influences Virulence of Metarhizium acridum against Locusta migratoria manilensis by Affecting Cuticle Penetration
by Geng Hong, Siqing Wang, Yuxian Xia and Guoxiong Peng
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080564 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
The entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium acridum is a typical filamentous fungus and has been used to control migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria manilensis). This study examines the impact of the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor, MaAzaR, in the virulence of M. acridum. Disruption [...] Read more.
The entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium acridum is a typical filamentous fungus and has been used to control migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria manilensis). This study examines the impact of the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor, MaAzaR, in the virulence of M. acridum. Disruption of MaAzaR (ΔMaAzaR) diminished the fungus’s ability to penetrate the insect cuticle, thereby decreasing its virulence. The median lethal time (LT50) for the ΔMaAzaR strain increased by approximately 1.5 d compared to the wild-type (WT) strain when topically inoculated, simulating natural infection conditions. ΔMaAzaR compromises the formation, turgor pressure, and secretion of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes in appressoria. However, the growth ability of ΔMaAzaR within the hemolymph is not impaired; in fact, it grows better than the WT strain. Moreover, RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of ΔMaAzaR and WT strains grown for 20 h on locust hindwings revealed 87 upregulated and 37 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mutant strain. Pathogen–host interaction database (PHI) analysis showed that about 40% of the total DEGs were associated with virulence, suggesting that MaAzaR is a crucial transcription factor that directly regulates the expression of downstream genes. This study identifies a new transcription factor involved in EPF cuticle penetration, providing theoretical support and genetic resources for the developing highly virulent strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol)
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19 pages, 4535 KiB  
Article
The Forkhead Box Gene, MaSep1, Negatively Regulates UV- and Thermo-Tolerances and Is Required for Microcycle Conidiation in Metarhizium acridum
by Tiantian Song, Chan Li, Kai Jin and Yuxian Xia
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080544 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 738
Abstract
Insect pathogenic fungi have shown great potential in agricultural pest control. Conidiation is crucial for the survival of filamentous fungi, and dispersal occurs through two methods: normal conidiation, where conidia differentiate from mycelium, and microcycle conidiation, which involves conidial budding. The conidiation process [...] Read more.
Insect pathogenic fungi have shown great potential in agricultural pest control. Conidiation is crucial for the survival of filamentous fungi, and dispersal occurs through two methods: normal conidiation, where conidia differentiate from mycelium, and microcycle conidiation, which involves conidial budding. The conidiation process is related to cell separation. The forkhead box gene Sep1 in Schizosaccharomyces pombe plays a crucial role in cell separation. Nevertheless, the function of Sep1 has not been clarified in filamentous fungi. Here, MaSep1, the homolog of Sep1 in Metarhizium acridum, was identified and subjected to functional analysis. The findings revealed that conidial germination of the MaSep1-deletion strain (ΔMaSep1) was accelerated and the time for 50% germination rate of conidial was shortened by 1 h, while the conidial production of ΔMaSep1 was considerably reduced. The resistances to heat shock and UV-B irradiation of ΔMaSep1 were enhanced, and the expression of some genes involved in DNA damage repair and heat shock response was significantly increased in ΔMaSep1. The disruption of MaSep1 had no effect on the virulence of M. acridum. Interestingly, ΔMaSep1 conducted the normal conidiation on the microcycle conidiation medium, SYA. Furthermore, 127 DEGs were identified by RNA-Seq between the wild-type and ΔMaSep1 strains during microcycle conidiation, proving that MaSep1 mediated the conidiation pattern shift by governing some genes associated with conidiation, cell division, and cell wall formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol)
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13 pages, 1734 KiB  
Article
The Catalase Gene MrCat1 Contributes to Oxidative Stress Tolerance, Microsclerotia Formation, and Virulence in the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium rileyi
by Yu Su, Xuyi Wang, Yuanli Luo, Huan Jiang, Guiting Tang and Huai Liu
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080543 - 2 Aug 2024
Viewed by 667
Abstract
Catalases play a crucial role in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by converting H2O2 into molecular oxygen and water. They also contribute to virulence and fungal responses to various stresses. Previously, the MrCat1-deletion mutant (ΔMrCat1) [...] Read more.
Catalases play a crucial role in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by converting H2O2 into molecular oxygen and water. They also contribute to virulence and fungal responses to various stresses. Previously, the MrCat1-deletion mutant (ΔMrCat1) was generated using the split-marker method in Metarhizium rileyi. In this study, the Cat1 gene was identified, and its function was evaluated. Under normal culture conditions, there were no significant differences in colony growth or dimorphic switching between ΔMrCat1 and the wild-type (WT) strains. However, under oxidative stress, the colony growth was inhibited, and the yeast–hyphal transition was suppressed in the ΔMrCat1 strain. Hyperosmotic stress did not differ significantly between the two strains. In the ΔMrCat1 strain, microsclerotia (MS) formation was delayed, resulting in less uniform MS size and a 76% decrease in MS yield compared to the WT strain. Moreover, the ΔMrCat1 strain exhibited diminished virulence. Gene expression analysis revealed up-regulation of ΔMrCat1, MrCat2, MrCat4, and MrAox in the ΔMrCat1 strain. These findings indicate that the MrCat1 gene in M. rileyi is essential for oxidative stress tolerance, MS formation, and virulence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol)
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18 pages, 4949 KiB  
Article
Oleic Acid and Linoleic Acid Enhances the Biocontrol Potential of Metarhizium rileyi
by Guang Wang, Xu Zhang, Guangzu Du, Wenqian Wang, Yunhao Yao, Sitong Jin, Haosheng Cai, Yuejin Peng and Bin Chen
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080521 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Metarhizium rileyi is a wide spread insect fungi with a good biocontrol potentiality to various pests, particularly noctuid insects. However, it is characterized by its slow growth, its sensitivity to abiotic stress, and the slow speed of kill to pests, which hinder its [...] Read more.
Metarhizium rileyi is a wide spread insect fungi with a good biocontrol potentiality to various pests, particularly noctuid insects. However, it is characterized by its slow growth, its sensitivity to abiotic stress, and the slow speed of kill to pests, which hinder its use compared with other entomopathogenic fungi. In this study, the responses of M. rileyi to eight types of lipids were observed; among the lipids, oleic acid and linoleic acid significantly promoted the growth and development of M. rileyi and enhanced its stress tolerances and virulence. An additional mechanistic study demonstrated that exogenous oleic acid and linoleic acid significantly improved the conidial germination, appressorium formation, cuticle degradation, and cuticle infection, which appear to be largely dependent on the up-regulation of gene expression in growth, development, protective, and cuticle-degrading enzymes. In conclusion, exogenous oleic acid and linoleic acid enhanced the stress tolerances and virulence of M. rileyi via protecting conidial germination and promoting cuticle infection. These results provide new insights for the biopesticide development of M. rileyi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol)
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12 pages, 707 KiB  
Article
A Countermeasure Strategy against Peramine Developed by Chilesia rudis in the Endophyte–Ryegrass–Herbivore Model
by Manuel Chacón-Fuentes, Daniel Martínez-Cisterna, Marcelo Lizama, Valeria Asencio-Cancino, Ignacio Matamala and Leonardo Bardehle
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080512 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 764
Abstract
Exploitation of the symbiotic relationship between endophytic fungi and ryegrass is a crucial technique for reducing the incidence of insect pests. This is primarily due to the production of alkaloids, such as peramine, by the fungi. This alkaloid has been reported as both [...] Read more.
Exploitation of the symbiotic relationship between endophytic fungi and ryegrass is a crucial technique for reducing the incidence of insect pests. This is primarily due to the production of alkaloids, such as peramine, by the fungi. This alkaloid has been reported as both a deterrent and toxic to a variety of insects. However, insects have developed various strategies to counteract plant defenses. One of the most studied methods is their ability to sequester toxic compounds from plants. In this study, we examined the feeding preferences and adaptation to peramine in Chilesia rudis, a native Chilean larva. Using a no-choice assay, we assessed larval feeding preferences and mass gain on seven experimental lines and two commercial cultivars of endophyte-infected and non-infected ryegrass. Pupal development time and adult performance were evaluated post-assay. Additionally, we measured peramine content in larval carcasses, feces, and ryegrass leaves. Jumbo was the most preferred cultivar with 32 mm2 of leaf tissues consumed. The longest pupal development time was observed in L161 and ALTO AR1, both at 28 days. Wing length in adults was greatest in the Jumbo and L163 cultivars, measuring 1.25 cm and 1.32 cm, respectively. Peramine concentrations were detected in the bodies of C. rudis. In conclusion, this larva can adapt to endophyte-infected ryegrass and develop counter-adaptation mechanisms to mitigate the effects of peramine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungi and Insect Interactions: Pathogenicity, Immune Defenses and Biocontrol)
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