Article
Ecology
Ravindra P. Vidhate, Vishal V. Dawkar, Sachin A. Punekar, Ashok P. Giri
Summary: Entomopathogenic fungi provide an effective and eco-friendly way to control insect populations in biocontrol strategy. These fungi have evolutionary relationship with plant endophytes and have acquired multiple mechanisms that distinguish them from other fungi. This review focuses on understanding the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in entomopathogenesis and highlights the importance of virulent factors like chitinases, proteases, lipases, specialized metabolites, and cytochrome P450. Knowledge of these interactions between fungi and insect hosts can be used to develop improved entomopathogenic fungal strains.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lei Yang, Jinting Li, Lei Yang, Xiaofu Wang, Shan Xiao, Shijiao Xiong, Xiaoli Xu, Junfeng Xu, Gongyin Ye
Summary: Both parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi play crucial roles in pest management. However, little research has been conducted on the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi on parasitoids. In this study, the interaction between the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and the pupal endoparasitoid Pteromalus puparum was investigated. The results showed that the presence of B. bassiana significantly affected the survival rates of P. puparum, and its pathogenicity was dose- and time-dependent. RNA-Seq analysis revealed the important role of the immune system in defending against B. bassiana.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuocheng Zeng, Zhe Lin, Xianhao Yu, Junjie Zhang, Zhen Zou
Summary: The virulence of mycoinsecticides can be enhanced by embedding the venom protein VRF1 from parasitoid wasps into genetically engineered bioinsecticides like Beauveria bassiana. This modified fungus, named BbVRF1, showed greater efficacy against cotton bollworm and fall armyworm, expanding the utilization of parasitoid wasp virulence effectors in entomopathogenic fungi.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Waqas Wakil, Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Nikoleta Eleftheriadou, Tahira Riasat, Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar, Khawaja G. Rasool, Mureed Husain, Abdulrahman S. Aldawood
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae alone and in combination with diatomaceous earth mixed with abamectin (DEA) for controlling larvae and adults of Tribolium castaneum. The treatments were applied on different surfaces using dusting and spraying methods. The combined treatments showed better control than single treatments, with the highest mortality rates observed in the Faisalabad population. Larvae were more susceptible than adults, and dusting was more efficient than spraying. This study provides insights into the use of DEA and entomopathogenic fungi for surface treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Arturo Ramirez-Ordorica, Hexon Angel Contreras-Cornejo, Nuvia Orduno-Cruz, Alfonso Luna-Cruz, Robert Winkler, Lourdes Macias-Rodriguez
Summary: The pool of volatiles released by B. bassiana is isolate-specific and influences the behavioral responses of S. frugiperda, with compounds from mycosed insect isolates having a stronger impact on oviposition behavior. These findings suggest that fungal compounds could be used as a control measure for insect populations.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
P. Miranda-Fuentes, M. Yousef-Yousef, P. Valverde-Garcia, Irene M. Rodriguez-Gomez, I. Garrido-Jurado, E. Quesada-Moraga
Summary: The study evaluated the multitrophic interactions among the endophytic fungus Metarhizium brunneum colonizing melon plants, the parasitoid Hyposoter didymator, and the pest Spodoptera littoralis. The presence of the parasitoid significantly affected the total mortality of S. littoralis larvae, achieving the highest mortality rates in both in vitro and in planta experiments. However, simultaneous exposure to the fungus and the parasitoid did not result in a significant increase in mortality rates compared to the parasitoid alone.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
De-Ping Wei, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Jian-Chu Xu, Chaiwat To-anun, Peter E. Mortimer, Kevin D. Hyde, Abdallah M. Elgorban, Sumedha Madawala, Nakarin Suwannarach, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Saowaluck Tibpromma, Saisamorn Lumyong
Summary: This study contributes to the taxonomical and phylogenetic understanding of Paraisaria genus by describing three new species from China and Thailand, confirming their placement through phylogenetic analyses. The three entomopathogenic fungal taxa are comprehensively described with color photographs and phylogenetic analyses.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Rostislav Zemek, Jana Konopicka, Eva Jozova, Oxana Skokova Habustova
Summary: The study found that some strains of Beauveria bassiana are highly effective in killing Colorado potato beetle adults, recommending them for the development of a new biopesticide. This research highlights the importance of searching for perspective strains of entomopathogenic fungi among naturally infected hosts.
Article
Entomology
Maiqun Gu, Jiaxin Tian, Yulu Lou, Jia Ran, Amr Mohamed, Nemat O. Keyhani, Stefan Jaronski, Guangmin Wang, Xuanyu Chen, Lian-Sheng Zang, Wei Zhang
Summary: The study found that the pathogenic fungus M. rileyi has good control effect on fall armyworm. Field trials showed that application of M. rileyi granules alone can significantly reduce fall armyworm larval populations and plant damage, and combining with other control measures can further improve the effect.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Tarcio S. Santos, Tarcisio M. Silva, Juliana C. Cardoso, Ricardo L. C. de Albuquerque-Junior, Aleksandra Zielinska, Eliana B. Souto, Patricia Severino, Marcelo da Costa Mendonca
Summary: Entomopathogenic fungi show potential for synthesizing silver nanoparticles and controlling insect pests, particularly mosquitoes. The use of silver nanoparticles produced by these fungi demonstrates satisfactory antimicrobial effects against disease-carrying mosquitoes, highlighting the need for further toxicity studies in agriculture.
Article
Entomology
Anna Majchrowska-Safaryan, Cezary Tkaczuk
Summary: The research aims to investigate the species composition and density of entomopathogenic fungi in leaf litter and different soil depths in forests of different types during different seasons. The study found that entomopathogenic fungi were more abundant in leaf litter compared to soil, and Beauveria spp. were the most prevalent fungi in both environments.
Review
Immunology
Waqar Islam, Muhammad Adnan, Asad Shabbir, Hassan Naveed, Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Tayyab, Ali Noman, Muhammad Shahid Nisar, Khalid Ali Khan, Habib Ali
Summary: Global food security is threatened by insect pests, and chemical pesticides have harmful effects on human health and the ecosystem. Researchers have introduced biocontrol agents like EPF as environmentally friendly alternatives, which have high infectivity against insects, mild impact on non-target organisms, and quick production capabilities.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Ze Liu, Fang-Fang Liu, Hao Li, Wen-Ting Zhang, Qian Wang, Bang-Xian Zhang, Yan-Xia Sun, Xiang-Jun Rao
Summary: This study investigated the potential of the eco-friendly entomopathogenic fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum for controlling agricultural insect pests. The growth characteristics, enzyme activities, and virulence of the fungus against aphids and fall armyworm were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes in response to the infection of fall armyworm larvae were also identified. The results demonstrate the efficacy of P. lilacinum as a bio-control agent against agricultural insect pests.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Kristin R. Duffield, Alayna M. Rosales, Ephantus J. Muturi, Robert W. Behle, Jose L. Ramirez
Summary: By exposing cabbage looper larvae to two different entomopathogenic fungal species, researchers found that the larvae had a higher immune response when exposed to fungal pathogens, indicating the importance of melanization cascade in defense against fungal infection. The host response varied depending on the species of entomopathogenic fungi, with higher induction observed during infections with B. bassiana. The study also identified specific immune signaling pathways and antimicrobial effectors that are activated during fungal infections, providing insights into the strategies employed by cabbage loopers to protect against entomopathogenic fungi and aiding in the development of more effective microbial control strategies.
Article
Entomology
A. M. Moharram, F. A. Abdel-Galil, W. M. M. Hafez
Summary: The study found that most of the fungal strains isolated from aphids, tomato leaf minors, red palm weevils, and peach fruit flies had enzymatic activities, with the most active ones being Aspergillus niger, Botryotrichum atrogriseum, and others.
EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Hafeez, Farman Ullah, Muhammad Musa Khan, Xiaowei Li, Zhijun Zhang, Sakhawat Shah, Muhammad Imran, Mohammed A. Assiri, G. Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, Nicolas Desneux, Muzammal Rehman, Shah Fahad, Yaobin Lu
Summary: The beet army worm, a widely distributed polyphagous pest, presents challenges for management, with an over-reliance on chemical control leading to resistance, reduced natural enemies, and ecosystem pollution. Integrated pest management approaches are needed to provide alternatives to chemical control and reduce environmental hazards.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ahmad Nawaz, Fatima Razzaq, Amna Razzaq, Muhammad Dildar Gogi, G. Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, Muhammad Tayib, Muhammad Ahsin Ayub, Muhammad Sufyan, Muhammad Rafiq Shahid, Mirza Abdul Qayyum, Muhammad Naveed, Anam Ijaz, Muhammad Jalal Arif
Summary: This study found that the combination of certain insecticides with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae was more effective in controlling the cotton aphid than individual treatments. The toxicity of the insecticides was consistent with their compatibility with the fungus, with the combination of flonicamid and M. anisopliae showing the highest mortality rate.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Muhammad Hafeez, Xiaowei Li, Farman Ullah, Zhijun Zhang, Jinming Zhang, Jun Huang, G. Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, Muhammad Musa Khan, Junaid Ali Siddiqui, Limin Chen, Xiao Yun Ren, Shuxing Zhou, Yonggen Lou, Yaobin Lu
Summary: The study showed that by using RNA interference to target the CYP321A7 and CYP6AE43 genes in fall armyworms, it is possible to increase resistance to insecticides.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aliyu Aminu, Philip C. Stevenson, David Grzywacz
Summary: It is found that the presence of acidic substances on the surface of cowpea and pigeonpea reduces the infectivity of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus. This finding is particularly important for the use of this virus as a pesticide on these crops.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Linda Brownlow, Stephen Young, Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, Richard J. Hopkins
Summary: Homicide cases with concealed bodies pose unique challenges for investigators to estimate the time of occurrence. Wrapping body parts significantly disrupts fly colonization and delays oviposition, leading to a need for adjustments in minimum post-mortem interval calculations. These findings are important for improving the accuracy of determining time of death in homicide investigations.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Entomology
Geoff M. M. Gurr, Jian Liu, John A. A. Pickett, Philip C. C. Stevenson
Summary: This review article discusses the potential ecological functions of the homoterpenes DMNT and TMTT, which are volatile products of plant metabolism. These compounds have been reported in various plant taxa and tissues, and they may have roles in plant-arthropod interactions. DMNT and TMTT are important constituents of floral scents and may attract pollinators, although there is limited experimental evidence for this. They are also released by plants in response to arthropod feeding or damage, and may play a role in herbivore-induced plant volatile blends. The authors conclude by highlighting the need for further research on the ecological functions of DMNT and TMTT and their potential use in agriculture.
AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Laura L. Figueroa, Alison Fowler, Stephanie Lopez, Victoria E. Amaral, Hauke Koch, Philip C. Stevenson, Rebecca E. Irwin, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Plants, such as sunflowers, have unique traits that can reduce infections in animals. Sunflowers have pollen that suppresses infections in bumble bees caused by the gut pathogen Crithidia bombi. The mechanism behind this effect is unknown, and it is unclear if other Asteraceae species have similar effects.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Janet N. N. Obanyi, Joshua O. O. Ogendo, Richard M. S. Mulwa, Jane G. G. Nyaanga, Erick K. K. Cheruiyot, Philip K. K. Bett, Steven R. R. Belmain, Sarah E. J. Arnold, Victoria C. C. Nash-Woolley, Philip C. C. Stevenson
Summary: Field margin plants can increase natural enemy abundance and help control aphids. This study found that the presence of plant-rich field margins increased natural enemy populations and supported higher populations of parasitoids and predators, leading to effective pest management of bean aphids.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zuwena J. Ngoya, Angela G. Mkindi, Steven J. Vanek, Patrick A. Ndakidemi, Philip C. Stevenson, Steven R. Belmain
Summary: Pests and diseases pose a significant challenge for common bean production in smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers' knowledge and management practices for soil-borne pests and diseases are often inadequate. This study in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania examined the relationship between farmer knowledge, soil type, soil quality, and the management of bean pests and diseases. The results highlighted the need for research, farmer education, and sustainable practices to effectively manage soil-borne pests and diseases for smallholders.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Gift Chawanda, Yolice L. B. Tembo, Trust Kasambala Donga, Vernon H. Kabambe, Philip C. Stevenson, Steven R. Belmain
Summary: Fall armyworm poses a major threat to smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, causing significant losses to cereal crops. Smallholders have been adapting to this pest by increasing crop surveillance and developing low-cost solutions using soil treatments and botanical powders. Scientific validation of these methods can help policy makers recommend their use to smallholder farmers, reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides and improving farmer resilience and environmental health.
FRONTIERS IN AGRONOMY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Harrison Hardy, Steven J. Harte, Richard J. Hopkins, Ladslaus Mnyone, Frances M. Hawkes
Summary: The rice agroecosystem provides suitable breeding habitat for many malaria vector species, and rice-adjacent communities are consequently exposed to a greater malaria transmission risk than non-rice-associated communities. The use of organic fertilisers (OFs) such as cow and chicken dung, as part of sustainable and climate-adapted rice production practices, may modulate the oviposition behaviour of malaria vector species, potentially affecting the overall production of malaria vectors within rice fields and their contribution to local malaria transmission.
Article
Ecology
Juri A. Felix, Philip C. Stevenson, Julia Koricheva
Summary: Leaf trait expression is highly plastic in response to neighbourhood diversity, which could lead to increased leaf quality and promote higher rates of herbivory.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roisin Fattorini, Paul A. Egan, James Rosindell, Iain W. Farrell, Philip C. Stevenson
Summary: This study characterizes the expression of GTX I in leaves, petals, and nectar of seven Rhododendron species. The results show interspecific variation in GTX I concentration, with higher concentrations in leaves compared to petals and nectar. This suggests functional trade-offs between herbivore defense and pollinator attraction in Rhododendron species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Furse, Carlos Martel, Abdikarim Yusuf, Gemma C. Shearman, Hauke Koch, Philip C. Stevenson
Summary: Sterols play various roles in plants, including being membrane components and essential nutrients for insects. In this study, the sterol composition in leaves and pollen from the same plant, as well as in wind- and insect-pollinated pollens and nectar- and pollen-rewarding species, was investigated. A novel approach using LCMS identified 21 sterols in leaf and pollen samples, with C29 sterols dominating the sterolome in most plants. The sterol composition differed significantly between leaf and pollen, as well as between animal- and wind-pollinated pollens, suggesting a link between sterol composition and biological functions of different plant tissues.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Samuel Furse, Hauke Koch, Geraldine A. Wright, Philip C. Stevenson
Summary: Understanding the nutrient metabolism and nutritional needs of bees is crucial for agriculture and conservation, as bees play an essential role in pollination and supporting plant diversity. Pollen is the main source of dietary fat and sterols for bees, but the specific essential nutrients and quantities needed are still unknown.