Project description:Although most known mycoviruses are asymptomatic or reduce the virulence of their host fungi, those that confer hypervirulence to entomopathogenic fungus still need to be explored. Here, we discovered and studied a novel mycovirus in Metarhizium flavoviride, isolated from Laodelphax striatellus. Based on molecular analysis, we tentatively designated the mycovirus as Metarhizium flavoviride partitivirus 1 (MfPV1), a novel species in genus Gammapartitivirus, family Partitiviridae. MfPV1 has two double-stranded (ds) RNAs as its genome, 1,775 and 1,575 bp in size respectively, encapsidated in isometric particles. When we transfected commercial strains of M. anisopliae and M. pingshaense with MfPV1, conidiation was significantly enhanced (t-test; P-value < 0. 01), and the significantly higher mortality rates of the larvae of Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera frugiperda, two important lepidopteran pests were found in virus-transfected strains (ANOVA; P-value < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that transcript levels of pathogenesis-related genes in MfPV1-infected M. anisopliae were obviously altered, suggesting increased production of metarhizium adhesin-like protein, hydrolyzed protein and destruxin synthetase. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism whereby MfPV1 enhances the expression of pathogenesis-related genes and virulence of Metarhizium to lepidopteran pests. This study presents experimental evidence that the transfection of other entomopathogenic fungal species with a mycovirus can confer significant hypervirulence and provides a good example that mycoviruses could be used as synergistic agent to enhance the biocontrol activity of entomopathogenic fungi.
Project description:Gene BbSwi6 playes an essential role in asexual differentiation, a determinant to the biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic fungi. The genome-wide exprssion analysis involved in fungal development was analyzed by using high throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq).
Project description:Beauveria basiana is a well-known filamentous entomopathogenic fungus. Oxidation tolerance is an important determinant to fungal pathogenicity and biocontrol potential. B. bassiana transcriptional co-activator multiprotein bridging factor 1 (BbMBF1) contributes to fungal resistance to the oxidative stress. The interactome of BbMBF1 was revealed by the qualitative proteomic analysis integrated with the immuno-precipitation. This study is sought to unveil the comprehensive protein interaction of BbMBF1 and isolate the BbMBF1-mediated transcription factor under oxidative stress.
Project description:Gene BbGlc8 playes an essential role in conidation, a determinant to the biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic fungi. The genome-wide exprssion analysis involved in fungal conidiation was analyzed by using high throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq). Our transcriptional profiles revealed that numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which involved in metabolism, cell transport and cell rescue, were significantly involved in deveopment of fungal conida.
Project description:Gene BbabaA and BbbrlA play an essential role in conidation, a determinant to the biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic fungi. The genome-wide exprssion analysis involved in fungal conidiation was analyzed by using high throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq). Our transcriptional profiles revealed that numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which involved in metabolism, cell transport and cell rescue, were significantly involved in deveopment of fungal conida.
Project description:Gene BbMbp1 playes an essential role in asexual differentiation, a determinant to the biocontrol potential of entomopathogenic fungi. The genome-wide exprssion analysis involved in fungal development was analyzed by using high throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq). Our transcriptional profiles revealed that numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which involved in metabolism, cell transport and cell rescue, were significantly involved in asexual deveopment of B. bassiana.
Project description:The presence of genetic groups of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in soil is shaped by its adaptability to specific soil and habitat types, and by soil insect populations. Although the entomopathogenic life style of this fungus is well studied, its saprophytic life style has received little consideration. While a set of functionally related genes can be commonly expressed for the adaptability of this fungus to different environments (insect cuticle, insect blood and root exudates), a different subset of genes is also expected for each environment. In order to increase the knowledge of the potential use of M. anisopliae as a rhizosphere competent organism, in this study we evaluated the genetic expression of this fungus while growing on plant root exudates in laboratory conditions during a time course.