Conidial surface proteins of Metarhizium anisopliae: Source of activities related with toxic effects, host

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Development of Metarhizium anisopliae as a Mycoinsecticide: From Isolation to Field Performance
14:15

Development of Metarhizium anisopliae as a Mycoinsecticide: From Isolation to Field Performance

Published on: July 30, 2017

Lucélia Santi1, Walter O Beys da Silva, Markus Berger

  • 1Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, P. O. Box 15005, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
|December 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Metarhizium anisopliae spore surface proteins (SSP) possess diverse enzymatic activities, including proteases, chitinases, lipases, and phospholipase C. These enzymes are crucial for understanding fungal infection mechanisms and toxic effects on arthropod hosts.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Biochemistry
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Fungal pathogens initiate infection through conidial contact with host surfaces.
  • The enzymatic components of Metarhizium anisopliae conidia involved in host penetration and toxicity remain incompletely understood.
  • Enzymes produced by fungi can act as virulence factors, similar to toxins in bacteria and animal venoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the enzymatic activities present on the surface of Metarhizium anisopliae conidia.
  • To identify potential virulence factors contributing to the early stages of arthropod infection.

Main Methods:

  • Extraction of spore surface proteins (SSP) from Metarhizium anisopliae.
  • Analysis of enzymatic activities using zymography, including proteases, chitinases, lipases, and phospholipase C.
  • Detection of antioxidant activities against reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Main Results:

  • SSP exhibited significant proteolytic activities (Pr1 and Pr2), trehalase, exo- and endo-chitinase activities with seven distinct chitinase bands.
  • Enzymatic assays revealed the presence of two lipolytic enzymes and phospholipase C activity, a first for M. anisopliae conidia.
  • ROS-protective activities were also detected in the SSP.

Conclusions:

  • Metarhizium anisopliae conidia possess a complex array of surface enzymes with potential roles in host interaction.
  • These identified enzymatic activities provide insights into the initial mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis and toxic effects against arthropods.
  • Further research into these enzymes can elucidate virulence strategies and inform biocontrol applications.

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