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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Development of Metarhizium anisopliae as a Mycoinsecticide: From Isolation to Field Performance
Published on: July 30, 2017
Identification of genes differentially expressed by Metarhizium anisopliae growing on Locusta migratoria wings using
Chuanbo Zhang1, Yuxian Xia, Zhongyuan Li
1Genetic Engineering Research Center, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides and Key Lab of Functional Gene and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing University, 174# Shazheng St., Shangpingba District, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Insect-pathogenic fungi penetrate their hosts directly through the cuticle. To better understand this process, we identified genes that were up-regulated by Metarhizium anisopliae germinating and differentiating on Locusta migratoria wings using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). A total of 78 unique expressed sequence tags (ESTs) up-regulated more than twofold during fungal growth on locust wings were identified. Among these 78 ESTs, 30 (38.5%) shared significant similarity with NCBI annotated hypothetical proteins, 16 (20.5%) shared low similarity to known or predicted genes, might represent novel genes, and 32 (41.0%) shared significant similarity with known proteins that are involved in various cell and molecular processes such as cell metabolism, protein metabolism, stress response and defense, and cell structure and function. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of six randomly selected genes confirmed the SSH results, verifying the fidelity of the SSH data. The results of this study provide novel information on genes expressed during early stages of infection with M. anisopliae, and improve current understanding of fungal pathogenesis.
Insights
This study identified 78 genes in Metarhizium anisopliae that are activated during insect cuticle penetration. These findings enhance our understanding of fungal pathogenesis and host-insect interactions.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Insect-pathogenic fungi like Metarhizium anisopliae infect hosts by directly penetrating the cuticle.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis is crucial for developing novel biocontrol strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes expressed by Metarhizium anisopliae during the initial stages of infection on Locusta migratoria wings.
- To gain insights into the molecular processes underlying fungal cuticle penetration and pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was employed to identify differentially expressed genes.
- Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) up-regulated during fungal germination and differentiation on locust wings were analyzed.
- Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate the expression levels of selected genes.
Main Results:
- A total of 78 unique ESTs showed more than twofold up-regulation during fungal growth on locust wings.
- These ESTs included hypothetical proteins, potentially novel genes, and genes involved in metabolism, stress response, and cell structure.
- RT-PCR confirmed the SSH findings, validating the identified gene expression patterns.
Conclusions:
- This study provides novel insights into the genes involved in the early stages of Metarhizium anisopliae infection.
- The identified genes contribute to a better understanding of fungal pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
