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Updated: Jul 2, 2025
Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Fights on the surface prior to fungal invasion of insects
Junmei Shang1,2, Song Hong1,2, Chengshu Wang1,2,3
1Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) infect insects by landing on and penetrating cuticles. Emerging evidence has shown that, prior to the invasion of insects, fungal cells have to battle and overcome diverse challenges, including the host behavioral defenses, colonization resistance mediated by ectomicrobiotas, host recognition, and generation of enough penetration pressure. The ascomycete EPF such as Metarhizium and Beauveria can thus produce adhesive proteins and/or the exopolysaccharide mucilage to tightly glue fungal cells on cuticles. Producing antimicrobial peptides and chemical compounds can enable EPF to outcompete cuticular defensive microbes. The use of divergent membrane receptors, accumulation, and quick degradation of lipid droplets in conidial cells can help EPF recognize proper hosts and build up cellular turgor to breach cuticles for systematic invasion. Further investigations are still required to unveil the multifaceted and intricate relationships between EPF and insect hosts.
Insights
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) overcome insect defenses by adhering to cuticles and producing antimicrobials. They also use specialized cell components for host recognition and cuticle penetration, enabling invasion.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Microbiology
- Entomology
Background:
- Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are crucial biological control agents against insect pests.
- EPF must overcome significant pre-invasion challenges before infecting insects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the strategies employed by entomopathogenic fungi to overcome host defenses and successfully invade insects.
- To highlight the intricate interactions between EPF and insect hosts.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on entomopathogenic fungi.
- Analysis of fungal cellular mechanisms for host interaction and invasion.
Main Results:
- EPF utilize adhesive proteins and mucilage for cuticle attachment.
- Antimicrobial peptides and compounds help EPF outcompete resident microbes.
- Fungi employ membrane receptors and lipid metabolism for host recognition and cuticle penetration.
Conclusions:
- Entomopathogenic fungi possess sophisticated mechanisms for insect invasion.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the complex EPF-insect host relationship.
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