Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

The Insect Galleria mellonella as a Powerful Infection Model to Investigate Bacterial Pathogenesis
13:00

The Insect Galleria mellonella as a Powerful Infection Model to Investigate Bacterial Pathogenesis

Published on: December 11, 2012

33.7K

Physiological mechanisms driving virulence in insect-pathogenic fungi

Drauzio En Rangel1, Alene Alder-Rangel2, Richard A Humber3

  • 1Inbioter - Institute of Biotechnology Rangel, Caixa Postal 5, Itatiba, SP 13250-970, Brazil; Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São José dos Campos, SP 12231-280, Brazil.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|March 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Repeatedly culturing entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) reduces their effectiveness. This review details how to maintain EPF virulence through optimized culture conditions and physiological strategies for reliable biocontrol.

Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Mycology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are crucial biological control agents.
  • Their efficacy is compromised by virulence loss during subculturing on artificial media.
  • This degeneration limits the commercial viability of fungal biocontrol.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiological and molecular mechanisms of EPF culture degeneration.
  • To explore how culture conditions impact EPF virulence and quality.
  • To identify strategies for maintaining or restoring EPF infectivity and persistence.

Main Methods:

  • Literature synthesis of physiological and molecular mechanisms.
  • Analysis of factors influencing fungal growth and virulence.
  • Review of strategies to counteract culture degeneration.

Main Results:

  • Culture degeneration involves metabolic shifts, oxidative stress, and altered enzyme activity.
  • Mycoviruses can influence fungal virulence.
  • Medium composition, nutritional stress, and environment significantly affect EPF propagule quality.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing culture conditions is vital for maintaining EPF virulence.
  • Strategies like host passaging and enriched media can restore fungal efficacy.
  • Informed quality control and physiological manipulation are key for mass production of effective fungal biocontrol agents.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Wild Monochamus alternatus Populations for Biocontrol Applications in Forest Wood Borers06:58

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Wild Monochamus alternatus Populations for Biocontrol Applications in Forest Wood Borers

Published on: September 29, 2023

1.5K
Establishment of a Chilli Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) Rearing System for Virulence Screening of Entomopathogenic Fungi11:35

Establishment of a Chilli Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) Rearing System for Virulence Screening of Entomopathogenic Fungi

Published on: July 18, 2025

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
26
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
31
Infection01:20

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
14.3K
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
875
Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores02:26

Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores

Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
30.0K
Microbe-Plant Interactions01:09

Microbe-Plant Interactions

Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
54