| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2180606 | Fungal Biology Reviews | 2011 | 5 Pages |
Recent research on entomopathogenic fungi suggests that many of them have a multifactorial influence on plant growth and soil ecology by also being endophytes, pathogens of protozoans, antagonists of plant pathogens and associates with the rhizosphere. There is very little data as to the ecological consequences of these interactions, but a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which entomopathogens interact with other microbes, as well as with insects and plants could be used to develop the potential of these fungi as comprehensive plant symbionts. The genome sequences of the specific locust pathogen Metarhizium acridum and the broad host range Metarhizium robertsii have been used to investigate adaptations to insect parasitism and determine the identity, origin and evolution of traits needed for diverse lifestyles and host switching. Functional genomic approaches confirmed that M. robertsii up-regulates different genes in the presence of plants and insects, demonstrating that it has specialist genes for a bifunctional lifestyle. The more versatile life history pattern of M. robertsii is also reflected in a larger genome encoding more toxins and extracellular enzymes than M. acridum. However, secreted proteins are markedly more numerous in both Metarhizium spp. than in plant pathogens and non-pathogenic fungi, pointing to a greater complexity in the interactions between Metarhizium spp. and their environments. Commercial development of entomopathogenic fungi for pest control has been hindered by poor performance relative to chemical insecticides. We have demonstrated that the expression of genes encoding arthropod neurotoxins in M. robertsii can greatly improve virulence. We have also produced a Metarhizium anisopliae strain that expresses a single-chain antibody fragment that blocks transmission of malaria. Recombinant antibodies provide a vast array of potential anti-insect effectors that would allow construction of highly specific biopesticides with minimal additional negative environmental impact relative to parental wild type strains.
► Metarhizium spp. are insect pathogens and plant symbionts. ► Metarhizium genomes are atypical of fungi. ► Metarhizium spp expressing spider toxins are hypervirulent. ► Metarhizium expressing a recombinant antibody can block transmission of malaria.
