A mycovirus enhances fitness of an insect pathogenic fungus and potentially modulates virulence through interactions between viral and host proteins.

ABSTRACT: Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic ascomycete widely utilized in biological pest control. However, its effectiveness is often limited by low conidiation rates, sensitivity to environmental stresses, and delayed insecticidal activity. In this study, we identify and characterize a mycovirus, Beauveria bassiana polymycovirus 4-2 (BbPmV4-2), which markedly enhances the fitness and may modulate virulence of its fungal host. BbPmV4-2 comprises eight double-stranded RNA segments, among which three are unique and have not been previously detected in related mycoviruses. Infection with BbPmV4-2 nearly doubles conidial yields and upregulates key conidiation-related genes, facilitating enhanced dispersal of both the host fungus and the mycovirus itself. Additionally, BbPmV4-2 infected strains

SUBMITTER: Shi N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12574890 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature