Highly specific host-pathogen interactions influence Metarhizium brunneum blastospore virulence against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae.

ABSTRACT: Entomopathogenic fungi are potential biological control agents of mosquitoes. Our group observed that not all mosquitoes were equally susceptible to fungal infection and observed significant differences in virulence of different spore types. Conidiospores and blastospores were tested against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Blastospores are normally considered more virulent than conidia as they form germ tubes and penetrate the host integument more rapidly than conidia. However, when tested against Cx. quinquefasciatus, blastospores were less virulent than conidia. This host-fungus interaction was studied by optical, electron and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Furthermore, host immune responses and specific gene expression were investigated. Metarhizium brunneum (formerly M. anisopliae) ARSE

SUBMITTER: Alkhaibari AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6141145 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature