Three Small Cysteine-Free Proteins (CFP1-3) Are Required for Insect-Pathogenic Lifestyle of Metarhizium robertsii.

ABSTRACT: Unique CFP (cysteine-free protein; 120 aa) has been identified as an extraordinary virulence factor in Beauveria bassiana (Cordycipitaceae), a main source of wide-spectrum fungal insecticides. Its homologs exclusively exist in wide-spectrum insect pathogens of Hypocreales, suggesting their importance for a fungal insect-pathogenic lifestyle. In this study, all three CFP homologs (CFP1-3, 128-145 aa) were proven essential virulence factors in Metarhizium robertsii (Clavicipitaceae). Despite limited effects on asexual cycles in vitro, knockout mutants of cfp1,cfp2 and cfp3 were severely compromised in their capability for normal cuticle infection, in which most tested Galleria mellonella larvae survived. The blocked cuticle infection concurred with r

SUBMITTER: Mou YN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9224661 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature