A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages
Insects constitute approximately 75% of the world’s recognized fauna, with the majority of species considered as pests. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are parasitic microorganisms capable of efficiently infecting insects, rendering them potent biopesticides. In response to infections, insects have evo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1329843/full |
| _version_ | 1797362434346844160 |
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| author | Meiqi Ma Jing Luo Chong Li Ioannis Eleftherianos Wei Zhang Letian Xu |
| author_facet | Meiqi Ma Jing Luo Chong Li Ioannis Eleftherianos Wei Zhang Letian Xu |
| author_sort | Meiqi Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Insects constitute approximately 75% of the world’s recognized fauna, with the majority of species considered as pests. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are parasitic microorganisms capable of efficiently infecting insects, rendering them potent biopesticides. In response to infections, insects have evolved diverse defense mechanisms, prompting EPF to develop a variety of strategies to overcome or circumvent host defenses. While the interaction mechanisms between EPF and insects is well established, recent findings underscore that their interplay is more intricate than previously thought, especially evident across different stages of EPF infection. This review primarily focuses on the interplay between EPF and the insect defense strategies, centered around three infection stages: (1) Early infection stage: involving the pre-contact detection and avoidance behavior of EPF in insects, along with the induction of behavioral responses upon contact with the host cuticle; (2) Penetration and intra-hemolymph growth stage: involving the initiation of intricate cellular and humoral immune functions in insects, while symbiotic microbes can further contribute to host resistance; (3) Host insect’s death stage: involving the ultimate confrontation between pathogens and insects. Infected insects strive to separate themselves from the healthy population, while pathogens rely on the infected insects to spread to new hosts. Also, we discuss a novel pest management strategy underlying the cooperation between EPF infection and disturbing the insect immune system. By enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between EPF and the insect, this review provides novel perspectives for EPF-mediated pest management and developing effective fungal insecticides. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:07:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee7ca7564b7842a183f0f37b3684584f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:07:55Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee7ca7564b7842a183f0f37b3684584f2024-01-08T05:08:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242024-01-011410.3389/fimmu.2023.13298431329843A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stagesMeiqi Ma0Jing Luo1Chong Li2Ioannis Eleftherianos3Wei Zhang4Letian Xu5State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, ChinaInfection and Innate Immunity Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesNational Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, ChinaInsects constitute approximately 75% of the world’s recognized fauna, with the majority of species considered as pests. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are parasitic microorganisms capable of efficiently infecting insects, rendering them potent biopesticides. In response to infections, insects have evolved diverse defense mechanisms, prompting EPF to develop a variety of strategies to overcome or circumvent host defenses. While the interaction mechanisms between EPF and insects is well established, recent findings underscore that their interplay is more intricate than previously thought, especially evident across different stages of EPF infection. This review primarily focuses on the interplay between EPF and the insect defense strategies, centered around three infection stages: (1) Early infection stage: involving the pre-contact detection and avoidance behavior of EPF in insects, along with the induction of behavioral responses upon contact with the host cuticle; (2) Penetration and intra-hemolymph growth stage: involving the initiation of intricate cellular and humoral immune functions in insects, while symbiotic microbes can further contribute to host resistance; (3) Host insect’s death stage: involving the ultimate confrontation between pathogens and insects. Infected insects strive to separate themselves from the healthy population, while pathogens rely on the infected insects to spread to new hosts. Also, we discuss a novel pest management strategy underlying the cooperation between EPF infection and disturbing the insect immune system. By enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between EPF and the insect, this review provides novel perspectives for EPF-mediated pest management and developing effective fungal insecticides.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1329843/fullentomopathogenic fungiinfection stageinsect immunitydefense strategypest management |
| spellingShingle | Meiqi Ma Jing Luo Chong Li Ioannis Eleftherianos Wei Zhang Letian Xu A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages Frontiers in Immunology entomopathogenic fungi infection stage insect immunity defense strategy pest management |
| title | A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| title_full | A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| title_fullStr | A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| title_full_unstemmed | A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| title_short | A life-and-death struggle: interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| title_sort | life and death struggle interaction of insects with entomopathogenic fungi across various infection stages |
| topic | entomopathogenic fungi infection stage insect immunity defense strategy pest management |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1329843/full |
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