A5055282694- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Transgenic Plants and Applications
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
University of Maryland, College Park
2016-2025
Cornell University
1989-1998
Ithaca College
1989-1995
University of Bath
1986-1991
Fungal diseases in insects are common and widespread often decimate insect populations spectacular epizootics. Virtually all orders susceptible to fungal diseases. Fungi infect by breaching the host cuticle; they principal pathogens among sucking because these hosts cannot ingest other that through gut wall. also particularly important for control of Coleoptera, viral bacterial rare beetles. Entomopathogenic fungi associated with living diverse habitats, including fresh water, soil, soil...
Metarhizium spp. are being used as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides, model systems for studying insect-fungus interactions, and a resource of genes biotechnology. We present comparative analysis the genome sequences broad-spectrum insect pathogen anisopliae acridid-specific M. acridum. Whole-genome analyses indicate that structures these two species highly syntenic suggest genus evolved from plant endophytes or pathogens. Both acridum have strikingly larger...
The ascomycete fungus Beauveria bassiana is a pathogen of hundreds insect species and commercially produced as an environmentally friendly mycoinsecticide. We sequenced the genome B. phylogenomic analysis confirmed that entomopathogenicity polyphyletic, but also revealed convergent evolution to pathogenicity. found many species-specific virulence genes gene family expansions contractions correlate with host ranges pathogenic strategies. These include having more bacterial-like toxins...
Abstract Background Species in the ascomycete fungal genus Cordyceps have been proposed to be teleomorphs of Metarhizium species. The latter widely used as insect biocontrol agents. species are highly prized for use traditional Chinese medicines, but genes responsible biosynthesis bioactive components, pathogenicity and control sexuality fruiting not determined. Results Here, we report genome sequence type militaris . Phylogenomic analysis suggests that different / genera evolved into...
ABSTRACT Metarhizium anisopliae is a fungus of considerable metabolic and ecological versatility, being potent insect pathogen that can also colonize plant roots. The mechanistic details these interactions are unresolved. We provide evidence M. adheres to insects plants using two different proteins, MAD1 MAD2, differentially induced in hemolymph root exudates, respectively, produce regional localization adhesive conidial surfaces. Expression Mad1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae allowed this yeast...
Significance Fossil records have provided compelling evidence for evolution, but lack of existing transitional species has hindered our understanding speciation at the molecular level. Genomic analyses seven Metarhizium revealed a directional continuum from specialists with narrow host ranges to and then generalists that paralleled insect evolution. This diversification was coupled complex interplay between an array genomic features worked together drive fungal accelerating rate roadmap...
Metarhizium anisopliae infects mosquitoes through the cuticle and proliferates in hemolymph. To allow M. to combat malaria with advanced infections, we produced recombinant strains expressing molecules that target sporozoites as they travel hemolymph salivary glands. Eleven days after a Plasmodium-infected blood meal, were treated gland midgut peptide 1 (SM1), which blocks attachment of glands; single-chain antibody agglutinates sporozoites; or scorpine, is an antimicrobial toxin. These...
ABSTRACT In the summer of 2000, we released genetically altered insect-pathogenic fungi onto a plot cabbages at field site on Upper Marlboro Research Station, Md. The transformed derivatives Metarhizium anisopliae ARSEF 1080, designated GPMa and GMa, carried Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein ( gfp ) gene alone (GMa) or with additional protease genes Pr1 (GPMa). study (i) confirmed utility for monitoring pathogen strains in populations over time, (ii) demonstrated little...
The ubiquitous fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae kills a wide range of insects. Host hemocytes can recognize and ingest its conidia, but this capacity is lost on production hyphal bodies. We show that the unusual ability bodies to avoid detection depends gene (Mcl1) expressed within 20 min contacting hemolymph. A mutant disrupted in Mcl1 rapidly attacked by shows corresponding reduction virulence Manduca sexta. encodes three domain protein comprising hydrophilic, negatively charged...
The abilities of isolates saprophytes ( Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans ), an opportunistic human pathogen fumigatus insect flavus plant pathogens Verticillium albo-atrum, dahliae, Nectria haematococca a mushroom fungicola ) and entomopathogens lecanii, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae to utilize cell walls cuticle components in different nutrient media were compared. showed enzymic adaptation the polymers present integuments their particular hosts. Thus, produced high...
ABSTRACT Aspergillus spp. cause disease in a broad range of organisms, but it is unknown if strains are specialized for particular hosts. We evaluated isolates flavus , fumigatus and nidulans their ability to infect bean leaves, corn kernels, insects ( Galleria mellonella ). Strains A. did not affect nonwounded or at 22°C, they killed following hemocoelic challenge caused symptoms ranging from moderate severe kernels leaves injured during inoculation. The pectinase P2c, implicated aggressive...
Destruxins are a class of insecticidal, anti-viral, and phytotoxic cyclic depsipeptides that also studied for their toxicity to cancer cells. They produced by various fungi, direct relationship has been established between Destruxin production the virulence entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. Aside from opening calcium channels, in vivo mode action during pathogenesis remains largely uncharacterized. To better understand effects Destruxin, we looked at changes gene expression following...
Cells store lipids in droplets. Studies addressing how mammals control lipid-based energy homeostasis have implicated proteins of the PAT domain family, such as perilipin that surrounds lipid Perilipin knock-out mice are lean and resistant to obesity. Factors mediate storage fungi still unknown. Here we describe a gene (Mpl1) economically important insect fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae has structural similarities mammalian perilipins. Consistent with role storage, Mpl1 is...
The proteinaceous insect cuticle is an effective barrier against most microbes, but entomopathogenic fungi can breach it using extracellular proteases. We report here the isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone cuticle‐degrading protease (Pr1) Metarhizium anisopliae . sequence revealed that Pr1 synthesized as large precursor (40.3 kDa) containing signal peptide, propeptide mature protein predicted to have molecular mass 28.6 kDa. primary structure has extensive similarity with enzymes...