Fights on the surface prior to fungal invasion of insects

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011994
• Publication Date: 2024-02-22T18:20:51Z
• Authors: Junmei Shang; Song Hong; Chengshu Wang
• Keywords: Metarhizium; Turgor pressure; Beauveria

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) infect insects by landing on and penetrating cuticles. Emerging evidence has shown that, prior to the invasion of insects, fungal cells have battle overcome diverse challenges, including host behavioral defenses, colonization resistance mediated ectomicrobiotas, recognition, generation enough penetration pressure. The ascomycete EPF such as Metarhizium Beauveria can thus produce adhesive proteins and/or exopolysaccharide mucilage tightly glue Producing antimicrobial peptides chemical compounds enable outcompete cuticular defensive microbes. use divergent membrane receptors, accumulation, quick degradation lipid droplets in conidial help recognize proper hosts build up cellular turgor breach cuticles for systematic invasion. Further investigations are still required unveil multifaceted intricate relationships between insect hosts.