Lipid-Binding Aegerolysin from Biocontrol Fungus Beauveria bassiana

Fungi are the most common pathogens of insects and thus important regulators of their populations. Lipid-binding aegerolysin proteins, which are commonly found in the fungal kingdom, may be involved in several biologically relevant processes including attack and defense against other organisms. Aegerolysins act alone or together with membrane-attack-complex/perforin (MACPF)-like proteins to form transmembrane pores that lead to cell lysis. We performed an in-depth bioinformatics analysis of aegerolysins in entomopathogenic fungi and selected a candidate aegerolysin, beauveriolysin A (BlyA) from Beauveria bassiana. BlyA was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli, and purified to further determine its functional and structural properties, including lipid-binding ability. Aegerolysins were found to be encoded in genomes of entomopathogenic fungi, such as Beauveria, Cordyceps, Metarhizium and Ophiocordyceps. Detailed bioinformatics analysis revealed that they are linked to MACPF-like genes in most genomes. We also show that BlyA interacts with an insect-specific membrane lipid. These results were placed in the context of other fungal and bacterial aegerolysins and their partner proteins. We believe that aegerolysins play a role in promoting the entomopathogenic and antagonistic activity of B. bassiana, which is an active ingredient of bioinsecticides.

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Unconventional Secretion of Nigerolysins A from Aspergillus Species

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8121973 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 1973

Author(s):

Nada Kraševec ◽

Maruša Novak ◽

Simona Barat ◽

Matej Skočaj ◽

Kristina Sepčić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bioinformatics Analysis ◽

Specific Interaction ◽

Membrane Lipid ◽

Lipid Binding ◽

Aspergillus Species ◽

Unconventional Secretion ◽

Alignment Analysis ◽

Lipid Binding Proteins ◽

Specific Membrane ◽

Chromosomal Loci

Aegerolysins are small lipid-binding proteins particularly abundant in fungi. Aegerolysins from oyster mushrooms interact with an insect-specific membrane lipid and, together with MACPF proteins produced by the same organism, form pesticidal pore-forming complexes. The specific interaction with the same membrane lipid was recently demonstrated for nigerolysin A2 (NigA2), an aegerolysin from Aspergillus niger. In Aspergillus species, the aegerolysins were frequently found as secreted proteins, indicating their function in fungal defense. Using immunocytochemistry and live-cell imaging we investigated the subcellular localization of the nigerolysins A in A. niger, while their secretion was addressed by secretion prediction and Western blotting. We show that both nigerolysins A are leaderless proteins that reach the cell exterior by an unconventional protein secretion. NigA proteins are evenly distributed in the cytoplasm of fungal hyphae. A detailed bioinformatics analysis of Aspergillus aegerolysins suggests that the same function occurs only in a limited number of aegerolysins. From alignment, analysis of chromosomal loci, orthology, synteny, and phylogeny it follows that the same or a similar function described for pairs of pesticidal proteins of Pleurotus sp. can be expected in species of the subgenus Circumdati, section Nigri, series Nigri, and some other species with adjacent pairs of putative pesticidal proteins.

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Discovering the secondary metabolite potential encoded within entomopathogenic fungi

Natural Product Reports ◽

10.1039/c4np00054d ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 1287-1305 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Donna M. Gibson ◽

Bruno G. G. Donzelli ◽

Stuart B. Krasnoff ◽

Nemat O. Keyhani

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolite ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Bioinformatics Analysis ◽

Mole Cricket ◽

Insect Pathogens

This highlight discusses the secondary metabolite potential of the insect pathogensMetarhiziumandBeauveria, including a bioinformatics analysis of secondary metabolite genes for which no products are yet identified. (Top picture is a mole cricket infected withBeauveria bassianaand the bottom picture is a wasp infected withBeauveria bassiana.)

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Phenotypic, molecular, and virulence characterization of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin, and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin from soil samples of Ethiopia for the development of mycoinsecticide

Heliyon ◽

10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. e07091

Author(s):

Amha Gebremariam ◽

Yonas Chekol ◽

Fassil Assefa

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Soil Samples

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Effect of the native strain of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium against Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) under greenhouse conditions in Tunisia

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-021-00395-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Besma Hamrouni Assadi ◽

Sabrine Chouikhi ◽

Refki Ettaib ◽

Naima Boughalleb M’hamdi ◽

Mohamed Sadok Belkadhi

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Bemisia Tabaci ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Tobacco Plant ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Native Strain ◽

Lecanicillium Muscarium ◽

Southern Tunisia ◽

Significant Efficacy ◽

Nesidiocoris Tenuis

Abstract Background The misuse of chemical insecticides has developed the phenomenon of habituation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causing enormous economic losses under geothermal greenhouses in southern Tunisia. Results In order to develop means of biological control appropriate to the conditions of southern Tunisia, the efficacy of the native strain of the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) and two entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium muscarium was tested against Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Indeed, the introduction of N. tenuis in doses of 1, 2, 3, or 4 nymphs per tobacco plant infested by the whitefly led to highly significant reduction in the population of B. tabaci, than the control devoid of predator. The efficacy of N. tenuis was very high against nymphs and adults of B. tabaci at all doses per plant with a rate of 98%. Likewise, B. bassiana and L. muscarium, compared to an untreated control, showed a very significant efficacy against larvae and adults of B. tabaci. In addition, the number of live nymphs of N. tenuis treated directly or introduced on nymphs of B. tabaci treated with the EPF remained relatively high, exceeding 24.8 nymphs per cage compared to the control (28.6). Conclusions It can be concluded that the native strain of N. tenuis and the EPF tested separately were effective against B. tabaci. Their combined use appears to be possible.

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On the virulence of the entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control ◽

10.1186/s41938-021-00428-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Shehzad ◽

Muhammad Tariq ◽

Tariq Mukhtar ◽

Asim Gulzar

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽

Plutella Xylostella ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Insect Pest ◽

Diamondback Moth ◽

Economic Damage ◽

Offspring Sex Ratio ◽

Development Of Resistance

Abstract Background The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is a noxious pest of cruciferous crops all over the world causing serious economic damage. Management of insect pest generally depends on chemical control; however, due to development of resistance against all types of insecticides, alternative approaches especially utilization of a microbial agent is inevitable. Results Potential of 2 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), viz., Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, was evaluated against 2nd and 3rd larval instars of P. xylostella by adopting leaf dip and direct spraying methods under laboratory conditions. Significant mortality rate was achieved by each fungus under adopted methodologies. However, B. bassiana was found to be more effective in both conditions than M. anisopliae. Highest mean corrected mortality (77.80%) was recorded, when spores of B. bassiana were sprayed on the 2nd instar larvae (LC50=1.78×104/ml) after the 6th day of treatment. Similarly, incase of M. anisopliae LC50 for the 2nd instar at the same methodology was 2.78×104/ml with a mortality percentage of 70.0%. Offspring sex ratio was non-significantly related to treatment concentration and methodology, except for the control. Conclusion Beauveria bassiana and M. anisopliae had potential to suppress P. xylostella infestations when applied appropriately. Present findings suggested that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae when sprayed on immatures of host insect had more effect as compared to leaf dip procedure. Furthermore, no significant effect of concentrations was observed on sex ratio.

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Omics-based approach in characterising mechanisms of entomopathogenic fungi pathogenicity: A case example of Beauveria bassiana

Journal of King Saud University - Science ◽

10.1016/j.jksus.2020.101332 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 101332

Author(s):

Nazmi Harith-Fadzilah ◽

Idris Abd Ghani ◽

Maizom Hassan

Keyword(s):

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Entomopathogenic Fungi

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Triple-Knockout, Synuclein-Free Mice Display Compromised Lipid Pattern

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26113078 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 3078

Author(s):

Irina A. Guschina ◽

Natalia Ninkina ◽

Andrei Roman ◽

Mikhail V. Pokrovskiy ◽

Vladimir L. Buchman

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Family Members ◽

Ether Lipid ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Membrane Lipid ◽

Lipid Binding ◽

Synaptic Functions ◽

Ethanolamine Plasmalogens ◽

Lipid Pattern

Recent studies have implicated synucleins in several reactions during the biosynthesis of lipids and fatty acids in addition to their recognised role in membrane lipid binding and synaptic functions. These are among aspects of decreased synuclein functions that are still poorly acknowledged especially in regard to pathogenesis in Parkinson’s disease. Here, we aimed to add to existing knowledge of synuclein deficiency (i.e., the lack of all three family members), with respect to changes in fatty acids and lipids in plasma, liver, and two brain regions in triple synuclein-knockout (TKO) mice. We describe changes of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and palmitic acid in liver and plasma, reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in liver and non-esterified fatty acids in plasma of synuclein free mice. In midbrain, we observed counterbalanced changes in the relative concentrations of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cerebrosides (CER). We also recorded a notable reduction in ethanolamine plasmalogens in the midbrain of synuclein free mice, which is an important finding since the abnormal ether lipid metabolism usually associated with neurological disorders. In summary, our data demonstrates that synuclein deficiency results in alterations of the PUFA synthesis, storage lipid accumulation in the liver, and the reduction of plasmalogens and CER, those polar lipids which are principal compounds of lipid rafts in many tissues. An ablation of all three synuclein family members causes more profound changes in lipid metabolism than changes previously shown to be associated with γ-synuclein deficiency alone. Possible mechanisms by which synuclein deficiency may govern the reported modifications of lipid metabolism in TKO mice are proposed and discussed.

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