Antifungal Activity of Two Xenorhabdus Species and Photorhabdus luminescens, Bacteria Associated with the Nematodes Steinernema Species and Heterorhabditis megidis

Antagonism between entomopathogenic fungi and bacterial symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes

“…Conidia production of all of the fungus species was hampered in the presence of P. luminescens. Previous reports showed Xenorhabdus nematophilus, X. bovenii and P. luminescens to be antagonistic to the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana and M. anisopliae (Barbercheck and Kaya, 1990;Chen et al, 1994). The mechanisms of antagonistic interaction between micro organisms may be based on parasitism, direct competition and antibiosis (Singh and Faull, 1988).…”

Purification and identification of two antifungal cyclic dipeptides from Bacillus cereus subsp. thuringiensis associated with a rhabditid entomopathogenic nematode especially against Fusarium oxysporum

“…After entering the host's hemocoel, nematodes release their bacterial symbionts 11 . The bacteria multiply rapidly and produce various metabolites that can overcome the insect immune system, kill the insect and inhibit the growth of various fungal and bacterial competitors [12][13][14] . By doing so, the bacterial symbionts are believed to prevent putrefaction of the insect cadaver and establish conditions that favor the development of both the nematode and bacterial symbionts.…”

Diversity, Biology and Evolutionary Relationships

“…1.2 [3]). The bacteria are known to also perform a protective role for their nematode partners inside the insect cadaver, by creating a near-exclusive environment for themselves and their specific nematode partners producing bacteriocins, antibiotics and antimicrobials (Akhurst, 1982;Chen, Dunphy, & Webster, 1994).…”