Snapshot of insect–fungus arms race

Leal, Walter S.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1510615112

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Taking a snapshot, i.e. stopping coevolution at a defined point, provides an opportunity to identify host barriers and parasite virulence factors at a given moment, and to compare these to the situation at the start of the experiment (also see Leal, 2015). Many factors at the baseline situation such as the population size or non-detected infections with other pathogens can influence the outcome of host-parasite coevolution (Papkou et al, 2016;Schulte, 2016, current issue).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• Differences in gene expression profile upon MBQ exposure in ancestral vs. coevolved fungi: most important GO term is ‚pathogenesis', including several genes relevant in resistance to oxidative stress. (Rafaluk et al, unpublished data;Pedrini et al, 2015;Leal, 2015) The original virulence factor: (Nikoh & Fukatsu, 2000) Overlapping generations of T. castaneum: larvae, pupae and adults live together.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

Joop

Vilcinskas

2016

Zoology

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Parasitic fungi and their insect hosts provide an intriguing model system for dissecting the complex co-evolutionary processes, which result in Red Queen dynamics. To explore the genetic basis behind host-parasite coevolution we chose two parasitic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, representing the most important entomopathogenic fungi used in the biological control of pest or vector insects) and two established insect model hosts (the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum) for which sequenced genomes or comprehensive transcriptomes are available. Focusing on these model organisms, we review the knowledge about the interactions between fungal molecules operating as virulence factors and insect host-derived defense molecules mediating antifungal immunity. Particularly the study of the intimate interactions between fungal proteinases and corresponding host-derived proteinase inhibitors elucidated novel coevolutionary mechanisms such as functional shifts or diversification of involved effector molecules. Complementarily, we compared the outcome of coevolution experiments using the parasitic fungus B. bassiana and two different insect hosts which were initially either susceptible (Galleria mellonella) or resistant (Tribolium castaneum). Taking a snapshot of host-parasite coevolution, we show that parasitic fungi can overcome host barriers such as external antimicrobial secretions just as hosts can build new barriers, both within a relatively short time of coevolution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

Joop

Vilcinskas

2016

Zoology

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“…At present, as a consequence of its antimicrobial secretions, T. castaneum is thought to be ahead in the arms race against B. bassiana (Leal, ; Pedrini et al ., ). Under tight association with the beetle; however, B. bassiana would be under extremely high selection pressure to infect T. castaneum in spite of its strong external defences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present, as a consequence of its antimicrobial secretions, T. castaneum is thought to be ahead in the arms race against B. bassiana (Leal, 2015;Pedrini et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly potent host external immunity acts as a strong selective force enhancing rapid parasite virulence evolution

Rafaluk

Yang

Mitschke

et al. 2017

Environmental Microbiology

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Virulence is often under selection during host-parasite coevolution. In order to increase fitness, parasites are predicted to circumvent and overcome host immunity. A particular challenge for pathogens are external immune systems, chemical defence systems comprised of potent antimicrobial compounds released by prospective hosts into the environment. We carried out an evolution experiment, allowing for coevolution to occur, with the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, which has a well-documented external immune system with strong inhibitory effects against B. bassiana. After just seven transfers of experimental evolution we saw a significant increase in parasite induced host mortality, a proxy for virulence, in all B. bassiana lines. This apparent virulence increase was mainly the result of the B. bassiana lines evolving resistance to the beetles' external immune defences, not due to increased production of toxins or other harmful substances. Transcriptomic analyses of evolved B. bassiana implicated the up-regulation of oxidative stress resistance genes in the observed resistance to external immunity. It was concluded that external immunity acts as a powerful selective force for virulence evolution, with an increase in virulence being achieved apparently entirely by overcoming these defences, most likely due to elevated oxidative stress resistance.

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Molecular interactions between entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales) and their insect host: Perspectives from stressful cuticle and hemolymph battlefields and the potential of dual RNA sequencing for future studies

Pedrini

2018

Fungal Biology

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Snapshot of insect–fungus arms race

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

Highly potent host external immunity acts as a strong selective force enhancing rapid parasite virulence evolution

Molecular interactions between entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales) and their insect host: Perspectives from stressful cuticle and hemolymph battlefields and the potential of dual RNA sequencing for future studies

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