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Entomopathogenic fungi offer an effective and eco-friendly alternative to curb insect populations in biocontrol strategy. The evolutionary history of selected entomopathogenic fungi indicates their ancestral relationship with plant endophytes. During this host shifting, entomopathogenic fungi must have acquired multiple mechanisms, including a combination of various biomolecules that make them distinguishable from other fungi. In this review, we focus on understanding various biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in entomopathogenesis. In particular, we attempt to explain the indispensable role of enlarged gene families of various virulent factors, viz. chitinases, proteases, lipases, specialized metabolites, and cytochrome P450, in entomopathogenesis. Our analysis suggests that entomopathogenic fungi recruit a different set of gene products during the progression of pathogenesis. Knowledge of these bio-molecular interactions between fungi and insect hosts will allow researchers to execute pointed efforts towards the development of improved entomopathogenic fungal strains.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00248-021-01936-z | DOI Listing |
Front Fungal Biol
August 2025
Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Chili pepper exports from Ghana are subject to stringent chemical residue regulations in key export destinations. Consequently, microbial biopesticides are urgently needed to complement current nonchemical control options for key pests of chili pepper, particularly the phytosanitary insect, False Codling Moth (FCM). Thus, the search for native entomopathogenic fungi in Ghanaian farms was initiated in 2023.
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November 2025
National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address:
Entomopathogenic fungi can precisely inhibit the cellular and humoral immune responses of host insects by secreting effector proteins, allowing them to overcome the innate immune barriers of their hosts. Nodule formation is an immune response primarily mediated by insect hemocytes, which can rapidly and efficiently capture invading pathogenic fungi in the hemocoel. However, the molecular mechanisms by which fungi inhibit insect nodule formation through the secretion of effector proteins remain unclear.
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November 2025
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Biological Control, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China. Electronic address:
Microbial consortia, involving two or more microorganisms, have been explored for pest management purposes, despite concerns regarding competitive exclusion among entomopathogenic fungi that may undermine synergistic effects. However, the precise molecular mechanisms governing entomopathogen competition in vivo remain inadequately elucidated. Here, we investigate competitive exclusion dynamics between two prominent entomopathogens, Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPestic Biochem Physiol
November 2025
School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing, China. Electronic add
Metarhizium acridum is a typical filamentous fungus that has been widely used to control grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets. Genetic engineering is a common strategy to enhance its virulence, conidiation, and stress tolerance. Here, we report that the M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPestic Biochem Physiol
November 2025
School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing 401331, China; Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, Chongqing 401331, China; Nationa
Entomopathogenic fungi such as Metarhizium acridum are pivotal for sustainable pest management, yet the industrial conidial production is hindered by low yields and environmental sensitivity. Transcriptional regulation provides key targets for engineering strain modification. AP-1 transcription factors (TFs) are well-known for their roles in fungal growth, development, conidiation, pathogenicity and stress tolerance across various fungi.
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