Manipulation of Wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Behavior by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Ophiocordyceps humbertii in the Atlantic Forest in Ceará, Brazil1

Sobczak, Jober Fernando; Arruda, Italo Diego Paiva; Fonseca, Emily Oliveira; Rabelo, Paulo Julião Queiroz; Nóbrega, F.A. De Sousa; Pires, Joedson Castro; Somavilla, Alexandre

doi:10.3157/021.129.0115

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Similarly, Ophiocordyceps humbertii is the only hirsutelloid Ophiocordyceps known to infect Vespid wasps [ 77 , 86 ]. It was first described by Speare [ 84 ] as a parasite of Polistes spp., and is frequently reported infecting Polistine and Vespine wasps [ 11 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 87 , 88 ]. This fungi is recorded as an exotic species in New Zealand [ 89 , 90 ], previously known solely from Vespine hosts [ 11 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Reason

Bulgarella

Lester

2022

Insects

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Two species of entomogenous fungi were discovered infecting the invasive paper wasp Polistes chinensis during an ecological study on Farewell Spit, New Zealand. We sequenced two nuclear ribosomal RDNA genes, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the small ribosomal subunit 18S, and one protein-coding gene, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1 α). Combining sequence information with morphological examination, we identified these species as Beauveria malawiensis and Ophiocordyceps humbertii. We estimated that these fungi produce infection in approximately 3.3% of colonies in our study population. In bioassays, we successfully infected P. chinensis individuals from healthy colonies with B. malawiensis, with significant effects on adult mortality. This is the first record of both B. malawiensis and O. humbertii from Polistine hosts in New Zealand, and the first investigation into disease causality by these pathogens in P. chinensis. Our findings may contribute to the future development of biological control agents for paper wasps in New Zealand and elsewhere around the world.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Reason

Bulgarella

Lester

2022

Insects

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“…Amongst these mind-altering parasites, the “zombie fungi” are one of the largest known groups, infecting various species of insects and arachnids globally (Arruda et al, 2021; de Bekker et al, 2021; Cooley et al, 2018). This includes wasps (e.g., O. humberti (Sobczak et al, 2020)), beetles (e.g., O. curculionum (Shrestha et al, 2016)), scale bugs (e.g., Ophiocordyceps clavulata (Petch, 1933)), caterpillars (e.g., O. sinensis (Guo et al, 2021)), flies (e.g., O. dipterigena (Chhetri et al, 2020)), and spiders (e.g., O. engleriana (Sung et al, 2007)). While the genus is capable of infecting a diverse group of hosts, a large portion of the currently described species infect and manipulate carpenter ants of the Camponotini tribe with extreme host-specificity (Araújo et al, 2018, Araújo et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

28 Minutes Later: Investigating the role of aflatrem-like compounds in Ophiocordyceps parasite manipulation of zombie ants

Beckerson

Krider²,

Mohammad³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Parasites and their hosts often share intimate coevolutionary relationship that can lead to bizarre phenotypes over time. Ophiocordyceps is one such genus that has evolved to manipulate the behavior of its various insect and arachnid hosts, the clearest examples of which are found in ants of the Camponotus tribe, colloquially known as zombie ants. While the unusual behaviors induced during infection are well described, the molecular driving force behind these changes are still unknown. Recent genomic and transcriptomics analyses have identified several candidate secreted proteins and secondary metabolites highly upregulated during infection. Of particular interest amongst these compounds is an aflatrem-like ergot alkaloid related to the mycotoxin aflatrem known to cause neurological issues in other animals, issues collectively called staggers syndrome. To test if aflatrem-like compounds play a role in Camponotus floridanus manipulation, healthy ants were injected with purified aflatrem and their behavior was monitored for 30 minutes. RNA-Seq was also performed on the heads of aflatrem-injected ants to compare any changes at the transcriptomic level to data available for ants infected by Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani. Behavioral assay footage was analyzed using the machine learning tool MARGO, which showed a negative correlation between activity and speed, and dose of aflatrem. Behaviors were also scored manually, identifying a positive coloration between aflatrem dose and staggering behavioral phenotypes. RNA-seq discovered 262 genes significantly up or down regulated compared to sham injected ants. Of these genes, 108 were also differentially regulated in the heads of late-stage Ophiocordyceps-infected ants. Together, these results indicate that aflatrem-like compounds may play an important role during late-stages of infection by reducing activity in ants, keeping them in elevated microclimates optimal for the production and dispersal of spores.

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“…The survey, description and application of insect pathogens are globally important 3 . Bio control agents like B. bassiana and M. anisopliae have been used for several years to fight insects by many workers 4 – 7 , as they are natural enemies of agricultural pests and have a great role in maintaining ecological balance 8 , 9 . But entomopathogenecity of Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma asperellum has been established in our laboratory as first reports in previous studies 10 , 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An insight of anopheline larvicidal mechanism of Trichoderma asperellum (TaspSKGN2)

Ghosh¹,

Podder²,

Mukherjee³

2021

Sci Rep

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Anopheline larvicidal property of T. asperellum has been found recently in medical science. The mechanism of actions exhibited by T. asperellum to infect mosquito larvae is the pivotal context of our present study. To infect an insect, entomopathogens must undergo some events of pathogenesis. We performed some experiments to find out the mechanisms of action of T. asperellum against anopheline larvae and compared its actions with other two well recognized entomopathogens like Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. The methodology adopted for this includes Compound light and SE Microscopic study of host–pathogen interaction, detection of fungal spore adhesion on larval surface (Mucilage assay), detection of cuticle degrading enzymes (Spore bound pr1, chitinase and protease) by spectro-photometric method, Quantitative estimation of chitinase and protease enzymes, and determination of nuclear degeneration of hemocyte cells of ME (methanolic extract) treated larvae by T. asperellum under fluorescence microscope. Compound light microscopic studies showed spore attachment, appressorium and germ tube formation, invasion and proliferated hyphal growth of T. asperellum on epicuticle and inside of dead larvae. SEM study also supported them. After 3 h of interaction, spores were found to be attached on larval surface exhibiting pink colored outer layer at the site of attachment indicating the presence of mucilage surrounding the attached spores. The enzymatic cleavage of the 4-nitroanilide substrate yields 4-nitroaniline which indicates the presence of spore-bound PR1 protein (Pathogenecity Related 1 Protein) and it was highest (absorbance 1.298 ± 0.002) for T. asperellum in comparison with control and other two entomopathogens. T. asperellum exhibited highest enzymatic index values for both chitinase (5.20) and protease (2.77) among three entomopathogens. Quantitative experiment showed that chitinase enzyme concentration of T. asperellum (245 µg mL−1) was better than other two M. anisopliae (134.59 µg mL−1) and B. bassiana (128.65 µg mL−1). Similarly protease enzyme concentration of this fungus was best (298.652 µg mL−1) among three entomopathogens. Here we have detected and estimated fragmentized nuclei of hemocyte cells by fluorescence microscopy in treated larvae with different ME doses of T. asperellum, and also observed that mosquito larvae exposed to 0.1 mg mL−1 dose of ME showed maximum (100%) nuclear fragmentations of hemocytes and while 20, 45, 70 and 85% of nuclear deformities were recorded at 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 mg mL−1 concentrations of ME. The knowledge of this work certainly will help in understanding of mechanism of action of T. asperellum for anopheline larval killing and consequently in eradication of malaria vector.

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Manipulation of Wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Behavior by the Entomopathogenic Fungus Ophiocordyceps humbertii in the Atlantic Forest in Ceará, Brazil1

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

Identity, Prevalence, and Pathogenicity of Entomopathogenic Fungi Infecting Invasive Polistes (Vespidae: Polistinae) Paper Wasps in New Zealand

28 Minutes Later: Investigating the role of aflatrem-like compounds in Ophiocordyceps parasite manipulation of zombie ants

An insight of anopheline larvicidal mechanism of Trichoderma asperellum (TaspSKGN2)

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