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Cuticle hydrolysis in four medically important fly species by enzymes of the entomopathogenic fungus C onidiobolus coronatus
Author(s) -
BOGUŚ M. I.,
WŁÓKA E.,
WROŃSKA A.,
KACZMAREK A.,
KAZEK M.,
ZALEWSKA K.,
LIGĘZA ŻUBER M.,
GOŁĘBIOWSKI M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
medical and veterinary entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2915
pISSN - 0269-283X
DOI - 10.1111/mve.12202
Subject(s) - biology , entomopathogenic fungus , cuticle (hair) , fungus , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , lipase , hydrolysis , botany , incubation , biochemistry , biological pest control , anatomy , beauveria bassiana
. Entomopathogenic fungi infect insects via penetration through the cuticle, which varies remarkably in chemical composition across species and life stages. Fungal infection involves the production of enzymes that hydrolyse cuticular proteins, chitin and lipids. Host specificity is associated with fungus–cuticle interactions related to substrate utilization and resistance to host‐specific inhibitors. The soil fungus C onidiobolus coronatus ( C onstantin) ( E ntomophthorales: A ncylistaceae) shows virulence against susceptible species. The larvae and pupae of C alliphora vicina ( R obineau‐ D esvoidy) ( D iptera: C alliphoridae), C alliphora vomitoria ( L innaeus), L ucilia sericata ( M eigen) ( D iptera: C alliphoridae) and M usca domestica ( L innaeus) ( D iptera: M uscidae) are resistant, but adults exposed to C . coronatus quickly perish. Fungus was cultivated for 3 weeks in a minimal medium. Cell‐free filtrate, for which activity of elastase, N ‐acetylglucosaminidase, chitobiosidase and lipase was determined, was used for in vitro hydrolysis of the cuticle from larvae, puparia and adults. Amounts of amino acids, N ‐glucosamine and fatty acids released were measured after 8 h of incubation. The effectiveness of fungal enzymes was correlated with concentrations of compounds detected in the cuticles of tested insects. Positive correlations suggest compounds used by the fungus as nutrients, whereas negative correlations may indicate compounds responsible for insect resistance. Adult deaths result from the ingestion of conidia or fungal excretions.