Discovery of Novel Entomopathogenic Fungi for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

The increased application of chemical control programs has led to the emergence and spread insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Novel environmentally safe strategies are currently needed for disease vectors. use entomopathogenic fungi could be a suitable alternative insecticides. Currently, Beauveria spp. Metarhizium most widely used mosquito control, but increasing arsenal with additional is necessary mitigate resistance. Entomopathogenic distributed wide range habitats. We have performed comprehensive screen candidate mosquitocidal from diverse outdoor environments Maryland Puerto Rico. An initial screening 22 involving exposure adult Anopheles gambiae 2-weeks-old fungal cultures identified five potent pathogenic fungi, one which unidentified remaining four belonging three genera Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. Mucor These were then screened against Aedes aegypti , revealing as killer. effects confirmed through spore-dipping assays. also probed further into killing mechanisms these investigated whether activities result potential toxic fungus-produced metabolites. Preliminary assays mosquitoes sterile filtered liquid showed that isolate 1 strongest producers factors showing lethality An. . was Ae. among them (two strains 1) never previously been described lethal insects. Further characterization their metabolites needs done confirm biologic