Here we show that a bacterial endosymbiont, Regiella insecticola, protects pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) from the aphid-specific fungal entomopathogen Zoophthora occidentalis but not from the generalist insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana. This finding highlights the complex influence of fungi on the dynamics of this economically important agricultural pest.

Seventeen isolates ofMetarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and three isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) were evaluated for their pathogenicity to the adult pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in the laboratory. Flies were contaminated with dry conidia through a velvet material wrapped around the inner s...

PURPOSE To describe a case of Beauveria bassiana keratitis and to discuss the management of this rare condition. METHODS An 82-year-old woman underwent surgical repair of a graft wound dehiscence. Seven months later, shortly after the removal of sutures, the patient developed a fungal keratitis. B. bassiana was identified as the infecting organism. The patient was treated with topical natamyc...

The evolution of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes is threatening the effectiveness and sustainability of malaria control programs in various parts of the world. Through their unique mode of action, entomopathogenic fungi provide promising alternatives to chemical control. However, potential interactions between fungal infection and insecticide resistance, such as cross-resistance, have not ...

Entomopathogenic fungi are potential tools to biocontrol cicadellids and delphacids, two groups of insects that cause extensive damage to agricultural crops. However, bacteria living on the host cuticle may inhibit fungal growth. In the present work, following the molecular characterization of 10 strains of Bacillus isolated from the integument of cicadellids and delphacids, we selected isolate...

Abstarct Effects of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) spores on immune functions of Glyphodes pyloalis Walker larvae were studied. Total and differential hemocyte counts revealed that infection by B. bassiana caused a dramatic change in hemocyte number. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that increase in time exposure to fungal pathogen resulted in elevated phagocytic activity. Nodules we...