Suppression of the insect cuticular microbiomes by a fungal defensin to facilitate parasite infection

Parasitic fungus fights back against bacteria on flies

31 March 2023

A parasitic fungus employs an antimicrobial compound to attack protective bacteria on the body surfaces of fruit flies.

Some bacteria that live on the outer surfaces of insects offer them protection against fungal infections.

Now, a team led by researchers from ShanghaiTech University in China has found that one fungus that infects fruit flies fights back against these protective bacteria by producing an antimicrobial compound.

They identified the gene that encodes for the antibacterial compound, which can both coat fungal spores and be secreted by the fungus. Flies exposed to mutant strains of the fungus lacking the gene survived longer than those exposed to normal fungal strains. Furthermore, overexpression of the gene enabled the fungus to infect flies faster.

The fungus has been used a bioagent to control insect pests, and so the role of protective microbes needs to be considered in this strategy, the researchers say.

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References

1. The ISME Journal 17, 1–11 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41396-022-01323-7