Transcriptomic analysis reveals molecular mechanisms underpinning mycovirus-mediated hypervirulence in Beauveria bassiana infecting Tenebrio molitor
Author(s)
Filippou, Charalampos
Coutts, Robert HA
Kotta-Loizou, Ioly
El-Kamand, Sam
Papanicolaou, Alexie
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Mycoviral infection can either be asymptomatic or have marked effects on fungal hosts, influencing them either positively or negatively. To fully understand the effects of mycovirus infection on the fungal host, transcriptomic profiling of four Beauveria bassiana isolates, including EABb 92/11-Dm that harbors mycoviruses, was performed 48 h following infection of Tenebrio molitor via topical application or injection. Genes that participate in carbohydrate assimilation and transportation, and those essential for fungal survival and oxidative stress tolerance, calcium uptake, and iron uptake, were found to be overexpressed in the virus-infected isolate during the mid-infection stage. Mycotoxin genes encoding bassianolide and oosporein were switched off in all isolates. However, beauvericin, a mycotoxin capable of inducing oxidative stress at the molecular level, was expressed in all four isolates, indicating an important contribution to virulence against T. molitor. These observations suggest that detoxification of immune-related (oxidative) defenses and nutrient scouting, as mediated by these genes, occurs in mid-infection during the internal growth phase. Consequently, we observe a symbiotic relationship between mycovirus and fungus that does not afflict the host; on the contrary, it enhances the expression of key genes leading to a mycovirus-mediated hypervirulence effect.
Date Issued
2025-01-01
Date Acceptance
2025-01-04
Citation
Journal of Fungi, 2025, 11 (1)
ISSN
2309-608X
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Fungi
Volume
11
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39852482
PII: jof11010063
Subjects
Beauveria bassiana
RNA_Seq
Tenebrio molitor
gene expression
hypervirulence
mycoviral infection
polymycovirus
transcriptomic profiling
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
Switzerland
Article Number
63
Date Publish Online
2025-01-15