Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti

IntroductionOver the past three decades, dengue disease incidence has significantly increased worldwide, creating serious public health concerns. The principal mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, exhibits resistance to commonly used insecticides, reducing the efficacy of vector control measures. Thus, t...

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Main Authors: A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena, B. Anushka N. Mendis, Kasun M. Thambugala, H. Sachini D. Fernando, Itthayakorn Promputtha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1502579/full
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author A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
B. Anushka N. Mendis
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
H. Sachini D. Fernando
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
author_facet A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
B. Anushka N. Mendis
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
H. Sachini D. Fernando
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
author_sort A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionOver the past three decades, dengue disease incidence has significantly increased worldwide, creating serious public health concerns. The principal mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, exhibits resistance to commonly used insecticides, reducing the efficacy of vector control measures. Thus, the necessity for alternate strategies is critical. Using bioinsecticides such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is one such strategy. This study details the evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger against pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible Ae. aegypti populations.Materials and methodsMolecular identification of the isolated entomopathogenic fungal strains was done using ITS-rDNA sequence data. Larvicidal and adulticidal assays were performed using different spore concentrations of fungal species. Pupal emergence was assessed from the survived larvae of larvicidal assays.ResultsLarvicidal assays revealed the highest mortality of 60% for T. atroviride after 9 days of exposure when compared with the highest mortality of 52% for A. niger after 6 days of exposure. No significant difference was observed between the pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible mosquito colonies, suggesting a lack of connection between prior resistance status and EPF pathogenicity. No pupal mortality was observed, although pupal duration was prolonged. Both EPF strains exhibited 100% mortality in adulticidal assays, signifying the potential use of the two fungal species as adulticides.ConclusionHowever, further studies are needed to understand the biology of EPF, its mechanism of action, the mosquito immune pathways activated, and the effect on non-target organisms. The findings have implications for the possible use of A. niger and T. atroviride as potential bioinsecticides against the control of Ae. aegypti.
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spelling doaj-art-9d8d11f187aa4448b1e6776a5b37d96b2025-08-20T02:26:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-04-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15025791502579Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegyptiA. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena0A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena1B. Anushka N. Mendis2Kasun M. Thambugala3Kasun M. Thambugala4Kasun M. Thambugala5H. Sachini D. Fernando6Itthayakorn Promputtha7Itthayakorn Promputtha8Itthayakorn Promputtha9Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandCenter for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaCenter for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaCenter for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaGenetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaCenter for Plant Materials and Herbal Product Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaCenter for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandEnvironmental Science Research Center (ESRC), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandNatural Extracts and Innovative Products for Alternative Healthcare Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandIntroductionOver the past three decades, dengue disease incidence has significantly increased worldwide, creating serious public health concerns. The principal mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, exhibits resistance to commonly used insecticides, reducing the efficacy of vector control measures. Thus, the necessity for alternate strategies is critical. Using bioinsecticides such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is one such strategy. This study details the evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger against pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible Ae. aegypti populations.Materials and methodsMolecular identification of the isolated entomopathogenic fungal strains was done using ITS-rDNA sequence data. Larvicidal and adulticidal assays were performed using different spore concentrations of fungal species. Pupal emergence was assessed from the survived larvae of larvicidal assays.ResultsLarvicidal assays revealed the highest mortality of 60% for T. atroviride after 9 days of exposure when compared with the highest mortality of 52% for A. niger after 6 days of exposure. No significant difference was observed between the pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible mosquito colonies, suggesting a lack of connection between prior resistance status and EPF pathogenicity. No pupal mortality was observed, although pupal duration was prolonged. Both EPF strains exhibited 100% mortality in adulticidal assays, signifying the potential use of the two fungal species as adulticides.ConclusionHowever, further studies are needed to understand the biology of EPF, its mechanism of action, the mosquito immune pathways activated, and the effect on non-target organisms. The findings have implications for the possible use of A. niger and T. atroviride as potential bioinsecticides against the control of Ae. aegypti.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1502579/fullbioinsecticidesentomopathogenic fungimosquito controldengueAedes aegypti
spellingShingle A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
A. V. Ranthilini C. Banduwardena
B. Anushka N. Mendis
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
Kasun M. Thambugala
H. Sachini D. Fernando
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Itthayakorn Promputtha
Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
bioinsecticides
entomopathogenic fungi
mosquito control
dengue
Aedes aegypti
title Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
title_full Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
title_fullStr Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
title_short Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti
title_sort evaluation of mycoparasitic trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector aedes aegypti
topic bioinsecticides
entomopathogenic fungi
mosquito control
dengue
Aedes aegypti
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1502579/full
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