Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>
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 <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> isolates, includi...
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2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/63 |
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| author | Charalampos Filippou Robert H. A. Coutts Ioly Kotta-Loizou Sam El-Kamand Alexie Papanicolaou |
| author_facet | Charalampos Filippou Robert H. A. Coutts Ioly Kotta-Loizou Sam El-Kamand Alexie Papanicolaou |
| author_sort | Charalampos Filippou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> isolates, including EABb 92/11-Dm that harbors mycoviruses, was performed 48 h following infection of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> 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 <i>T. molitor</i>. 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bebbbeea597d4bc993b1c379b5076807 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-bebbbeea597d4bc993b1c379b50768072025-01-24T13:37:24ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011116310.3390/jof11010063Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>Charalampos Filippou0Robert H. A. Coutts1Ioly Kotta-Loizou2Sam El-Kamand3Alexie Papanicolaou4Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, 2404 Nicosia, CyprusDepartment of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UKDepartment of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UKHawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, AustraliaHawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, AustraliaMycoviral 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 <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> isolates, including EABb 92/11-Dm that harbors mycoviruses, was performed 48 h following infection of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> 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 <i>T. molitor</i>. 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/63polymycovirusmycoviral infectionhypervirulencetranscriptomic profiling<i>Tenebrio molitor</i><i>Beauveria bassiana</i> |
| spellingShingle | Charalampos Filippou Robert H. A. Coutts Ioly Kotta-Loizou Sam El-Kamand Alexie Papanicolaou Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Journal of Fungi polymycovirus mycoviral infection hypervirulence transcriptomic profiling <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> |
| title | Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title_full | Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title_short | Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> Infecting <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title_sort | transcriptomic analysis reveals molecular mechanisms underpinning mycovirus mediated hypervirulence in i beauveria bassiana i infecting i tenebrio molitor i |
| topic | polymycovirus mycoviral infection hypervirulence transcriptomic profiling <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/63 |
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