Journal
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
Volume 74, Issue 4, Pages 781-789Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
DOI: 10.1002/ps.4734
Keywords
entomopathogenic fungi; genetic engineering; biological control; biopesticides
Categories
Funding
- US National Science Foundation [IOS-1257685]
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health [RO1 AI106998]
- Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1257685] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Microbial insect pathogens offer an alternative means of pest control with the potential to wean us off our heavy reliance on chemical pesticides. Insect pathogenic fungi play an important natural role in controlling disease vectors and agricultural pests. Most commercial products employ Ascomycetes in the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria. However, their utilization has been limited by inconsistent field results as a consequence of sensitivity to abiotic stresses and naturally low virulence. Other naturally occurring biocontrol agents also face these hurdles to successful application, but the availability of complete genomes and recombinant DNA technologies have facilitated design of multiple fungal pathogens with enhanced virulence and stress resistance. Many natural and synthetic genes have been inserted into entomopathogen genomes. Some of the biggest gains in virulence have been obtained using genes encoding neurotoxic peptides, peptides that manipulate host physiology and proteases and chitinases that degrade the insect cuticle. Prokaryotes, particularly extremophiles, are useful sources of genes for improving entomopathogen resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. These biological insecticides are environmentally friendly and cost-effective insect pest control options. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
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