Hijacked: Co-option of host behavior by entomophthoralean fungi

Authors: GRYGANSKYI, ANDRII - Duke University; MULLENS, BRADLEY - City Of Riverside; GAJDECZKA, MICHAEL - Duke University; Rehner, Stephen; VILGALYS, RYTAS - Duke University; HAJEK, ANN - Cornell University

Submitted to: PLoS Pathogens
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/6/2017
Publication Date: 5/4/2017
Citation: Gryganskyi, A.P., Mullens, B.A., Gajdeczka, M.T., Rehner, S.A., Vilgalys, R., Hajek, A.E. 2017. Hijacked: Co-option of host behavior by entomophthoralean fungi. PLoS Pathogens. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006274.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Over 700 species of fungi are known to infect and cause disease in insects and other arthropods. The majority of insect pathogenic fungi are classified in the phyla Entomophthoromycotina and Ascomycotina, and many are ecologically important in regulating insect populations. To summarize fungal-insect disease processes, the infection cycle and epidemiology of the obligate fly pathogen Entomophthora muscae are reviewed. Like many insect pathogenic fungi, latter-stage infections by E. muscae alter host behavior, with infected flies seeking elevated positions prior to death, presumably to facilitate dispersal of the next generation of fungal propagules. Whole genome sequencing of insect pathogenic fungi is providing useful insights into genes important to infection and disease development that will inform understanding of disease processes and manipulation of these fungi in integrated pest management.