Characteristics of insecticidal substances from the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pinghaense 15R against cotton aphid in Korea

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are agricultural pests for a wide range of economically important crops worldwide. Entomopathogenic fungi have been studied and developed as a biological agents to control hard to control insect pests like the aphid. In particular, secondary metabolites produced by entomopathogenic fungi are being studied as insecticidal substances. This study evaluated the insecticidal activity and characteristics of insecticidal substances in culture filtrate against aphids to confirm the insecticidal substances produced by Metarhizium pinghaense 15R. After treating cotton aphids with the culture filtrate, strong insecticidal activity (100 % insect mortality) was observed on the third day of treatment, and it was confirmed that insecticidal substances in the culture filtrate had high thermal stability. In addition, the physicochemical properties of insecticidal substances in the culture filtrate were evaluated, and it was determined that the insecticidal substances were hydrophobic, with small molecules of 3 kDa or less. Based on these results, it was suspected that the insecticidal substances in the culture filtrate were destruxins (DTXs), which are representative secondary metabolites of Metarhizium known to have insecticidal activity. Through HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis, the presence of DTX A and B was found in all active samples, and it was confirmed that the insecticidal substances of M. pinghaense 15R were DTXs. This study provides primary data for developing biochemical crop protection agents using these insecticidal substances, and we suggest the potential of using insecticidal substances of entomopathogenic fungi as biochemical pesticides in Korea.     

Characterization of a Chitin-Binding Protein from Bacillus thuringiensis HD-1

Strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce insecticidal proteins. These strains have been isolated from diverse ecological niches, such as soil, phylloplane, insect cadavers and grain dust. To effectively propagate, these strains produce a range of molecules that facilitate its multiplication in a competing environment. In this report, we have examined synthesis of a chitin-binding protein and evaluated its effect on fungi encountered in environment and its interaction with insecticidal proteins synthesized by B. thuringiensis. The gene encoding chitin-binding protein has been cloned and expressed. The purified protein has been demonstrated to interact with Cry insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac by Circular Dichrosim spectroscopy (CD) and in vitro pull down assays. The chitin-binding protein potentiates insecticidal activity of bacillar insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac. Further, chitin-binding protein was fungistatic against several soil fungi. The chitin binding protein is expressed in spore mother cell and deposited along with insecticidal protein, Cry1Ac. It interacts with Cry1Ac to potentiate its insecticidal activity and facilitate propagation of Bacillus strain in environment by inhibiting growth of certain fungi.     

Insecticidal and insect growth regulatory activities of secondary metabolites from entomopathogenic fungi,Lecanicillium attenuatum

Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are effective alternatives to chemical insecticides because of their specificity and low environmental toxicity. Entomopathogenic fungi are an important natural pathogen of insects and have been developed as biological control agents. They produce a wide range of secondary metabolites such as antibiotics, pesticides, growth-promoting or inhibiting compounds and insect attracting agents. In this study, to explore novel IGR substances from entomopathogenic fungi, culture extracts of 189 entomopathogenic fungi isolated from Korean soil samples were investigated for their juvenile hormone (JH)-based IGR activities. Whereas none of the culture extracts exhibited JH agonist (JHA) activity, 14 extracts showed high levels of JH antagonist (JHAN) activity. Among them, culture extract of JEF-145 strain, which was identified as Lecanicillium attenuatum, showed the highest insecticidal against Aedes albopictus and Plutella xylostella. At liquid culture condition, JHAN activity was observed in culture soup rather than mycelial cake, indicating that substances with JHAN activity are released from the JEF-145 strain during culture. Furthermore, while extract from solid cultured JEF-145 strain showed insecticidal activities against both A. albopictus and P. xylostella, that from liquid cultured fungi showed insecticidal activity only against A. albopictus, indicating that L. attenuatum JEF-145 strain produces different kinds of secondary metabolites with JHAN activity depending on culture conditions. These results suggested that JHAN substances derived from entomopathogenic fungi could be usefully exploited to develop novel eco-friendly IGR insecticides.     

Cultivation Optimization of Insect-Pathogenic Fungi PaecUomyces lilacinus HY-4 to Soil-pest Adoretus tenuimaculatus

ABSTRACT A new insect pathogenic fungi, Paecilomyces licacinus HY-4 that was isolated from soil sample, showed biological activity to Chestnut Brown Chafer, pest of golf course. The culture condition for the fungi P. lilacinus HY-4 was optimized through statistical approach for the mass production. According th the bioassay on the pest, the insecticidal activity reached up to 30%, and positive factor for the production of the fungi was zeolite with 97.5% of significance.     

Insecticidal activity of inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis on Spodoptera litura F. larvae.

The inhibitors of polyamine (PA) biosynthesis such as alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) and bis (cyclohexylammonium) sulphate (BCHA) have been used to protect crop plants from pathogenic fungi. In this communication the insecticidal activity of these inhibitors on tobacco caterpillar, S. litura has been reported. All the inhibitors exhibited insecticidal activity; MGBG being more effective than others. The results suggest, for the first time, a possible avenue for the control of insect pests by specific inhibition of insect PA biosynthesis.     

醉马草内生菌的分离、鉴定及杀虫效果

【目的】探明醉马草内生菌的种类,筛选对农作物虫害有毒杀作用的菌株。【方法】采用研磨法从健康醉马草植物的根、茎、叶和种子中进行菌种分离;通过对其形态、培养特征、生理生化及其他生物学特性的研究;16SrDNA及ITS序列的系统发育学分析进行鉴定;用玻片浸渍法和喷雾法筛选产杀虫活性物质菌株。【结果】获得细菌89株,分别属于枯草芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、链霉菌属(Streptomyces)、棒状杆菌属(Corynebacterium)、叶杆菌属(Phyllobacterium)、鞘脂单胞菌属(Sphingomonnas)、类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)8个属;真菌2株,分别属于麦角菌属(Claviceps)和毛壳菌属(Chaetomium)。经初筛及复筛,内生菌娄彻氏链霉菌Streptomyces rochei(GA)和黑麦麦角菌Claviceps purpurea(PF-2)发酵液粗提物对棉蚜虫(Aphis gossypii)致死率达85%以上。【结论】醉马草内生菌株PF-2和GA的粗提代谢物对棉蚜虫有明显的毒杀作用,为开发新的生物源农药提供了生物源物质。     

Laboratory assessment of entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacteria to control maize pest,Ostrinia furnacalis,and fungi diseases,Bipolaris maydis and Curvularia lunata

The application of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and their symbiotic bacteria as biological control approaches depend on their lethal parasites to pest and antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi. We have collected 23 symbiotic bacterial strains from 23 EPN isolates gathered from different regions of China. In the present study, the insecticidal and antifungal activities of all these bacterial isolates were evaluated in the laboratory. Bioassay results showed that the broth and crude extract of all these 23 EPN symbiotic bacteria strains have, to a certain extent, oral insecticidal activity and/or growth inhibition to the larvae of Ostrinia furnacalis and antifungal activity against Bipolaris maydis and Curvularia lunata. Among these strains, SY5 exhibited highest insecticidal and antifungal activities to O. furnacalis, B. maydis and C. lunata. The adversity resistance of strain SY5 showed that the antifungal activity of the broth was more stable than the insecticidal activity, and the stability of antifungal activity to B. maydis and C. lunata was different.     

茶树中咖啡碱抑茵抗虫作用的研究

咖啡碱是茶树的主要生物碱和特征性物质之一,通过滤纸片法、生长速率法、饲喂称重法对咖啡碱抑菌、抗虫作用的研究,发现咖啡碱对供试细菌和真菌有一定的抑菌能力,对棉铃虫和菜粉蝶、家蚕幼虫具有毒害和抑制生长的影响。咖啡碱作为茶树的次生代谢产物具有抗病抗虫的的生物学功能。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌几丁质酶的研究进展

苏云金芽孢杆菌制剂作为无公害农药已经得到社会的认可,如果再开发其几丁质酶抑制真菌和杀虫增效功能,不仅可充分利用这一农业微生物菌种资源,也将给予传统生物农药以新的生命力。综述了苏云金芽孢杆菌几丁质酶方面研究的国内外最新进展。     

草原与荒漠植物内生真菌次生代谢产物研究进展

草原与荒漠植物内生真菌是一类特殊生境真菌类群,由于其独特的生存与生态环境,该类真菌在进化的过程中产生出具有不同生态与生物功能的次生代谢产物。相对于其他植物内生真菌而言,该类真菌化学研究相对薄弱与零散,但是目前仍然从这类特殊生境真菌类群中发现了大量结构新颖、活性独特并具有不同化学生态与生物功能的次生代谢产物。本文主要从化学结构角度综述近年来从草原与荒漠植物内生真菌中分离的次生代谢产物(生物碱、聚酮、酚酸、萜类、环肽等5类结构)、药理活性(抗病毒,免疫调节,促进骨髓增殖,细胞毒及Hsp90抑制剂活性等)与化学生态功能活性(杀虫、拒食与动物神经毒活性等),拟为该类特殊生境真菌类群次生代谢产物进一步开发提供研究基础与理论依据,同时对该领域研究存在的问题进行分析与探讨并提出展望。     

Simple and rapid screening of entomopathogenic fungi having radical-scavenging and anticancer activities

Entomopathogenic fungal metabolites exhibit a wide variety of insecticidal, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and antiviral activities, and they have been suggested as potential candidates for the development of new bioactive agents. The rapid and simple screening of entomopathogenic fungi with such bioactivities is important for investigating bioactive substances. The radical-scavenging and anticancer activities of 28 species and 20 genera of 342 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi were evaluated using only culture filtrates. As a result, 23 isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae, 1 isolate of Pochonia sp., and 1 isolate of Aspergillus sp. showed high radical-scavenging activity. Additionally, anticancer activity in HCT116 human colon cancer cells was also confirmed for selected culture filtrates. This simple screening method of entomopathogenic fungi using culture filtrates may be useful for the rapid detection of related substances with pharmacological activity from a large number of fungal samples.     

双价杀虫蛋白基因在荧光假单胞菌中的表达及增效

利用广宿主质粒载体pJMS6αlac将苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)杀虫晶体蛋白基因cry1Ac和cry2Aa基因分别及一起进行克隆,将重组质粒导入能在多种作物上定殖、对植物病菌有良好抑菌和防治作用的荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescens)P303菌株,分别得到工程菌株IPP101、IPP201和IPP202。PCRRFLP和Southern blot检测均证明目的基因已经导入了工程菌。SDSPAGE电泳显示工程菌中存在明显的Cry1Ac蛋白带;透射电镜观察发现含cry1Ac基因的两个菌株IPP101和IPP202中杀虫蛋白形成了典型的菱形晶体和蛋白包含体,而在野生P303菌株中均无这些结构。这些结果说明,工程菌中cry1Ac基因得到了很好表达。室内杀虫试验表明：工程菌对棉铃虫初孵幼虫的致死中浓度(LC50),只含cry1Ac的IPP101为000812mL/g饲料,只含cry2Aa的IPP201为002604mL/g饲料,含双基因的IPP202为000186mL/g饲料;HD73为000170mL/g饲料。cry1Ac和cry2Aa双基因表达产物具有显著增效作用,共毒系数达3328。     

Antagonistic and insecticidal properties of soil micromycetes

It was shown that microscopic fungi isolated in plague foci had an antagonistic effect on the plague causative agent. In the majority of the cases it was associated with their insecticidal activity against plague-transmitting fleas. It is expedient to consider the relations revealed between the burrow biocenosis components in investigation of plague enzootic aspects and development of new biological insecticides for control of the infection carriers.     

Antifungal properties of Canavalia ensiformis urease and derived peptides

Ureases (EC 3.5.1.5) are metalloenzymes that hydrolyze urea into ammonia and CO₂. These proteins have insecticidal and fungicidal effects not related to their enzymatic activity. The insecticidal activity of urease is mostly dependent on the release of internal peptides after hydrolysis by insect digestive cathepsins. Jaburetox is a recombinant version of one of these peptides, expressed in Escherichia coli. The antifungal activity of ureases in filamentous fungi occurs at submicromolar doses, with damage to the cell membranes. Here we evaluated the toxic effect of Canavalia ensiformis urease (JBU) on different yeast species and carried out studies aiming to identify antifungal domain(s) of JBU. Data showed that toxicity of JBU varied according to the genus and species of yeasts, causing inhibition of proliferation, induction of morphological alterations with formation of pseudohyphae, changes in the transport of H⁺ and carbohydrate metabolism, and permeabilization of membranes, which eventually lead to cell death. Hydrolysis of JBU with papain resulted in fungitoxic peptides (∼10 kDa), which analyzed by mass spectrometry, revealed the presence of a fragment containing the N-terminal sequence of the entomotoxic peptide Jaburetox. Tests with Jaburetox on yeasts and filamentous fungi indicated a fungitoxic activity similar to ureases. Plant ureases, such as JBU, and its derived peptides, may represent a new alternative to control medically important mycoses as well as phytopathogenic fungi, especially considering their potent activity in the range of 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁷ M.     

醉马草内生菌的分离、鉴定及杀虫研究

摘要：【目的】探明醉马草内生菌的种类,筛选对农作物虫害有毒杀作用的菌株。【方法】采用研磨法从健康醉马草植物的根、茎、叶和种子中进行菌种分离;通过对其形态、培养特征、生理生化及其他生物学特性的研究;16S rDNA及ITS序列的系统发育学分析进行鉴定;用玻片浸渍法和喷雾法筛选产杀虫活性物质菌株。【结果】获得细菌89株,分别属于枯草芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）、链霉菌属(Streptomyces)、棒状杆菌属（Corynebacterium）、叶杆菌属（Phyllobacterium）、鞘脂单胞菌属（Sph     

Xerocomus chrysenteron lectin: identification of a new pesticidal protein

Xerocomus chrysenteron is an edible mushroom with insecticidal properties. In an earlier work, we found that proteins are responsible for this toxicity. Here we describe the purification of a approximately 15 kDa lectin, named XCL, from the mushroom. Its cDNA and gDNA were cloned by PCR strategies and a recombinant form was expressed in Escherichia coli. Sequence alignments and sugar specificity showed that this protein is the third member of a new saline-soluble lectin family present in fungi. This protein, either purified from mushroom or expressed in vitro in E. coli, was found to be toxic to some insects, such as the dipteran Drosophila melanogaster and the hemipteran, Acyrthosiphon pisum. The lectin possesses a high insecticidal activity compared to lectin isolated from leguminosae (Lathyrus ochrus) or from the snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis).     

Comparative Analysis of the Biological Activity and Chromatographic Profiles of the Extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria bassiana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. pseudobassiana</Emphasis> Cultures Grown on Different Nutrient Substrates

Soil, enodphytic, and insect-pathogenic micromycetes of the genus Beauveria are widespread in nature and are important producers on mycoinsecticides, enzymes, and pharmacologically usable and toxic compounds. The goal of the work was to determine chemodiagnostic approaches to differentiation of Beauveria cryptic species using the strains B. bassiana BBL and B. pseudobassiana BCu22 by comparing their toxicological properties (insecticidal, antimicrobial, phytotoxic, cytotoxic, and esterase-inhibition activity) and metabolite profiles (TLC and HPLC/DAD patterns) of the extracts from the cultures of these fungi growing on different loose substrates, on solid and liquid media. It was shown that when the strains were cultured in liquid media (SDAY and Adámek medium) and on solid substrates (millet and Czapek agar medium), they could be differentiated by the extract yield and chromatographic profiles, as well as by their insecticidal, antifungal, and cytotoxic activity. Thus, antifungal properties were more pronounced in B. pseudobassiana BCu22 grown in liquid Adámek and SDAY media, while cytotoxic properties were more notable in B. bassiana BBL grown in Adámek medium and on millet. Insecticidal properties of the extracts from these cultures varied depending on the substrate composition. Since the extracts of the studied fungi exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activity, the toxic properties of Beauveria spp. should be considered in the course of assessment of safety of these fungi as bioinsecticides.     

海洋曲霉来源的新天然产物

海洋真菌由于其遗传背景复杂、代谢产物种类多且产量高,已成为海洋微生物新天然产物的主要来源,从我们对2010–2013年初的海洋微生物来源新天然产物的统计来看,研究最多的是曲霉属(Aspergillus)真菌,占海洋真菌来源新天然产物的31%。本文从菌株来源、化合物结构及其生物活性等方面,综述了自1992年第一个海洋曲霉天然产物到2014年8月已报道的共512个海洋曲霉来源的新天然产物。这些海洋天然产物具有丰富的化学多样性,且36%的化合物表现出细胞毒、抑菌、抗氧化和抗寄生虫等生物活性;含氮化合物是其主要的结构类型、约占曲霉源海洋天然产物总数的52%,也是出现活性化合物比例最高的结构类型、约40%的含氮化合物具有生物活性,其中脱氢二酮哌嗪生物碱halimide的化学衍生物plinabulin已结束II期临床研究,并于2015年第三季度开始在美国和中国进行III期临床研究,用于治疗转移性的晚期非小细胞肺癌。     

Phenotypic responses to microbial volatiles render a mold fungus more susceptible to insect damage

In decomposer systems, fungi show diverse phenotypic responses to volatile organic compounds of microbial origin (volatiles). The mechanisms underlying such responses and their consequences for the performance and ecological success of fungi in a multitrophic community context have rarely been tested explicitly. We used a laboratory‐based approach in which we investigated a tripartite yeast–mold–insect model decomposer system to understand the possible influence of yeast‐borne volatiles on the ability of a chemically defended mold fungus to resist insect damage. The volatile‐exposed mold phenotype (1) did not exhibit protein kinase A‐dependent morphological differentiation, (2) was more susceptible to insect foraging activity, and (3) had reduced insecticidal properties. Additionally, the volatile‐exposed phenotype was strongly impaired in secondary metabolite formation and unable to activate “chemical defense” genes upon insect damage. These results suggest that volatiles can be ecologically important factors that affect the chemical‐based combative abilities of fungi against insect antagonists and, consequently, the structure and dynamics of decomposer communities.     

Crystal Structure of the First Plant Urease from Jack Bean: 83 Years of Journey from Its First Crystal to Molecular Structure

Urease, a nickel-dependent metalloenzyme, is synthesized by plants, some bacteria, and fungi. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. Although the amino acid sequences of plant and bacterial ureases are closely related, some biological activities differ significantly. Plant ureases but not bacterial ureases possess insecticidal properties independent of its ureolytic activity. To date, the structural information is available only for bacterial ureases although the jack bean urease (Canavalia ensiformis; JBU), the best-studied plant urease, was the first enzyme to be crystallized in 1926. To better understand the biological properties of plant ureases including the mechanism of insecticidal activity, we initiated the structural studies on some of them. Here, we report the crystal structure of JBU, the first plant urease structure, at 2.05 Å resolution. The active-site architecture of JBU is similar to that of bacterial ureases containing a bi-nickel center. JBU has a bound phosphate and covalently modified residue (Cys592) by β-mercaptoethanol at its active site, and the concomitant binding of multiple inhibitors (phosphate and β-mercaptoethanol) is not observed so far in bacterial ureases. By correlating the structural information of JBU with the available biophysical and biochemical data on insecticidal properties of plant ureases, we hypothesize that the amphipathic β-hairpin located in the entomotoxic peptide region of plant ureases might form a membrane insertion β-barrel as found in β-pore-forming toxins.