The secretome and chemistry of Metarhizium; a genus of entomopathogenic fungi

The major fungal phyla have independently and repeatedly evolved the ability to overcome the insect defense system, which is usually highly effective against fungal attack. During the genomic era of the last decade, extensive progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of interactions between insects and their fungal pathogens, particularly Metarhizium spp., the focus of this article. New models of pathogenesis have been designed, new biological phenomena have been discovered, and a plethora of new molecules and functions have been determined that are crucial for successful establishment of fungal disease by permitting: attachment to the insect surface; germination and formation of infection structures; penetration of the host; colonization of host tissue; and sporulation on cadavers. Genomic technologies in particular are producing breakthroughs in some of the more intractable aspects of this field, e.g. evolution of host specificity.