Differential expression of the pr1A gene in
Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium acridum
across different culture conditions and during pathogenesis |
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Authors: | Mariele Porto Carneiro Le?o Patricia Vieira Tiago Fernando Dini Andreote Welington Luiz de Araújo Neiva Tinti de Oliveira |
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Institution: | 1.Departamento de Micologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.;2.Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.;3.Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. |
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Abstract: | The entomopathogenic fungi of the genus Metarhizium have several
subtilisin-like proteases that are involved in pathogenesis and these have been used
to investigate genes that are differentially expressed in response to different
growth conditions. The identification and characterization of these proteases can
provide insight into how the fungus is capable of infecting a wide variety of insects
and adapt to different substrates. In addition, the pr1A gene has
been used for the genetic improvement of strains used in pest control. In this study
we used quantitative RT-PCR to assess the relative expression levels of the
pr1A gene in M. anisopliae and M.
acridum during growth in different culture conditions and during
infection of the sugar cane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius.
We also carried out a pathogenicity test to assess the virulence of both species
against D. saccharalis and correlated the results with the pattern
of pr1A gene expression. This analysis revealed that, in both
species, the pr1A gene was differentially expressed under the growth
conditions studied and during the pathogenic process. M. anisopliae
showed higher expression of pr1A in all conditions examined, when
compared to M. acridum. Furthermore, M. anisopliae
showed a greater potential to control D. saccharalis. Taken
together, our results suggest that these species have developed different strategies
to adapt to different growing conditions. |
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Keywords: | entomopathogen Diatraea saccharalis quantitative RT-PCR expression pattern |
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