A scorpion neurotoxin increases the potency of a fungal insecticide (original) (raw)

Nature Biotechnology volume 25, pages 1455–1456 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The low virulence of the insecticidal fungus Metarhizium anisopliae has stymied its widespread use in controlling insect pests. We show that high-level expression of an insect-specific neurotoxin from the scorpion Androctonus australis in hemolymph by M. anisopliae increases fungal toxicity 22-fold against tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) caterpillars and ninefold against adult yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) without compromising host specificity. Prelethal effects include reduced mobility and feeding of the insects targeted.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 12 print issues and online access

$259.00 per year

only $21.58 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Figure 1: Transgene expression driven by the MCL1 promoter.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Figure 2: Survival curves of insects infected with WT and AaIT-549.

The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hajek, A.E. Adv. Microb. Ecol. 15, 193–249 (1997).
    Article Google Scholar
  2. Lawrence, L. Outlooks Pest Manag. 16, 253–254 (2005).
    Article Google Scholar
  3. Ritter, S.K. Chem. Eng. News 84, 82–83 (2006).
    Article Google Scholar
  4. Thomas, M.B. & Read, A.F. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 5, 377–383 (2007).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  5. Amsellem, Z., Cohen, B.A. & Gressel, J. Nat. Biotechnol. 20, 1035–1039 (2002).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Zlotkin, E., Fishman, Y. & Elazar, M. Biochimie 82, 869–881 (2000).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  7. Samuels, R.I., Charnley, A.K. & Reynolds, S.E. Mycopathologia 104, 51–58 (1988).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  8. Wang, C. & St. Leger, R.J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 6647–6652 (2006).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  9. Hu, G. & St. Leger, R.J. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68, 6383–6387 (2002).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  10. Wang, C. & St. Leger, R.J. Eukaryot. Cell 4, 937–947 (2005).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. St. Leger, R.J., Joshi, L., Bidochka, M.J. & Roberts, D.W. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 6349–6354 (1996).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  12. Roberts, D.W. & St. Leger, R.J. Adv. Appl. Microbiol. 54, 1–70 (2004).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  13. Freimoser, F.M. et al. Microbiology 149, 239–247 (2003).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Stewart, L.M. et al. Nature 352, 85–88 (1991).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  15. Cory, J.S. et al. Nature 370, 138–140 (1994).
    Article Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to A. Read, J. Gressel, M. Thomas and A.K. Charnley for critical readings of this manuscript and to David O'Brochta at the Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute for providing the mosquitoes. This work was supported by the National Hi-Tech Program of China 2006AA10A119 and US Department of Agriculture/CSREES grant 2006-03692.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
    Chengshu Wang
  2. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742, Maryland, USA
    Raymond J St Leger

Authors

  1. Chengshu Wang
  2. Raymond J St Leger

Contributions

C.W. and R.J.S.L. designed and performed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence toChengshu Wang or Raymond J St Leger.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, C., St Leger, R. A scorpion neurotoxin increases the potency of a fungal insecticide.Nat Biotechnol 25, 1455–1456 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1357

Download citation

This article is cited by

Associated content