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. 2022 Jul 14;17(7):e0271460.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271460. eCollection 2022.

Fungal consortium of two Beauveria bassiana strains increases their virulence, growth, and resistance to stress: A metabolomic approach

Andressa Katiski da Costa Stuart  1 , Jason Lee Furuie  1 , Thais Regiani Cataldi  2 , Rodrigo Makowiecky Stuart  1 , Maria Aparecida Cassilha Zawadneak  1   3 , Carlos Alberto Labate  2 , Ida Chapaval Pimentel  1
Affiliations

Fungal consortium of two Beauveria bassiana strains increases their virulence, growth, and resistance to stress: A metabolomic approach

Andressa Katiski da Costa Stuart et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The use of two or more microorganisms in a microbial consortium has been increasingly applied in the biological control of diseases and pests. Beauveria bassiana is one of the most widely studied fungal species in biological control, yet little is known about its role in fungal consortiums. In a previous study, our group found that a consortium formed by two strains of B. bassiana had significantly greater biocontrol potential against the polyphagous caterpillars Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) than either strain on its own. In this study, we use GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to evaluate and discuss the metabolomics of the consortium. A total of 21 consortium biomarkers were identified, corresponding to 14 detected by LC-MS/MS and seven by GC-MS. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms are the main properties of the metabolites produced by the consortium. These metabolites can depress the insect's immune system, increasing its vulnerability and, hence, the fungal virulence of the consortium. In light of these results, we propose an action model of insect mortality due to the metabolites secreted by the consortium. The model includes the inhibition of defense mechanisms such as pro-inflammatory interleukin secretion, cell migration, cell aggregation, Dif, Dorsal and Relish gene transcription, and JAK/STAT and JNK signaling pathways. It also promotes the cleaning of oxidative molecules, like ROS, NOS, and H2O2, and the induction of virulence factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. 2-D SCORE PLOT of the metabolites identified in Bov 2, Bov 3 and consortium by GC-MS.
Fig 2
Fig 2. HEATMAP of the 16 biomarkers identified in Bov 2, Bov 3 and consortium.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Enrichment ratio of the biosynthetic pathways enriched in the consortium.
Fig 4
Fig 4. 2-D SCORE PLOT of the metabolites identified in Bov 2, Bov 3 and consortium by LC-MS; a) negative ionization mode; b) positive ionization mode.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Classes of the metabolites identified in the consortium.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Mode of action hypothesis of the metabolites identified in the consortium on the Duponchelia fovealis immune system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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