Symbiont-mediated protection against fungal pathogens in pea aphids: a role for pathogen specificity?
Here we show that a bacterial endosymbiont, Regiella insecticola, protects pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) from the aphid-specific fungal entomopathogen Zoophthora occidentalis but not from the generalist insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana. This finding highlights the complex influence of fungi on the dynamics of this economically important agricultural pest.
Department of Biology, Emory University, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. bparke4@emory.edu
Benjamin J
BJ
Parker
Chelsea J
CJ
Spragg
Boran
B
Altincicek
Nicole M
NM
Gerardo
D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D052982:Beauveria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D020091:Entomophthorales / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D018532:Pisum sativum / Q000469:parasitology; D013559:Symbiosis