E-catalog        

Библиогр.: 74 назв.

Entomopathogenic fungi form different strategies of interaction with their insect hosts. The influence of fungal
infection on insect physiology has mainly been studied for generalists (Metarhizium, Beauveria), but studies of
specialized teleomorphic species, such as Cordyceps militaris, are rare. We conducted a comparative analysis of
the immune reactions of the wax moth Galleria mellonella after injection with blastospores of C. militaris (Cm) and
Metarhizium robertsii (Mr) in two doses (400 and 4000 per larva). Cm-injected insects died more slowly and were
more predisposed to bacterial infections than Mr-injected insects. It was shown that Cm infection led to a
predominance of necrotic death of hemocytes, whereas Mr infection led to apoptotic death of cells. Cm-infected
insects produced more dopamine and reactive oxygen species compared to Mr-infected insects. Moreover, Cm
injection led to weak inhibition of phenoloxidase activity and slight enhancement of detoxification enzymes
compared to Mr-injected insects. Blastospores of Cm that were cultivated in artificial medium (in vitro) and
proliferated in wax moth hemolymph (in vivo) were characterized by equal intensity of fluorescence after
staining with Calcofluor White. In contrast, Mr blastospores that proliferated in the wax moth had decreased
fluorescence intensity compared to Mr blastospores grown in medium. The results showed that insects combat
Cm infection more actively than Mr infection. We suggest that Cm uses fewer universal tools of killing than Mr,
and these tools are available because of specific interactions of Cm with hosts and adaptation to certain host
developmental stages.