A constitutively expressed antifungal peptide protects Tenebrio molitor during a natural infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

摘要: Antimicrobial peptides have been well studied in the context of bacterial infections. Antifungal received comparatively less attention. Fungal pathogens insects and their hosts represent a unique opportunity to study host-pathogen interactions due million years co-evolution they share. In this study, we investigated role constitutively expressed thaumatin-like peptide with antifungal activity by mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, named Tenecin 3, during natural infection entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. We monitored effect expression 3 on survival infected as progression fungal inside host. Finally, tested against B. These findings could help improving biocontrol strategies understanding evolution defense mechanism.