Table 1.
The methods to increase EPF infection by disrupting insect defenses.
| Categories | EPF species | Content | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhancing EPF virulence through formulations and genetic engineering | M. anisopliae | An oil-in-glycerol formulation enhances the adhesion of M. anisopliae conidia | (189) |
| M. brunneum | A Pickering emulsion leads to a two-fold more increase in adhesion of M. brunneum conidia | (190) | |
| B. bassiana | A diatomaceous earth can increase B. bassiana conidia attachment | (191) | |
| Metharizium and Beauveria species | Biopolymer-based formulations improve fungal spore delivery, persistence, and adherence to target insects | (192) | |
| B. bassiana | Expression of a hybrid protease in B. bassiana significantly increased fungal virulence by accelerating cuticular penetration | (193) | |
| B. bassiana | Overexpressing both protease and chitinase in B. bassiana increased its virulence by accelerating cuticular penetration | (194) | |
| M. acridum | Overexpression of a trehalase (ATM1) accelerated the growth of M. acridum in the hemocoel of locusts and improve virulence | (195) | |
| M. acridum | Transferring an esterase gene (Mest1) from the generalist M. robertsii to the locust specialist M. acridum enabled the latter to expand its host range | (116, 196) | |
| Suppressing or evading host insect immunity through genetically engineering and RNAi | Isaria fumosorosea | I. fumosorosea with Toll-like receptor 7 targeted dsRNA is more virulent than wild fungus against white fly (Bemisia tabaci) | (197, 198) |
| M. robertsii | M. robertsii expressing dspr1A (cuticle-degrading protease Pr1A) and dsBjαIT (the scorpion neurotoxin) exhibited an increased virulence | (199) | |
| M. anisopliae | DsRNA-expressed M. anisopliae targeting Apolipophorin-D and Relish exhibited higher virulence | (200, 201) | |
| M. brunneum | DsRNA-expressed M. brunneum targeting insect metalloprotease inhibitor presented an enhanced virulence | (202) | |
| B. bassiana | The spray of dsRNA targeting insect immune genes and GNBP1 enhanced the virulence of B. bassiana in aphid control | (203, 204) | |
| B. bassiana | B. bassiana expressing immunosuppressive microRNAs suppressed insect immunity and increased its virulence | (205) | |
| Lecanicillium attenuatum | L. attenuatum expressing dsRNAs targeting insect immune genes including PPO showed an enhanced virulence | (206) | |
| B. bassiana | Combining B. bassiana with immune suppressive dsRNAs expressing bacteria facilitated the fungal infection | (207) | |
| Disrupting the detection abilities of social insects to facilitate EPF dispersal | B. bassiana | Expressing a fire ant neuropeptide in B. bassiana increased fungal virulence and disrupted the ant’s removal behavior | (208) |
| M. anisopliae | Upregulating the expression of locust’s OBPs impairs the insect immune responses and alters avoidance behavior | (66) | |
| M. anisopliae | Silencing Phosphofructokinase gene disturbed termite social behaviors and weakened its immunity against fungal infections | (209) | |
| Mixed microbial formulations | M. robertsii | The synergistic effect between the EPF M. robertsii and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis | (210, 211) |
| B. bassiana | A mixture of B. thuringiensis and B. bassiana blastospores | (212) | |
| B. bassiana and Metarhizium species | The combination treatments of B. bassiana, Metarhizium species, and B. thuringeinsis | (213, 214) |