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Essential role of sugar transporters BbStp13 in fungal virulence, conidiation, and cell wall integrity in entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana

Summary

Scientists studied a fungal protein called BbStp13 that helps a beneficial fungus called Beauveria bassiana attack insect pests. When this protein was removed, the fungus produced fewer spores and couldn’t infect insects as effectively, especially when sugar was scarce. The protein also helps the fungus protect itself from the insect’s immune system. Understanding this protein could help make the fungus better at pest control.

Background

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus used in pest biological control. Sugar transporters are essential for fungal nutrient uptake and survival. This study identified 43 sugar transporter proteins in B. bassiana with varied expression patterns between aerial and submerged growth conditions.

Objective

To identify and characterize the functional roles of sugar transporter BbStp13 in B. bassiana virulence, conidiation, cell wall integrity, and host-fungus interactions.

Results

BbStp13 was highly expressed in aerial mycelia (24.23 times higher than submerged). BbStp13 deletion reduced conidial production by 27.94-67.98% depending on glucose concentration and impaired blastospore production. Deletion strains showed increased susceptibility to cell wall stressors and reduced virulence, particularly during cuticle infection.

Conclusion

BbStp13 is essential for fungal virulence, conidiation under sugar-limited conditions, cell wall integrity, and immune evasion. These findings identify sugar transporters as potential targets for optimizing B. bassiana efficacy as a biological control agent.
  • Published in:Virulence,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40966158, PMC12533951
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