Rearing zombie flies: Laboratory culturing of the behaviourally manipulating fungal pathogen Entomophthora muscae

Abstract

Insect pathogenic fungi (IPF) and insects have ubiquitous interactions in nature. The extent of these interkingdom host-pathogen interactions are both complex and diverse. Some IPF, notably of the order Entomophthorales, manipulate their species-specific host before death. The fungus-induced altered insect behaviours are sequential and can accurately be repeatedly characterised temporally, making them a valuable model for understanding the molecular and chemical underpinnings of behaviour and host-pathogen co-evolutionary biology. Here, we present methods for the isolation and laboratory culturing of the emerging behaviourally manipulating model IPF Entomophthora muscae for experimentation. • E. muscae isolation and culturing in vitro. • Establishing and maintaining an E. muscae culture in vivo in houseflies (Musca domestica). • Controlled E. muscae infections for virulence experiments and quantification of conidia discharge per cadaver.

Keywords

• Isolation and culturing of Entomophthora muscae