mSystems (Aug 2021)

The Split Personality of Beauveria bassiana: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Fungal Parasitism and Mutualism

  • Almudena Ortiz-Urquiza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00766-21
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 4

Abstract

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Fungal pathogenicity toward insects has independently evolved several times, resulting in specialist and generalist pathogens, some of whom have maintained aspects of their previous lifestyles. Being able to grow as an endophyte (engaging in a mutualistic interaction with plants) or saprophyte (recycling nutrients back into the environment), the generalist (broad-host-range) fungus Beauveria bassiana