Fighting caterpillar pests and managing agricultural insecticide resistance with Lepidoptera-associated Enterococcus casseliflavus
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ABSTRACT
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to benefit the health of metazoan hosts. Mutualism in insects (both pests and beneficial insects) provides a vital contribution to host fitness. With the development and demand for healthy modern agriculture, bacterial symbionts are considered to be an important toolbox for pest control and beneficial insect protection. Enterococcus casseliflavus is a widespread symbiont in most Lepidoptera insect pests. Recent studies indicated that E. casseliflavus provides beneficial phenotypes to the host, including supplying a diet lacking amino acids and enhancing insecticide resistance. We propose that E. casseliflavus should have enormous biotechnological potential awaiting further exploitation for Lepidoptera insect pest control or beneficial insect protection through symbiont-targeted insecticide resistance management, because this symbiont is widespread in natural caterpillar hosts, easily isolatable and cultured, and rapidly spreadable within the caterpillar population. We outline the rationales for why E. casseliflavus is suitable for application in pest management and envision possible plans of symbiont-targeted therapeutics via four potential approaches: genome modification, phage engineering, predatory biocontrol, and synthetic microbiome. This perspective opens up a grand blueprint for the future of symbiont-targeted insect pest suppression or economic insect promotion. -
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REFERENCES
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Zhang Y. and Ju F. (2023). Fighting caterpillar pests and managing agricultural insecticide resistance with Lepidoptera-associated Enterococcus casseliflavus. The Innovation Life 1(3), 100042. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-life.2023.100042
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Zhang Y. and Ju F. (2023). Fighting caterpillar pests and managing agricultural insecticide resistance with Lepidoptera-associated Enterococcus casseliflavus. The Innovation Life 1(3), 100042. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-life.2023.100042
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Figure 1.
A schematic diagram of Enterococcus casseliflavus applied in caterpillar insecticide resistance management (e.g., via biodegradation) and Symbiont-Targeted Insect Control (STIC) including Injurious Insect Suppression and Economic Insect Promotion based on traditional Chinese culture “Tai Chi” and the old Chinese saying that “refute somebody with his own way”
