Entomopathogenic Nematodes and their Symbiotic Bacteria: Microorganism-Host Interactions: A Review

Abstract

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are natural enemies of insect pests and acts as promising bio-control agent of the insect pests of many commercial crops.They are having a symbiotic relationships with a bacterium species. Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacteria live in association with Heterorhabditis and Steinernema, respectively. Their association is mutualistic and persistent..With the help of the nematode, the bacteria penetrate and proliferate inside the insect hemocoel, causing septicemia, and providing suitable environment for nematode reproduction.The nematode and bacterial interaction utilize a varieties of pathogenic strategies that provide disease condition of the insect host of several insect orders .The importance for research in EPNs and their symbiotic bacteria are increasing and progress has been made in different fields of biology. Some of the EPN species are used as models for various biological studies especially in molecular genetics. This review describes the current state of information of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotically bacteria and the interaction between them and the resultant death of insect. The studies on EPN-bacterial complex-symbiosis will ensure that EPNs will be an effective biopesticides that will help in sustainable agricultural production.