Symbiont-mediated protection against fungal pathogens in Pea aphids: A role for pathogen specificity

Abstract

Here we show that a bacterial endosymbiont, Regiella insecticola, protects pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) from the aphidspecific fungal entomopathogen Zoophthora occidentalis but not from the generalist insect fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana. This finding highlights the complex influence of fungi on the dynamics of this economically important agricultural pest. © 2013, American Society for Microbiology.