Predicting bacterial-mediated entomopathogenicity through comparative genomics and statistical modeling.
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| Authors: | Yanez Ortuno D, Chen MY, McDonald K, Gacad A, Carrillo J, Haney CH. |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Journal: | Microbiol Spectr 0:e03108-25. Article Link (DOI) |
| Title: | Predicting bacterial-mediated entomopathogenicity through comparative genomics and statistical modeling. |
| Abstract: | Bacterial genomes encode vast functional diversity and have both beneficial and detrimental effects on insect hosts. While genotype-to-phenotype relationships are known for specific insecticidal genes on individual insect hosts, whether these mechanisms will be effective on a phylogenetically distinct insect host is not always known. To determine if known virulence genes are effective on a new host, we developed a method to merge existing mechanistic knowledge with in vivo tests on a small number of bacterial isolates to predict bacterial genes associated with entomopathogenesis. We used a model consisting of Drosophila melanogaster interactions with pathogenic and commensal genome-sequenced strains of Pseudomonas bacteria. We compiled a database of previously described insecticidal and biocontrol genes within the Pseudomonas genus and used comparative genomics to probe the distribution of these genes across Pseudomonas strains. We found natural variation in the presence of known insecticidal genes across the genus. We tested the insect-killing capacity of 13 Pseudomonas spp. strains against D. melanogaster and found natural variation in insecticidal activity. To identify bacterial genes associated with fly mortality, we employed two statistical models to correlate bacterial virulence with the presence of previously described insecticidal activity. To validate our predictions, we used a P. aeruginosa PAO1 transposon mutant library and identified eight operons that are necessary for killing D. melanogaster. We show that by combining existing literature with phenotyping a small number of strains, we identified both known and novel genes associated with insecticidal activity in D. melanogaster, using a rapid, scalable screening framework. More broadly, these findings illustrate a discovery pipeline for bacterial virulence mechanisms, accelerating the discovery of insect pest biocontrol mechanisms. |
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