the effects of entomopathogenic fungus, tolypocladium cylindrosporum on cellular defence system of galleria mellonella

the entomopathogenic-fungus-life cycle is associated with the synthesis and secretion of a number of toxic metabolites, including extracellular enzymes and the low-molecular weight compound (toxin). the potential for a successful pathogen relies on the ability to overcome the various host-defence systems. interaction between the fungus, tolypocla-dium (deuteromycetes), its secondary metabolite, and its host cellular defence were inves-tigated using in vivo and in vitro studies. in vitro studies showed that toxins (efrapeptins) inhibit phagocytic activity of galleria mellonella (lep: pyralidae) haemocytes. the effect of efrapeptins on phagocytosis was in a dose-dependent manner i.e. the amount of phago-cytosis in a treated cell-culture with 0, 3, and 30 g efrapeptins per well was about 12, 7.5, and 4.5 %, respectively (p