Lipases secreted by Metarhizium anisopliae, an important
biological control agent, could potentially be involved in the host
infection process. Here, we present the activity profile during the host
infection process and the effect of
lipase activity inhibitor
ebelactone B on
infection. The previous treatment of spores with
lipase activity inhibitor,
ebelactone B, completely inhibited lipolytic activity and prevented the
infection of the Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus host. The results herein presented prove, for the first time, the importance of
lipase activity in M. anisopliae host
infection process. The filamentous fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is one of the most important and studied
biological agents for the control of several arthropod pests, including the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Lipases secreted by M. anisopliae could potentially be involved in the host
infection process. This work presents the activity profile during the host
infection process and the effect of
lipase activity inhibitor
ebelactone B on
infection. During the course of tick exposure to spores (6-120 h)
lipase activity increased from 0.03 ± 0.00 U to 0.312 ± 0.068 U using rho NP
palmitate as substrate. In zymograms, bands of
lipase activity were detected in ticks treated with spores without inhibitor. The previous treatment of spores with
lipase activity inhibitor,
ebelactone B, completely inhibited lipolytic activity, at all times specified, and prevented the
infection of the R. microplus host. Spores treated with the inhibitor did not germinate on the tick, although this effect was not observed in the culture medium. The results herein presented prove, for the first time, the importance of
lipase activity in M. anisopliae host
infection process.