FEMS Microbiology Letters (2005) 251, 23-28

Anke Skrobek and Tariq M. Butt (2005)
Toxicity testing of destruxins and crude extracts from the insect-pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae
FEMS Microbiology Letters 251 (1), 23-28
Abstract: Increasing sensitivity towards secondary metabolites from fungal biological control agents (BCAs) has prompted the toxicological risk assessment of metabolites produced by the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Viability studies on one human and one insect cell line were used to compare the two approaches of testing individual metabolites (destruxins A, B and E) or the complete crude extract from liquid cultures. Furthermore, crude extract was separated into fractions, which did not contain the main destruxins A, B and E. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of these different compounds suggested that a wide range of metabolites with synergistic or adverse effects are present in the crude extract. The results indicate that identification and toxicological assessment of each individual metabolite produced by a BCA is not only time and cost-intensive, but also does not convey the whole picture. Testing of the crude extract offers an alternative approach and is recommended when assessing the risks of metabolites for registration purposes.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Tariq M. Butt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.
molecular biology - genes

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)