{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T23:57:53Z","timestamp":1792799873302,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]],"date-time":"2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1744243200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Over the past three decades, dengue disease incidence has significantly increased worldwide, creating serious public health concerns. The principal mosquito vector, <jats:italic>Aedes aegypti<\/jats:italic>, exhibits resistance to commonly used insecticides, reducing the efficacy of vector control measures. Thus, the necessity for alternate strategies is critical. Using bioinsecticides such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is one such strategy. This study details the evaluation of mycoparasitic <jats:italic>Trichoderma atroviride<\/jats:italic> and entomopathogenic <jats:italic>Aspergillus niger<\/jats:italic> against pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible <jats:italic>Ae. aegypti<\/jats:italic> populations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Molecular identification of the isolated entomopathogenic fungal strains was done using ITS-rDNA sequence data. Larvicidal and adulticidal assays were performed using different spore concentrations of fungal species. Pupal emergence was assessed from the survived larvae of larvicidal assays.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Larvicidal assays revealed the highest mortality of 60% for <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>atroviride<\/jats:italic> after 9 days of exposure when compared with the highest mortality of 52% for <jats:italic>A<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>niger<\/jats:italic> after 6 days of exposure. No significant difference was observed between the pyrethroid-resistant and pyrethroid-susceptible mosquito colonies, suggesting a lack of connection between prior resistance status and EPF pathogenicity. No pupal mortality was observed, although pupal duration was prolonged. Both EPF strains exhibited 100% mortality in adulticidal assays, signifying the potential use of the two fungal species as adulticides.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>However, further studies are needed to understand the biology of EPF, its mechanism of action, the mosquito immune pathways activated, and the effect on non-target organisms. The findings have implications for the possible use of <jats:italic>A<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>niger<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>atroviride<\/jats:italic> as potential bioinsecticides against the control of <jats:italic>Ae. aegypti.<\/jats:italic><\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1502579","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]],"date-time":"2025-04-10T05:12:16Z","timestamp":1744261936000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Evaluation of mycoparasitic Trichoderma atroviride and entomopathogenic Aspergillus niger as potential bioinsecticides against the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"A. V. Ranthilini C.","family":"Banduwardena","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B. Anushka N.","family":"Mendis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kasun M.","family":"Thambugala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"H. Sachini D.","family":"Fernando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Itthayakorn","family":"Promputtha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/ffunb.2021.637234","article-title":"Discovery of novel entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito-borne disease control","volume":"2","author":"Accoti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Fungal Biol."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007275","article-title":"Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control","volume":"13","author":"Achee","year":"2019","journal-title":"PloS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.ppat.1005715","article-title":"Metarhizium brunneum blastospore pathogenesis in Aedes aegypti larvae: attack on several fronts accelerates mortality","volume":"12","author":"Alkhaibari","year":"2016","journal-title":"PloS Pathogens"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jof8040396","article-title":"Mycosynthesis, characterization, and mosquitocidal activity of silver nanoparticles fabricated by Aspergillus niger strain","volume":"8","author":"Awad","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Fungi"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"504","DOI":"10.1038\/nature12060","article-title":"The global distribution and burden of dengue","volume":"496","author":"Bhatt","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/insects14040328","article-title":"A novel model of pathogenesis of Metarhizium anisopliae propagules through the midguts of Aedes aegypti larvae","volume":"14","author":"Bitencourt","year":"2023","journal-title":"Insects"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/insects11060387","article-title":"When appearance misleads: The role of the entomopathogen surface in the relationship with its host","volume":"11","author":"Brivio","year":"2020","journal-title":"Insects"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-7-198","article-title":"Monitoring persistence of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae under simulated field conditions with the aim of controlling adult Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)","volume":"7","author":"Carolino","year":"2014","journal-title":"Parasitol. Vectors"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"935","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.4691773","article-title":"The global economic burden of dengue in 2020\u20132050: estimates and projections for 141 countries and territories","volume":"16","author":"Chen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"911","DOI":"10.1038\/ni1388","article-title":"Host-pathogen interactions in drosophila: new tricks from an old friend","volume":"7","author":"Cherry","year":"2006","journal-title":"Nat. Immunol."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-2011(68)90047-5","article-title":"Field and laboratory studies on the pathogenicity of the fungus Beuuveria bassiunuto three genera of mosquitoes","volume":"11","author":"Clark","year":"1968","journal-title":"J. Invertebr. Pathol."},{"key":"B12","first-page":"867","article-title":"Identification of Aspergillus species using morphological characteristics","volume":"23","author":"Diba","year":"2007","journal-title":"Pak. J. Med. Sci."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1462-5822.2003.00252.x","article-title":"Insect immunity and its implication in mosquito-malaria interactions","volume":"5","author":"Dimopoulos","year":"2003","journal-title":"Cell. Microbiol."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/v15030636","article-title":"Biology and behaviour of Aedes aegypti in the human environment: Opportunities for vector control of arbovirus transmission","volume":"15","author":"Facchinelli","year":"2023","journal-title":"Viruses"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"407","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-020-04284-y","article-title":"Resistance to commonly used insecticides and underlying mechanisms of resistance in Aedes aegypti (L.) from Sri Lanka","volume":"13","author":"Fernando","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasitol. Vectors"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"526","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-018-3113-0s","article-title":"First report of V1016G and S989P knockdown resistant (kdr) mutations in pyrethroid-resistant Sri Lankan Aedes aegypti mosquitoes","volume":"11","author":"Fernando","year":"2018","journal-title":"Parasitol. Vectors"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-4-24","article-title":"Transmission of Beauveria bassiana from male to female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes","volume":"4","author":"Garc\u00eda-Mungu\u00eda","year":"2011","journal-title":"Parasitol. Vectors"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-2011(88)90033-X","article-title":"Pathogenesis of the hyphomycete Tolypocladium cylindrosporum in the mosquito Aedes aegypti","volume":"51","author":"Goettel","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Invertebr. Pathol."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1744-7917.2009.01272.x","article-title":"Entomopathogenic fungi disturbed the larval growth and feeding performance of Ocinara varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae","volume":"16","author":"Hussain","year":"2009","journal-title":"Insect Sci."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micpath.2021.105122","article-title":"Insect-fungal-interactions: A detailed review on entomopathogenic fungi pathogenicity to combat insect pests","volume":"159","author":"Islam","year":"2021","journal-title":"Microb. Pathog."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-ento-011019-025010","article-title":"Botanical insecticides in the twenty-first century\u2014fulfilling their promise","volume":"65","author":"Isman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Entomol."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/0028825X.2024.2415555","article-title":"Unveiling the hidden diversity of Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae, Polyporales) in Sri Lanka: the first report of G. angustisporum, G. ellipsoideum, and G. orbiforme","author":"Konara","year":"2024","journal-title":"N. Z. J. Bot."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jip.2015.07.009","article-title":"Insect pathogens as biological control agents: Back to the future","volume":"132","author":"Lacey","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Invertebr. Pathol."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-2011(88)90109-7","article-title":"Route of invasion and histopathology of Metarhizium anisopliae in Culex quinquefasciatus","volume":"52","author":"Lacey","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Invertebr. Pathol."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jip.2018.01.001","article-title":"Current status and perspectives of fungal entomopathogens used for microbial control of arthropod pests in Brazil","volume":"165","author":"Mascarin","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Invertebr. Pathol."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0006501","article-title":"Genetically engineered mosquitoes, Zika and other arboviruses, community engagement, costs, and patents: Ethical issues","volume":"12","author":"Meghani","year":"2018","journal-title":"PloS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-023-06100-9","article-title":"Fine-scale monitoring of insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Sri Lanka and modeling the phenotypic resistance using rational approximation","volume":"17","author":"Mendis","year":"2024","journal-title":"Parasitol. Vectors"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-4017(90)90070-R","article-title":"Larvicidal activity of blastospores and conidiospores of Beauveria bassiana (strain GK 2016) against age groups of Aedes aegypti","volume":"37","author":"Miranpuri","year":"1990","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"667","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(23)02576-X","article-title":"Dengue","volume":"403","author":"Paz-Bailey","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2022.106747","article-title":"Extracellular extracts of antagonistic fungi, Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma viride, as larvicides against dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus","volume":"238","author":"Perera","year":"2023","journal-title":"Acta Trop."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jof9070746","article-title":"Recent advancements in pathogenic mechanisms, applications and strategies for entomopathogenic fungi in mosquito biocontrol","volume":"9","author":"Qin","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Fungi"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"556","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2012.06.028","article-title":"Virulence potential of Metarhizium anisopliae sl isolates on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus larvae","volume":"190","author":"Quinelato","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e237789","DOI":"10.1590\/1519-6984.237789","article-title":"Late effects of Beauveria bassiana on larval stages of Aedes aegypti Linneo 1762 (Diptera: Culicidae)","volume":"82","author":"Quintero-Zapata","year":"2022","journal-title":"Braz. J. Biol."},{"key":"B34","volume-title":"R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Version 4.3.3 [software]","year":"2024"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jof9020223","article-title":"Entomopathogenic fungi as a potential management tool for the control of urban malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)","volume":"9","author":"Renuka","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Fungi"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2020.00275","article-title":"Historical perspective and biotechnological trends to block arboviruses transmission by controlling Aedes aegypti mosquitos using different approaches","volume":"7","author":"Rodrigues-Alves","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Med."},{"key":"B37","volume-title":"Pictorial keys for the identification of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) associated with dengue virus transmission","author":"Rueda","year":"2004"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/1475-2875-2-29","article-title":"Infection of malaria (Anopheles Gambiae s.s.) and filariasis (Culex quinquefasciatus) vectors with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae","volume":"2","author":"Scholte","year":"2003","journal-title":"Malar. J."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actatropica.2007.04.011","article-title":"Infection of adult Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae","volume":"102","author":"Scholte","year":"2007","journal-title":"Acta Trop."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/23311932.2023.2180857","article-title":"Entomopathogenic fungi and their relevance in sustainable agriculture: A review","volume":"9","author":"Sharma","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cogent. Food Agric."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgen.1008116","article-title":"Infection mechanisms and putative effector repertoire of the mosquito pathogenic oomycete Pythium guiyangense uncovered by genomic analysis","volume":"15","author":"Shen","year":"2019","journal-title":"PloS Genet."},{"key":"B42","first-page":"17","article-title":"Evaluation of binary mixtures of entomogenous fungi and botanicals on biological parameters of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) under laboratory and field conditions","volume":"3","author":"Shoukat","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Mosq. Res."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/insects11030178","article-title":"Assessment of lethal, sublethal, and transgenerational effects of Beauveria bassiana on the demography of Aedes albopictus (Culicidae: Diptera)","volume":"11","author":"Shoukat","year":"2020","journal-title":"Insects"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2013.10.012","article-title":"Evolution of dengue in Sri Lanka\u2014changes in the virus, vector, and climate","volume":"19","author":"Sirisena","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.4236\/anp.2013.22021","article-title":"Possible mosquito control by silver nanoparticles synthesized by soil fungus (Aspergillus Niger 2587)","volume":"2","author":"Soni","year":"2013","journal-title":"Adv. Nanopart."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2018.11.009","article-title":"Aedes aegypti vector competence studies: A review","volume":"67","author":"Souza-Neto","year":"2019","journal-title":"Infect. Genet. Evol."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ibmb.2019.103182","article-title":"Mosquito-fungus interactions and antifungal immunity. Insect Biochem","volume":"111","author":"Tawidian","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mol. Biol."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1007\/s12098-022-04394-8","article-title":"Management of dengue: an updated review","volume":"90","author":"Tayal","year":"2023","journal-title":"Indian J. Pediatr."},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0004466","article-title":"Costs of dengue control activities and hospitalizations in the public health sector during an epidemic year in urban Sri Lanka","volume":"10","author":"Thalagala","year":"2016","journal-title":"PloS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1007\/s13225-015-0348-3","article-title":"Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Lophiostomataceae, Floricolaceae, and Amorosiaceae fam. nov","volume":"74","author":"Thambugala","year":"2015","journal-title":"Fungal Divers."},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"697","DOI":"10.5943\/mycosphere\/8\/4\/13","article-title":"Mycosphere notes 1\u201350: grass (Poaceae) inhabiting Dothideomycetes","volume":"8","author":"Thambugala","year":"2017","journal-title":"Mycosphere"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.53550\/EEC.2022.v28i01.056","article-title":"Development of fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) formulations for control of mosquito larvae in the field","volume":"28","author":"Veerwal","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Conserv."},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.parint.2020.102099","article-title":"Isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungus from Eastern Ghats of South Indian forest soil and their efficacy as biopesticide for mosquito control","volume":"76","author":"Vivekanandhan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasitol. Int."},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4388","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-021-24654-z","article-title":"Combating mosquito-borne diseases using genetic control technologies","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"B55","first-page":"315","article-title":"Amplification and direct sequencing of fungal ribosomal RNA genes for phylogenetics","volume-title":"PCR Protocols: A guide to methods and applications","author":"White","year":"1990"},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0007831","article-title":"The importance of vector control for the control and elimination of vector-borne diseases","volume":"14","author":"Wilson","year":"2020","journal-title":"PloS Negl. Trop. Dis."},{"key":"B57","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Manual for monitoring insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors and selecting appropriate interventions","year":"2022"},{"key":"B58","unstructured":"Dengue and severe dengue\n          \n          2024"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/0028825X.2024.2325006","article-title":"Metarhizium species as bioinsecticides: potential, progress, applications & future perspectives","volume":"63","author":"Yapa","year":"2024","journal-title":"N. Z. J. Bot."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1502579\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,15]],"date-time":"2025-04-15T09:14:51Z","timestamp":1744708491000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1502579\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]]},"references-count":59,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1502579"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcimb.2025.1502579","relation":{},"ISSN":["2235-2988"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2235-2988","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,10]]},"article-number":"1502579"}}