Effects of Bioinsecticidal Aegerolysin-Based Cytolytic Complexes on Non-Target Organisms

• Published in: Toxins 2021-06, Vol.13 (7), p.457
• Main Authors: Panevska, Anastasija, Glavan, Gordana, Jemec Kokalj, Anita, Kukuljan, Veronika, Trobec, Tomaž, Žužek, Monika Cecilija, Vrecl, Milka, Drobne, Damjana, Frangež, Robert, Sepčić, Kristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; aegerolysins; Animals; Apis mellifera; Arthropods; Bees; Bees - drug effects; Beneficial arthropods; bioinsecticides; Body mass; Cholesterol; erylysin A; Experiments; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - toxicity; Hemolysin Proteins - genetics; Hemolysin Proteins - toxicity; Intravenous administration; Invertebrates; Isopoda - drug effects; Lipids; MACPF protein; Male; Membranes; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mushrooms; Nontarget organisms; Pests; Pleurotus; Porcellio scaber; Pore formation; Potatoes; Proteins; Pterocarpans - genetics; Pterocarpans - toxicity; Recombinant Proteins - toxicity; Toxicity; Toxins
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070457

Aegerolysin proteins ostreolysin A6 (OlyA6), pleurotolysin A2 (PlyA2) and erylysin A (EryA) produced by the mushroom genus bind strongly to an invertebrate-specific membrane sphingolipid, and together with a protein partner pleurotolysin B (PlyB), form transmembrane pore complexes. This pore formation is the basis for the selective insecticidal activity of aegerolysin/PlyB complexes against two economically important coleopteran pests: the Colorado potato beetle and the western corn rootworm. In this study, we evaluated the toxicities of these aegerolysin/PlyB complexes using feeding tests with two ecologically important non-target arthropod species: the woodlouse and the honey bee. The mammalian toxicity of the EryA/PlyB complex was also evaluated after intravenous administration to mice. None of the aegerolysin/PlyB complexes were toxic against woodlice, but OlyA6/PlyB and PlyA2/PlyB were toxic to honeybees, with 48 h mean lethal concentrations (LC ) of 0.22 and 0.39 mg/mL, respectively, in their food. EryA/PlyB was also tested intravenously in mice up to 3 mg/kg body mass, without showing toxicity. With no toxicity seen for EryA/PlyB for environmentally beneficial arthropods and mammals at the tested concentrations, these EryA/PlyB complexes are of particular interest for development of new bioinsecticides for control of selected coleopteran pests.