Insect-Pathogenic Fungi: Ecology, Evolution, and Applications
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogens".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2026 | Viewed by 1021
Editors
Interests: pathogenic fungi of insects vectors and of agricultural importance; effect of the cuticle of Blattella germanica (l.) and Periplaneta Fuliginosa (serville) on the pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (metsch.) sorok. (ascomycota: hypocreales); cockroaches; entomopathogenic fungi; biological control; integrated pest management; insect
Interests: conservation biological control; entomophthoralean fungi; non-crop vegetation; cereal crops; lucerne
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fungal pathogens of insects represent a taxonomically diverse and ecologically pivotal group of microorganisms with profound implications for natural and managed ecosystems. This Special Issue aims to advance current knowledge on the biology, ecology, evolution, and applied potential of entomopathogenic fungi, integrating diverse research approaches and lines of investigation.
We welcome contributions addressing host–pathogen interactions, infection mechanisms, virulence determinants, immune evasion strategies, and approaches that elucidate pathogenicity factors. For this Special Issue, particular emphasis is placed on the molecular and ecological bases of host specificity, co-evolutionary dynamics between fungi and their insect hosts, and the environmental drivers shaping disease emergence and transmission.
Given the increasing demand for sustainable pest management strategies, this Special Issue also encourages studies on the development, optimization, and risk assessment of fungal biocontrol agents. Research exploring resistance evolution, formulation technologies, field efficacy, ecological non-target effects, and the broader plant–insect–fungus interactions within trophic and ecological networks is particularly relevant.
By bridging fundamental and applied research, this collection seeks to consolidate current advances and identify future research directions in the study of insect-pathogenic fungi.
Dr. Alejandra Concepción Gutierrez
Dr. Romina G. Manfrino
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- entomopathogenic fungi
- host–pathogen interactions
- pathogenicity factors
- biological control
- ecological networks
- insect immunity
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