Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. modulation of lipid metabolism during tick infection is independent of AMPK and ERK pathways.

Despite the importance of fat body in metabolism of arthropods, studies in ticks are scarce. This study evaluated the lipid composition and activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) enzymes in Rhipicephalus microplus fat body after infection with different isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metschnikoff, 1879) Sorokin, 1883. The isolates CG 32, GC 112, GC 148, GC 347, and GC 629 were inoculated as viable or non-viable conidia in the ticks.

[In vitro patogenicity of the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff, 1879) Sorokin, 1883, on the tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini,1887)].

The cattle tick Boophilus microplus is a serious concern to the Brazilian cattle industry. It causes decreased meat and milk production, low alimentary conversion, damage to leather and transmission of pathogens. The use of entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents for ticks has shown promising results.

[Evaluation of cellular response in engorged females of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) inoculated with Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Penicillium corylophilum or Fusarium oxysporum].

The effect of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Penicillium corylophilum or Fusarium oxysporum on the dynamic of hemocytes presented in the haemolymph of engorged females of Boophilus microplus was studied. The inoculation was carried out with conidia suspension of different fungi in the concentration of 10(8) conidia/ml. A negative control group was inoculated with 0.