Graphical AbstractĮffective control of Anopheles vectors plays a critical role in malaria control programs. fungi found in Burkina Faso have the potential to be effective biocontrol agents against malaria vectors, with some strains showing high levels of both virulence and adhesion to the mosquito cuticle.

Adhesion of the fungal strains was observed on the mosquito cuticle after 24 h at high concentrations (1 × 10 8 conidia/ml), with one strain, having the highest virulent, showing adhesion after just 1 h. ResultsĪll four fungi strains increased mosquito mortality compared to control (Chi-square test, χ 2 = 286.55, df = 4, P < 0.001).

The survival of the mosquitoes was measured over 14 days, and fungal growth was quantified after 1 and 24 h to assess adhesion of the fungal strains onto the mosquito cuticle. Fungal suspensions were used to infect 3-day-old female Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes at three different concentrations (10 6, 10 7, 10 8 conidia/ml). Methodsįungal strains were isolated from 201 insects and 1399 rhizosphere samples, and four strains of Metarhizium fungi were selected.

This study aims to assess the adhesion and virulence properties of native Metarhizium fungal strains from Burkina Faso for controlling malaria vectors. To comprehend the fungal infection process, it is crucial to investigate the attachment mechanisms of fungal spores to the mosquito cuticle and explore the relationship between virulence and attachment kinetics. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this virulence remain unknown. Local strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium pingshaense in Burkina Faso have demonstrated remarkable virulence against malaria vectors, positioning them as promising candidates for inclusion in the future arsenal of malaria control strategies.

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