We have found that parasitic wasps that attack the sawtoothed grain beetle are susceptible to Beauveria bassiana, which is primarily a soil inhabitant. The wasps apparently cannot detect and avoid it. We will now determine how the wasps respond to Mattesia dispora, a protozoan pathogen that is more closely associated with the sawtoothed grain beetle and its habitat. Because the wasp, host and protozoan presumably have a closer natural association than that involving the fungus, there may be a very different response. Determination of means by which pathogens are able to escape host immune responses.
Successful pathogens are able to circumvent or overcome the immune systems of their hosts.
It is likely that the recognition and signaling mechanisms are defeated. We are studying the interaction of successful fungal and protozoan pathogens and insect immune mediators. Some reprints are available in PDF format. Click icon to View, Right-Click to Save. If a PDF reprint is NOT available , click the checkbox to the left of the item in the following list.