Two Fungi with Opposite Functions to the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect Have Different Genome Characters.

Insects encounter infection of microorganisms, and they also harbor endosymbiosis to participate in nutrition providing and act as a defender against pathogens. We previously found the Chinese white wax scale insect, , was infected and killed by sp. (pathogen). We also found it harbored sp. (endogensis). In this study, we cultured these two fungi and sequenced their genome. The results showed sp. (endogensis) has a larger genome size and more genes than sp. (pathogen). Pan-genome analysis showed sp. (endogensis)-specific genes enriched in pathways related to nutrition production, such as amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism. These pathways were absent in that of sp. (pathogen). Gene Ontology analysis showed sp. (pathogen)-specific genes enriched in the biosynthesis of asperfuranone, emericellamide, and fumagillin. These terms were not found in that of sp. (endogensis). Pathogen Host Interactions analysis found sp. (endogensis) had more genes related to loss of pathogenicity and reduced virulence than sp. (pathogen). Cytotoxicity assay indicated sp. (pathogen) had cytotoxicity, while sp. (endogensis) had no cytotoxicity. These characters reflect the adaptation of endosymbiosis to host-restricted lifestyle and the invader of the entomopathogen to the host.