Fig. 1

Evidence for AaIT expression in the Bb-AaIT strain. a RT-PCR detection of AaIT gene transcription in Bb-AaIT collected from the infected dead mosquitoes and the CDA with positive results, and in the WT control with negative results. The 18S rRNA was detected for the loading control. b Western blot detection of AaIT expression in Bb-AaIT and the WT with a polyclonal antibody against AaIT from different samples. Lane 1, culture supernatant from Bb-AaIT grown in CDA for 4 days with a positive result; Lane 2, culture supernatant from WT grown in CDA for 4 days with a negative result; and Lane 3, the dead female mosquitoes infected by Bb-AaIT and incubated at 25 °C for another 4 days. Lane 4, the dead female mosquitoes infected by the WT and incubated at 25 °C for another 4 days. c The dead female mosquitoes were infected by Bb-AaIT or WT through conidial ingestion. Fungal outgrowths were not observed in the uncultured dead mosquitoes (1 and 3), and typical fungal outgrowths were observed on the dead mosquitoes that were infected by Bb-AaIT (2) and the WT (4) after 4 days of incubation at 25 °C and saturated humidity. Bars, 50 µm