The fungal biopesticide Metarhizium anisopliae has an adjuvant effect on the allergic response to ovalbumin in mice

The parasitic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, is non-pathogenic to humans and licensed for indoor control of cockroach infestation. An important reason for the elimination of this vermin is that sensitisation to cockroaches is associated with asthma. Previously M. anisopliae has been shown to cause allergic- and asthma-like responses in mice and in the present study we have examined the adjuvant activity of M. anisopliae on the allergic response to the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA) in a mouse model. Levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in serum were measured and the weight and cell number of the excised popliteal lymph node were determined. Mice primed with mycelium + OVA and boosted with OVA had increased anti-OVA IgE and IgG1 levels compared with mice primed with OVA alone or mycelium. Priming with M. anisopliae (as mycelium or MACA) increased weight or cell number of the excised PLNs. These results suggest that M. anisopliae has the ability to increase an allergic response to an allergen and consequently, may worsen allergy in susceptible individuals.