Beauveria bassiana fungus attacking cattle tick

Tick Tock: Unlocking Nature's Secrets to Combat Cattle Tick Infestations

Jordan Keane in Science & Nature September 2025 • 4 min read.

"A groundbreaking study reveals how a common fungus, Beauveria bassiana, uses specific proteins to attack cattle ticks, offering a promising eco-friendly solution for farmers."

Cattle tick infestations pose a significant threat to livestock, causing billions of dollars in losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on chemical acaricides, but these chemicals are increasingly ineffective due to the development of resistant tick strains. Concerns about environmental safety and food contamination further complicate the situation, creating an urgent need for alternative solutions.

Enter Beauveria bassiana, a naturally occurring fungus with the ability to infect and kill arthropod pests. This fungus has emerged as a promising biocontrol agent, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to managing cattle tick populations. While its effectiveness has been demonstrated, the precise mechanisms by which B. bassiana attacks ticks have remained largely unknown – until now.

A new study has delved into the secret world of B. bassiana, identifying the specific proteins the fungus uses to target and penetrate tick cuticles. By understanding these molecular interactions, scientists hope to optimize the fungus's biocontrol capabilities, paving the way for more effective and targeted tick management strategies.

Decoding the Fungal Attack: How B. bassiana Targets Ticks

Beauveria bassiana fungus attacking cattle tick

Researchers used a sophisticated proteomic technique called MudPIT (multidimensional protein identification technology) to analyze the secretome – the collection of secreted proteins – of B. bassiana when exposed to the cuticle of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. This allowed them to identify which proteins were specifically produced by the fungus in response to the tick's presence.

The study revealed that B. bassiana produces a unique arsenal of proteins when attacking ticks. These proteins play various roles in the infection process, including:

Adhesion: Helping the fungus stick to the tick's cuticle.
Cuticle Penetration: Breaking down the tough outer layer of the tick.
Fungal Defense: Protecting the fungus from the tick's immune responses.
Stress Response: Enabling the fungus to cope with the stressful environment inside the tick.

Among the most important proteins identified were hydrolases, enzymes that degrade the tick's cuticle. These included lipases and proteases, which break down lipids and proteins, respectively. Enzymatic assays confirmed that these hydrolases were more active when the fungus was exposed to the tick cuticle, validating their role in the infection process. The identification of these specific molecular markers opens doors for developing more effective fungal strains and formulations for tick control.

A New Era of Sustainable Tick Management

This research marks a significant step forward in our understanding of how B. bassiana can be used to control cattle ticks. By identifying the specific proteins involved in the infection process, scientists can now develop more targeted and effective biocontrol strategies.

The findings also highlight the potential of using host components to induce the fungus to secrete specific proteins and peptides. This discovery could lead to the development of innovative formulations that enhance the fungus's ability to colonize and kill ticks.

As the world seeks sustainable solutions for agricultural challenges, B. bassiana offers a promising alternative to chemical acaricides. Further research and development in this area could revolutionize tick management, benefiting both farmers and the environment.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s12223-018-0659-3, Alternate LINK

Title: Secretomic Analysis Of Beauveria Bassiana Related To Cattle Tick, Rhipicephalus Microplus, Infection

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Folia Microbiologica

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Lucélia Santi, Caio J. B. Coutinho-Rodrigues, Markus Berger, Lisete A. S. Klein, Eduardo M. De Souza, Rafael L. Rosa, Jorge A. Guimarães, John R. Yates, Wendell M. S. Perinotto, Vânia R. E. P. Bittencourt, Walter O. Beys-Da-Silva

Published: 2018-10-25

Everything You Need To Know

What is Beauveria bassiana and why is it considered a potential solution for cattle tick infestations?

Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring fungus that can infect and kill arthropod pests, including cattle ticks. It's considered a promising biocontrol agent because it offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to manage cattle tick populations, providing an alternative to chemical acaricides. Its effectiveness is due to its ability to produce proteins that target and destroy ticks.

How did scientists identify the proteins that Beauveria bassiana uses to attack cattle ticks?

The study used a proteomic technique called MudPIT (multidimensional protein identification technology) to analyze the secretome of Beauveria bassiana when exposed to the cuticle of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. This allowed the researchers to identify the specific proteins produced by the fungus in response to the tick's presence, providing insights into how the fungus attacks ticks.

What are the different roles of the proteins produced by Beauveria bassiana during the tick infection process?

The proteins produced by Beauveria bassiana play various roles in the infection process. These roles include adhesion, helping the fungus stick to the tick's cuticle; cuticle penetration, breaking down the tough outer layer of the tick; fungal defense, protecting the fungus from the tick's immune responses; and stress response, enabling the fungus to cope with the stressful environment inside the tick.

What are hydrolases, and what role do they play in the ability of Beauveria bassiana to combat cattle ticks?

Hydrolases, such as lipases and proteases, are enzymes that degrade the tick's cuticle. Lipases break down lipids, and proteases break down proteins in the tick's cuticle. These hydrolases are more active when Beauveria bassiana is exposed to the tick cuticle, confirming their important role in the infection process. Identifying these specific molecular markers opens doors for developing more effective fungal strains and formulations for tick control.

What are the implications of this research for the future of sustainable cattle tick management?

This research has significant implications for sustainable tick management because it identifies the specific proteins involved in the infection process. This knowledge enables scientists to develop more targeted and effective biocontrol strategies using Beauveria bassiana. By understanding the molecular interactions between the fungus and the tick, it's possible to optimize the fungus's biocontrol capabilities, potentially reducing the reliance on chemical acaricides and promoting environmentally friendly tick management.