Morphogenetic identification and enzymatic determination of local isolate fungi associated with mosquitoes at Assiut Governorate

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes pose a significant threat as vectors for numerous human and animal diseases, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, including Egypt. Given the prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases and the documented high densities of Culex pipiens in Assiut Governorate, there is a critical need for environmentally friendly mosquito management strategies. This study aimed to identify the morphogenetic and determine the enzymatic potential of native fungal isolates associated with mosquitoes in Assiut Governorate. RESULTS: Eight distinct fungal species were successfully characterized based on their morphological traits and ITS rDNA sequence data. These species were identified as Alternaria tenuissima, Trichoderma hamatum, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Geotrichum candidum, and four Fusarium species (F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. equiseti, and F. incarnatum). The results of enzymatic screening emphasize that twenty-two fungal isolates belonging to eight species had the biochemical machinery substantial for cuticle degeneration, with various levels of phospholipase, lipase, protease, and chitinase activities. The strongest synergistic enzymatic profiles were notably displayed by P. lilacinum and F. equiseti. CONCLUSION: The extensive morphological and molecular description and enzymatic detection provide crucial promotion for evaluating the potential of these local fungal isolates for future sustainable insect pest management in the specific ecological context of Assiut Governorate.