Frequent horizontal chromosome transfer between asexual fungal insect pathogens

Abstract

Entire chromosomes are typically only transmitted vertically from one generation to the next. The horizontal transfer of such chromosomes has long been considered improbable, yet gained recent support in several pathogenic fungi where it may affect the fitness or host specificity. To date, it is unknown how these transfers occur, how common they are, and whether they can occur between different species. In this study, we show multiple independent instances of horizontal transfers of the same accessory chromosome between two distinct strains of the asexual entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii during experimental co-infection of its insect host, the Argentine ant. Notably, only the one chromosome—but no other—was transferred from the donor to the recipient strain. The recipient strain, now harboring the accessory chromosome, exhibited a competitive advantage under certain host conditions. By phylogenetic analysis, we further demonstrate that the same accessory chromosome was horizontally transferred in a natural environment between M. robertsii and another congeneric insect pathogen, Metarhizium guizhouense . Hence, horizontal chromosome transfer is not limited to the observed frequent events within species during experimental infections but also occurs naturally across species. The accessory chromosome that was transferred contains genes that may be involved in its preferential horizontal transfer or support its establishment. These genes encode putative histones and histone-modifying enzymes, as well as putative virulence factors. Our study reveals that both intra- and interspecies horizontal transfer of entire chromosomes is more frequent than previously assumed, likely representing a not uncommon mechanism for gene exchange.