Genome-hopping 'Starships' may explain why some pest-killing fungi stop working

A new study from Kiel University shows how the massive exchange of mobile genetic elements between fungi can impair their effectiveness against insects and ticks. Microbial fungi, such as the genus Metarhizium, are often used in biological pest control. These fungi attack harmful insects and ticks, thus representing an ecological alternative to chemical agents. However, how effective these fungi remain is determined by an evolutionary arms race between the fungus and its host.