Avian Exocrine Secretions. I. Chemical Characterization of the Volatile Fraction of the Uropygial Secretion of the Green Woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus

Burger, B. V.; Reiter, Birgit; Borzyk, Oliver; Plessis, Morné A. du

doi:10.1023/b:joec.0000042071.65335.f3

Cited by 77 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The antibiotics are produced by mutualist Enterococcus bacteria that occur in the secretions [30,31]. Eggs and/or nestlings are presumably protected from infection by these secretions [29,32]. It is not known how the birds regulate the change in secretion type, but non-nesting females and all males produce clear or white secretions, without bacteria, and inactive against pathogens [29].…”

Section: Context-dependent Symbioses Across Disciplines (A) Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-dependent symbioses and their potential roles in wildlife diseases

Daskin

Alford

2012

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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It is well known in ecology, evolution and medicine that both the nature (commensal, parasitic and mutualistic) and outcome (symbiont fitness, survival) of symbiotic interactions are often contextdependent. Less is known about the importance of context-dependence in symbioses involved in wildlife disease. We review variable symbioses, and use the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis to demonstrate how understanding context-dependence can improve the understanding and management of wildlife diseases. In chytridiomycosis, the host-pathogen interaction is context-dependent; it is strongly affected by environmental temperature. Skin bacteria can also modify the interaction; some bacteria reduce amphibians' susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. Augmentation of protective microbes is being considered as a possible management tool, but informed application of bioaugmentation requires understanding of how the interactions between host, beneficial bacteria and pathogen depend upon environmental context. The community-level response of the amphibian skin microbiota to environmental conditions may explain the relatively narrow range of environmental conditions in which past declines have occurred. Environmental context affects virulence and the protection provided by mutualists in other host-pathogen systems, including threatened bats and corals. Increased focus on context-dependence in interactions between wildlife and their symbionts is likely to be crucial to the future investigation and management of emerging diseases of wildlife.

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Section: Context-dependent Symbioses Across Disciplines (A) Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-dependent symbioses and their potential roles in wildlife diseases

Daskin

Alford

2012

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…During the nesting phase of the hoopoe (Upupa epops), the UG secretions of the female and nestlings turn from white to brown and become more viscous and malodorous than that of the male (9). This special secretion has been interpreted as acting mainly as a repellent to predators (9,27), an interpretation which has recently received experimental support from a closely related species, the red-billed woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) (6).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the male enters the nest only rarely during reproduction, the female incubates the eggs and stays inside the nest for the whole day for up to 5 to 6 days after the eggs hatch (9). It is possible, therefore, that the differences between the UG secretions of males and those of females and nestlings may be related to a wider risk of pathogenic infection of the birds inside the nest hole, and in fact, antimicrobial activity has recently been demonstrated in some of the chemical components of the secretion of the red-billed woodhoopoe (6). Curiously, a novel, atypical species of Enterococcus, Enterococcus phoeniculicola, has been found to grow in monocultures in the UG of this bird (22) and may be responsible for some of the properties of its secretions.…”

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confidence: 99%

Characterization of Antimicrobial Substances Produced by Enterococcus faecalis MRR 10-3, Isolated from the Uropygial Gland of the Hoopoe ( Upupa epops )

Martín‐Platero

Valdivia

Ruiz‐Rodríguez

et al. 2006

Appl Environ Microbiol

121

132

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The uropygial gland (preen gland) is a holocrine secretory gland situated at the base of the tail in birds which produces a hydrophobic fatty secretion. In certain birds, such as the hoopoe, Upupa epops, the composition of this secretion is influenced by both seasonal and sexual factors, becoming darker and more malodorous in females and in their nestlings during the nesting phase. The secretion is spread throughout the plumage when the bird preens itself, leaving its feathers flexible and waterproof. It is also thought to play a role in defending the bird against predators and parasites. We have isolated from the uropygial secretion of a nestling a bacterium that grows in monospecific culture which we have identified unambiguously by phenotypic and genotypic means as Enterococcus faecalis. The strain in question produces antibacterial substances that are active against all gram-positive bacteria assayed and also against some gram-negative strains. Its peptide nature identifies it as a bacteriocin within the group known as enterocins. Two peptides were purified to homogeneity (MR10A and MR10B), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (mass spectrometry) analysis showed masses of 5201.58 and 5207.7 Da, respectively. Amino acid sequencing of both peptides revealed high similarity with enterocin L50A and L50B (L. M. Cintas, P. Casaus, H. Holo, P. E. Hernï¿½ndez, I. F. Nes, and L. S. Hï¿½varstein, J. Bacteriol. 180:1988-1994, 1998). PCR amplification of total DNA from strain MRR10-3 with primers for the L50A/B structural genes and sequencing of the amplified fragment revealed almost identical sequences, except for a single conservative change in residue 38 (Glu→Asp) in MR10A and two changes in residues 9 (Thr→Ala) and 15 (Leu→Phe) in MR10B. This is the first time that the production of bacteriocins by a bacterium isolated from the uropygial gland has been described. The production of these broad-spectrum antibacterial substances by an enterococcal strain living in the uropygial gland may be important to the hygiene of the nest and thus to the health of the eggs and chicks.

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“…Microbacterium, the most common genus isolated from American Kestrel eggs [30], and the four main genera found on the surface of Pied-Flycatcher (Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, Ochrobactrum, and Pseudomonas) and House Wren eggs (Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Stenotrophomonas) also have been linked to feather degradation [21,29,31,32]. In in vitro studies, preen oil inhibited feather-degrading bacteria and other cultivable bacteria isolated from plumage, suggesting preen oil has inherent antimicrobial properties [33,34]. However, these in vitro results have not been corroborated in in vivo studies [35,36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%