First screening of bacterial communities of Microdon myrmicae and its ant host: do microbes facilitate the invasion of ant colonies by social parasites?

Scarparo, Giulia; Rugman‐Jones, Paul F.; Gebiola, Marco; Giulio, Andrea Di; McFrederick, Quinn S.

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2020.11.008

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Other firmicutes can be present in higher proportions in freshwater sediments (Costa et al, 2022) that are examples of such structured habitats and therefore a more likely scenario for selection for antagonistic activity. Animals represent another example on structured habitats and indeed C. maltaromaticum has been noted as an important element of the microbial communities of amphibians and freshwater fish as well as insects, including various moths and a species of ant associated with sphagnum-associated habitats such as the habitat III locations included in this study (Iskandar et al, 2017;Leisner et al, 2007;Liu et al, 2021;Pastorino et al, 2021;Pastorino et al, 2023;Scarparo et al, 2021;Shannon et al, 2001;Xia et al, 2017;Yu et al, 2008). Further research is needed to clarify this issue, using freshwater sediments and/or insects or fish as model systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Distribution and ecology of the generalist lactic acid bacterium Carnobacterium maltaromaticum in different freshwater habitats: Metabolic and antagonistic abilities

Tang,

Martinenghi,

Hounmanou

et al. 2023

Environmental Microbiology

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We explored the distribution, metabolic and antagonistic activities of Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, isolated from freshwater locations in Denmark during winter or early spring. This species was widely distributed in such habitats although it was relatively rare in low pH locations. Isolates possessed a diverse metabolism, potentially enabling functional capacities independent of habitat. The intraspecies competition showed a relatively high degree of mostly low‐intensity interactions, which overall were not correlated with phylogeny or location. Only a few isolates exhibited broad‐spectrum inhibition activity, targeting species from other genera and families, including one isolate that exhibited a broad inhibitory activity due to H2O2 production. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that the frequency of bacteriocinogenic systems was low, and only one unmodified bacteriocin, piscicolin 126, correlated with phenotypic antagonistic activity. Furthermore, most potential bacteriocin gene complexes were not complete. Overall, this study showed C. maltaromaticum to be a generalist (nomadic) species with a constant presence in freshwater habitats, especially those with pH values >5. General metabolic properties did not suggest a strong degree of adaptation to the freshwater environment, and bacteriocin‐mediated antagonistic activities appeared to play a minimal ecological role.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Distribution and ecology of the generalist lactic acid bacterium Carnobacterium maltaromaticum in different freshwater habitats: Metabolic and antagonistic abilities

Tang,

Martinenghi,

Hounmanou

et al. 2023

Environmental Microbiology

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“…Besides, in Atta sexdens rubropilosa , it has been documented that S. marcescens participates in the recognition and communication between partners. Silva‐Junior et al (2018) found that this bacterium present externally in the workers has the ability to produce up to six different types of communication pheromones called pyrazines, which would have functions of guidance, alarm or regulation of the bacterial quorum (Cross et al, 1979; Papenfort et al, 2017; Scarparo et al, 2021; Showalter et al, 2010; Silva‐Junior et al, 2018). This suggests that Serratia could be involved both in defence functions against pathogens and in communication between nestmates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial microbiota associated with the leaf‐cutting ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae): Dynamics during development and potential role in defence

Valencia‐Giraldo,

Gutiérrez‐Urrego,

Niño‐Castro

et al. 2023

Physiological Entomology

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The biological complexity of leaf‐cutting ants is determined in part by both positive and negative associations with microorganisms. These ants constantly face microorganisms that can compromise workers’ survival and the integrity of their symbiont fungus. The ability to produce antimicrobial compounds within the colony, both by the workers and by associated microorganisms, is an adaptive response that protects against these natural enemies. Atta cephalotes (Linnaeus, 1758) is an ecologically successful species with a great capacity to overcome pathogenic microorganisms. In contrast to the Acromyrmex genus, the evidence suggests that it does not maintain an association with antibiotic‐producing actinobacteria raising the question of whether this species maintains associations with bacterial communities that can potentially protect the colony against prejudicial microorganisms. In this direction, the diversity and composition of the culturable bacterial microbiota associated with A. cephalotes developmental stages were evaluated, as well as their potential to inhibit the growth of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and the mycoparasite Trichoderma sp. Six nests were collected, of which a total of 900 larvae, 900 pupae and 900 adult workers were analysed. Culture‐dependent and molecular methods were used to identify the strains to genus level. To determine differences in bacterial composition in the development stages, analysis of the contribution to dissimilarity (SIMPER) were performed. Seventy‐seven strains corresponding to 18 genera were documented. Acinetobacter was the dominant one. On the other hand, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Serratia and Microbacterium were maintained from the larval to the adult stage. Furthermore, except for Acinetobacter, different strains of these bacterial groups significantly inhibited pathogenic fungi growth. The results suggest the existence of a persistent association of A. cephalotes with strains of these bacterial genera and a potential role in defence at the collective level.

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DNA sequence-based biodiversity and interaction ecology

Tiede

Keller

Eitzinger

2021

Basic and Applied Ecology

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First screening of bacterial communities of Microdon myrmicae and its ant host: do microbes facilitate the invasion of ant colonies by social parasites?

Cited by 4 publications

References 57 publications

Distribution and ecology of the generalist lactic acid bacterium Carnobacterium maltaromaticum in different freshwater habitats: Metabolic and antagonistic abilities

Distribution and ecology of the generalist lactic acid bacterium Carnobacterium maltaromaticum in different freshwater habitats: Metabolic and antagonistic abilities

Bacterial microbiota associated with the leaf‐cutting ant Atta cephalotes (Hymenoptera: Myrmicinae): Dynamics during development and potential role in defence

DNA sequence-based biodiversity and interaction ecology

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