Fungal Community Associated with Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae) and Its Role in Uric Acid Metabolism

Abstract

We studied fungal species associated with the carmine cochineal Dactylopius coccus and other non-domesticated Dactylopius species using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Thirty seven fungi were isolated in various culture media from insect males and females from different developmental stages and Dactylopius species. 26S rRNA genes and ITS sequences, from cultured fungal isolates revealed different species of Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Debaryomyces, Trametes, and Penicillium, which are genera newly associated with Dactylopius. Uric acid (UA) and uricase activity were detected in tissues extracts from different insect developmental stages. However, accumulation of high UA levels and low uricase activities were found only after antifungal treatments, suggesting an important role of fungal species in its metabolism. Additionally, uricolytic fungal isolates were identified and characterized that presumably are involved in nitrogen recycling metabolism. After metagenomic analyses from D. coccus gut and hemolymph DNA and from two published data sets, we confirmed the presence of fungal genes involved in UA catabolism, suggesting that fungi help in the nitrogen recycling process in Dactylopius by uricolysis. All these results show the importance of fungal communities in scale insects such as Dactylopius.

An exceptional family: Ophiocordyceps‐allied fungus dominates the microbiome of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccidae)

“…How the OAF symbiont affects its soft scale insects is currently unknown. The closely related YLS from a planthopper synthesizes sterols and amino acids and also recycles nitrogen (Douglas, 2016;Fan et al, 2015; Vera-Ponce de Le on, Sanchez-Flores, Rosenblueth, & Mart ınez-Romero, 2016). The YLS of the aphid Cerataphis brasiliensis seems to retain a broader metabolic repertoire, including synthesis of essential and nonessential amino acids, lipids and chitin, and nitrogen metabolism (Vogel & Moran, 2013).…”

The mycobiota of the sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus: Involvement of yeast symbionts in uric acid metabolism

“…A and B). The halos obtained from M. guilliermondii strains were comparable with those produced by R. mucilaginosa strains, the yeast was able to grow and consume the uric acid as sole nitrogen source (Vera‐Ponce de León et al ., ).…”

“…Yeast strains were maintained on YM agar until plating a single colony of each strain on YPU. After incubation at 26°C for 48 h, the degradation halo, suggesting uric acid utilization (Vera‐Ponce de León et al ., ), was evaluated. The assay was performed three times for each tested isolate.…”

Insect frass in stored cereal products as a potential source ofLactobacillus sanfranciscensisfor sourdough ecosystem

“…Its role in uric acid metabolism within the fungal community associated with intestinal tract of Dactylopius was noticed by Vera‐Ponce de Leon et al . (). Recently, Rhod.…”

“…; Vera‐Ponce de Leon et al . ; Briones‐Roblero et al . ); however, no record has been found regarding the isolation of C. milleri species.…”