You are what your fungus eats: Diet shapes the microbial garden of a fungus-growing ant

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 25, 2025

Background Fungus-growing ants maintain an ectosymbiotic microbial garden, intertwined mesh of fungal symbiont hyphae growing through plant cells. In this environment, decay progresses along a longitudinal continuum, providing scaffold for microbiota that colonizes both the and substrate. study, we investigate how different diets influence garden chemical profile, whether respond to these dietary changes. Colonies Atta sexdens were provided with four regimens over 56 days, each varying in fiber composition nutritional content. We then analyzed lignocellulosic profile taxonomic spatial distribution microbiota. Results observed spatiotemporal assembly throughout lignocellulose regions exhibiting distinct patterns bacterial richness, abundance, diversity. ¹³C ssNMR revealed fruits cereals led increase hemicelluloses, particularly those related xylan, across various regions. Metabarcoding data indicated changes influenced composition, although also detected some microbes flexibly adapted diets. Otherwise, certain genera were more prevalent leaf-based diets, while others favored fruit-based Some thrive when exposed mix fibers degrees recalcitrance. The varied according diet, as by SEM analysis. Notably, correlated biofilm spreading altered crop development. Our findings suggest composed exclusively cereals, has significant impact on colony health functioning. Conclusions Distinct substrates, shaped microhabitats, affecting system several intercorrelated dimensions: garden’s distribution, health. highlight pivotal role diet shaping defining landscape, ultimately determining ant colonies function optimally remain healthy.

Language: Английский

Phylogenetic evidence revealed new Aureobasidium species (Saccotheciaceae, Dothideales) from Brazil

Mycological Progress, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: Nov. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

The Prevalence of Killer Yeasts in the Gardens of Fungus-Growing Ants and the Discovery of Novel Killer Toxin named Ksino.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 14, 2024

Abstract Killer toxins are proteinaceous antifungal molecules produced by yeasts, with activity against a wide range of human and plant pathogenic fungi. Fungus gardens attine ants in Brazil were surveyed to determine the presence killer toxin-producing yeasts define their activities ecological importance. Our results indicate that up 46% isolated from specific fungal can be an overall prevalence 17% across all strains tested. less likely inhibit growth same environment but more effective at inhibiting yeast other environments, supporting role for shaping community composition. All harbored genome-encoded due lack cytoplasmic toxin-encoding elements (i.e., double-stranded RNA satellites linear DNAs). Of identified, isolate Candida sinolaborantium showed broad spectrum 57% tested toxin susceptibility. The complete genome sequence C. identified new toxin, Ksino, primary tertiary structure homology Saccharomyces cerevisiae named Klus. Genome-encoded homologs Ksino found Saccharomycetes Pichiomycetes , as well species Ascomycota Basidiomycota filamentous This demonstrates widespread ant fungus gardens, possibly influencing composition importance these complex microbial communities discovering novel molecules. Importance Attine perform essential ecosystem services through harvesting substrates fungiculture. Cultured fungi food source ants. Characterizing (killer yeasts) is vital understanding how they might protect invasion unwanted species. study describes member group putative many different work supports ecology fungicultures competition between observed high also enables discovery potential applied disease-causing

Language: Английский