Molecular ecology and microbiomes in the wild: methodological advances, common pitfalls and future directions DOI Open Access

Nick Fountain‐Jones,

Tatiana Giraud, Lucie Zinger

et al.

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 27, 2023

The study of microbiomes across organisms and environments has become a prominent focus in molecular ecology. This perspective article explores methodological advancements, common challenges future directions the field. Key research areas include understanding drivers microbiome community assembly, linking composition to host genetics, exploring microbial functions, transience, spatial partitioning, disentangling non-bacterial components microbiome. Methodological such as quantifying absolute abundances, sequencing complete genomes, utilizing novel statistical approaches, are also useful tools for complex diversity patterns. Our aims encourage robust practices studies inspire researchers explore next frontier this rapidly changing

Language: Английский

Molecular ecology of microbiomes in the wild: Common pitfalls, methodological advances and future directions DOI Open Access
Nicholas M. Fountain‐Jones, Tatiana Giraud, Lucie Zinger

et al.

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(2)

Published: Nov. 28, 2023

Abstract The study of microbiomes across organisms and environments has become a prominent focus in molecular ecology. This perspective article explores common challenges, methodological advancements, future directions the field. Key research areas include understanding drivers microbiome community assembly, linking composition to host genetics, exploring microbial functions, transience spatial partitioning, disentangling non‐bacterial components microbiome. Methodological such as quantifying absolute abundances, sequencing complete genomes, utilizing novel statistical approaches, are also useful tools for complex diversity patterns. Our aims encourage robust practices studies inspire researchers explore next frontier this rapidly changing

Language: Английский

Citations

11
The conserved nature of nitrogen recycling within the bacterial pouch ofTetraponeraants DOI Creative Commons

Mingjie Ma,

Bi-Ru Zhu,

Dayong Zhang

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 15, 2025

Abstract Microbial symbioses are fundamental to the nutrition of many animal groups, yet mechanisms nutrient recycling have only been characterized in a few social insect systems. Here, we investigate functional significance specialized and unusual symbiotic organ—the bacterial pouch—in four ant species within Tetraponera nigra -group, focusing on symbionts’ roles nitrogen colony fitness. This unique organ houses microbial community consistently dominated by co-diversifying symbiont Tokpelaia , occasionally accompanied other stable associates. Metagenomic sequencing targeted ¹⁵N-labeled urea feeding experiments demonstrate that these symbionts assimilate from (likely derived uric acid) transfer it adult workers developing larvae, incorporating recycled into host tissues. Disruption this symbiosis severely impairs larval growth overall Overall, our study highlights critical role pouch sustaining fitness nitrogen-limited environments, providing new insights co-evolutionary dynamics between hosts their partners.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Environmental yeasts differentially impact the development and oviposition behavior of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus DOI Creative Commons

Simon Malassigné,

Mathieu Laÿs,

Laurent Vallon

et al.

Microbiome, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: April 16, 2025

While the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a known vector of many arboviruses, establishes symbiotic associations with environmentally acquired yeasts, their impact on biology remains poorly investigated. To better understand these associations, we hypothesized that waterborne yeasts colonizing larval gut differentially support development based capacity to produce riboflavin or recycle nitrogen waste into proteins by secreting uricase, as B vitamins and amino acids are crucial for development. address this hypothesis, used axenic gnotobiotic insects gauge specific different environmental Ae. albopictus survival. We then evaluated whether observed variations across yeast species could be linked differential uricolytic activities varying quantities in insecta. Finally, given oviposition site selection favors conditions enhance offspring performance, tested promote faster mediate gravid females. Differences times were used. Yeasts like Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Aureobasidium pullulans promoted rapid associated improved Conversely, such Torulaspora delbrueckii Martiniozyma asiatica, which led slower development, produced smaller adults. Notably, R. mucilaginosa, fastest provided high intakes nitrogenous recycling protein synthesis through strong uricolytic-ureolytic activity. Behavioral experiments indicated promoting "attract Our findings highlight set present natural breeding sites can survival enhancing nutritional intake, thereby attracting Variations time likely levels production capacities among species. This study opens new perspectives trophic interactions between mosquitoes mycobiota, emphasizing importance nitrogen-containing molecules essential acids, proteins, mycobiota. Video Abstract.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Environmental yeasts differentially impact the development and oviposition behavior of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus DOI Creative Commons

Simon Malassigné,

Mathieu Laÿs,

Laurent Vallon

et al.

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 23, 2024

Abstract Background While the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a known vector of many arboviruses, establishes symbiotic associations with environmentally acquired yeasts, their impact on biology remains poorly investigated. To better understand these associations, we hypothesized that water-borne yeasts colonizing larval gut differentially support development based capacity to produce riboflavin or recycle nitrogen waste into proteins by secreting uricase, as B vitamins and amino acids are crucial for development. address this hypothesis, used axenic gnotobiotic insects gauge specific different environmental Ae. albopictus survival. We then evaluated whether observed variations across yeast species could be linked differential uricolytic activities varying quantities in insecta. Finally, given breeding site selection favors conditions enhance offspring performance, tested promote faster mediate oviposition gravid females. Results Differences in times were used. Yeasts like Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Aureobasidium pullulans, Wickerhamomyces anomalus promoted rapid associated improved Conversely, such Torulaspora delbrueckii Martiniozyma asiatica, which led slower development, produced smaller adults. Notably, R. mucilaginosa, fastest provided higher intakes might nitrogenous recycling protein synthesis through strong activity. Behavioral experiments indicated promoting attract Conclusions Our findings highlight set present natural sites can survival enhancing nutritional intake, thereby attracting Variations time likely levels production capacities among species. This study opens new perspectives trophic interactions between mosquitoes mycobiota, emphasizing importance nitrogen-containing molecules essential acids, mycobiota.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Domestication and evolutionary histories of specialized gut symbionts across cephalotine ants DOI
Christian Cabuslay, John T. Wertz, Benoît Béchade

et al.

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(15)

Published: July 15, 2024

The evolution of animals and their gut symbionts is a complex phenomenon, obscured by lability diversity. In social organisms, transmission among relatives may yield systems with more stable associations. Here, we study the history insect symbiosis involving cephalotine ants extracellular bacteria, which come predominantly from host-specialized lineages. We perform multi-locus phylogenetics for nine bacterial orders, map prior amplicon sequence data to lineage-assigned symbiont genomes, studying distributions rigorously defined across 20 host species. Based on monophyly additional hypothesis testing, estimate that these specialized bacteria belong 18 distinct lineages, 15 have been successfully isolated cultured. Several lineages showed evidence domestication events occurred later in evolutionary history, only one lineage was ubiquitously detected all species 48 colonies sampled 16S rRNA sequencing. found phylogenetically constrained four symbionts, suggesting historical or genetic impacts community composition. Two frequent intra-lineage co-infections, highlighting potential niche divergence after initial domestication. Nearly occasional switching, but may, often, co-diversify hosts. Through our further assessment localization genomic functional profiles, demonstrate niches shared histories, prompting questions forces underlying hosts microbiomes.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Molecular ecology and microbiomes in the wild: methodological advances, common pitfalls and future directions DOI Open Access

Nick Fountain‐Jones,

Tatiana Giraud, Lucie Zinger

et al.

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 27, 2023

The study of microbiomes across organisms and environments has become a prominent focus in molecular ecology. This perspective article explores methodological advancements, common challenges future directions the field. Key research areas include understanding drivers microbiome community assembly, linking composition to host genetics, exploring microbial functions, transience, spatial partitioning, disentangling non-bacterial components microbiome. Methodological such as quantifying absolute abundances, sequencing complete genomes, utilizing novel statistical approaches, are also useful tools for complex diversity patterns. Our aims encourage robust practices studies inspire researchers explore next frontier this rapidly changing

Language: Английский

Citations

0