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Pietrobon TDC, Kooij PW, Montoya QV, Rodrigues A. Escovopsioides nivea is a non-specific antagonistic symbiont of ant-fungal crops. FUNGAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Interactions among Escovopsis, Antagonistic Microfungi Associated with the Fungus-Growing Ant Symbiosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7121007. [PMID: 34946990 PMCID: PMC8703566 DOI: 10.3390/jof7121007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi in the genus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are prevalent associates of the complex symbiosis between fungus-growing ants (Tribe Attini), the ants' cultivated basidiomycete fungi and a consortium of both beneficial and harmful microbes found within the ants' garden communities. Some Escovopsis spp. have been shown to attack the ants' cultivated fungi, and co-infections by multiple Escovopsis spp. are common in gardens in nature. Yet, little is known about how Escovopsis strains impact each other. Since microbe-microbe interactions play a central role in microbial ecology and evolution, we conducted experiments to assay the types of interactions that govern Escovopsis-Escovopsis relationships. We isolated Escovopsis strains from the gardens of 10 attine ant genera representing basal (lower) and derived groups in the attine ant phylogeny. We conducted in vitro experiments to determine the outcome of both intraclonal and interclonal Escovopsis confrontations. When paired with self (intraclonal interactions), Escovopsis isolated from lower attine colonies exhibited antagonistic (inhibitory) responses, while strains isolated from derived attine colonies exhibited neutral or mutualistic interactions, leading to a clear phylogenetic pattern of interaction outcome. Interclonal interactions were more varied, exhibiting less phylogenetic signal. These results can serve as the basis for future studies on the costs and benefits of Escovopsis coinfection, and on the genetic and chemical mechanisms that regulate the compatibility and incompatibility observed here.
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Montoya QV, Martiarena MJS, Bizarria R, Gerardo NM, Rodrigues A. Fungi inhabiting attine ant colonies: reassessment of the genus Escovopsis and description of Luteomyces and Sympodiorosea gens. nov. IMA Fungus 2021; 12:23. [PMID: 34429165 PMCID: PMC8383443 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-021-00078-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Escovopsis is a diverse group of fungi, which are considered specialized parasites of the fungal cultivars of fungus-growing ants. The lack of a suitable taxonomic framework and phylogenetic inconsistencies have long hampered Escovopsis research. The aim of this study is to reassess the genus Escovopsis using a taxonomic approach and a comprehensive multilocus phylogenetic analysis, in order to set the basis of the genus systematics and the stage for future Escovopsis research. Our results support the separation of Escovopsis into three distinct genera. In light of this, we redefine Escovopsis as a monophyletic clade whose main feature is to form terminal vesicles on conidiophores. Consequently, E. kreiselii and E. trichodermoides were recombined into two new genera, Sympodiorosea and Luteomyces, as S. kreiselii and L. trichodermoides, respectively. This study expands our understanding of the systematics of Escovopsis and related genera, thereby facilitating future research on the evolutionary history, taxonomic diversity, and ecological roles of these inhabitants of the attine ant colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quimi Vidaurre Montoya
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, n. 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13.506-900, Brazil. .,Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
| | - Maria Jesus Sutta Martiarena
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, n. 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13.506-900, Brazil.,Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Bizarria
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, n. 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13.506-900, Brazil.,Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Nicole Marie Gerardo
- Department of Biology, O. Wayne Rollins Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Andre Rodrigues
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida 24-A, n. 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13.506-900, Brazil. .,Center for the Study of Social Insects, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
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Christopher Y, Wcislo WT, Martínez‐Luis S, Hughes WO, Gerardo NM, Fernández‐Marín H. Disease management in two sympatric Apterostigma fungus-growing ants for controlling the parasitic fungus Escovopsis. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6041-6052. [PMID: 34141201 PMCID: PMC8207340 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antagonistic interactions between host and parasites are often embedded in networks of interacting species, in which hosts may be attacked by competing parasites species, and parasites may infect more than one host species. To better understand the evolution of host defenses and parasite counterdefenses in the context of a multihost, multiparasite system, we studied two sympatric species, of congeneric fungus-growing ants (Attini) species and their symbiotic fungal cultivars, which are attacked by multiple morphotypes of parasitic fungi in the genus, Escovopsis. To assess whether closely related ant species and their cultured fungi are evolving defenses against the same or different parasitic strains, we characterized Escovopsis that were isolated from colonies of sympatric Apterostigma dentigerum and A. pilosum. We assessed in vitro and in vivo interactions of these parasites with their hosts. While the ant cultivars are parasitized by similar Escovopsis spp., the frequency of infection by these pathogens differs between the two ant species. The ability of the host fungi to suppress Escovopsis growth, as well as ant defensive responses toward the parasites, differs depending on the parasite strain and on the host ant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliana Christopher
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP)ClaytonRepública de Panamá
- Department of BiotechnologyAcharya Nagarjuna UniversityGunturIndia
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstitutePanamaRepública de Panamá
| | | | - Sergio Martínez‐Luis
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP)ClaytonRepública de Panamá
| | | | | | - Hermógenes Fernández‐Marín
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP)ClaytonRepública de Panamá
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Masiulionis VE, Pagnocca FC. In vitro study of volatile organic compounds produced by the mutualistic fungus of leaf-cutter ants and the antagonist Escovopsis. FUNGAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2020.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Bizarria R, Nagamoto NS, Rodrigues A. Lack of fungal cultivar fidelity and low virulence of Escovopsis trichodermoides. FUNGAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2020.100944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Stubbendieck RM, Li H, Currie CR. Convergent evolution of signal-structure interfaces for maintaining symbioses. Curr Opin Microbiol 2019; 50:71-78. [PMID: 31707219 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic microbes are essential to the ecological success and evolutionary diversification of multicellular organisms. The establishment and stability of bipartite symbioses are shaped by mechanisms ensuring partner fidelity between host and symbiont. In this minireview, we demonstrate how the interface of chemical signals and host structures influences fidelity between legume root nodules and rhizobia, Hawaiian bobtail squid light organs and Allivibrio fischeri, and fungus-growing ant crypts and Pseudonocardia. Subsequently, we illustrate the morphological diversity and widespread phylogenetic distribution of specialized structures used by hosts to house microbial symbionts, indicating the importance of signal-structure interfaces across the history of multicellular life. These observations, and the insights garnered from well-studied bipartite associations, demonstrate the need to concentrate on the signal-structure interface in complex and multipartite systems, including the human microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed M Stubbendieck
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Hongjie Li
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Cameron R Currie
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
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Montoya QV, Martiarena MJS, Danilo Augusto Polezel, Akazu S, Rodrigues A. More pieces to a huge puzzle: Two new Escovopsis species from fungus gardens of attine ants. MycoKeys 2019:97-118. [PMID: 30814906 PMCID: PMC6389644 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.46.30951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales, Hypocreaceae) is the only known parasite of the mutualistic fungi cultivated by fungus-growing ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini: Attina, the "attines"). Despite its ecological role, the taxonomy and systematics of Escovopsis have been poorly addressed. Here, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses with three molecular markers (internal transcribed spacer, large subunit ribosomal RNA and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha), we describe Escovopsisclavatus and E.multiformis as new species isolated from fungus gardens of Apterostigma ant species. Our analysis shows that E.clavatus and E.multiformis belong to the most derived Escovopsis clade, whose main character is the presence of conidiophores with vesicles. Nevertheless, the most outstanding feature of both new species is the presence of a swollen region in the central hypha of the conidiophore named swollen cell, which is absent in all previously described Escovopsis species. The less derived Escovopsis clades lack vesicles and their phylogenetic position within the Hypocreaceae still remains unclear. Considering the high genetic diversity in Escovopsis, the description of these new species adds barely two pieces to a huge taxonomic puzzle; however, this discovery is an important piece for building the systematics of this group of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quimi Vidaurre Montoya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Maria Jesus Sutta Martiarena
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Danilo Augusto Polezel
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Sérgio Akazu
- Center for the Studies of Social Insects, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Andre Rodrigues
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Social Insects, UNESP - São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil São Paulo State University Rio Claro Brazil
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