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Andriolli FS, Cardoso Neto JA, de Morais JW, Baccaro FB. With the dead under the mat: the zombie ant extended phenotype under a new perspective. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2024; 111:33. [PMID: 38904668 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01920-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Some parasitic fungi can increase fitness by modifying the behavior of their hosts. These behaviors are known as extended phenotypes because they favor parasitic gene propagation. Here, we studied three lineages of Ophiocordyceps, a fungus that infects ants, altering their conduct before death. According to fungal strategy, ants may die in leaf litter, with entwined legs in branches, under the moss mat, or biting plant tissue. It is critical for parasites that the corpses stay at these places because Ophiocordyceps exhibit iteroparity, possibly releasing spores in multiple life cycles. Thus, we assumed substrate cadaver permanence as a fungi reproductive proxy and corpse height as a proxy of cadaver removal. We hypothesize that biting vegetation and dying in higher places may increase the permanence of ant corpses while avoiding possible corpse predation on the forest floor. We monitored over a year more than 4000 zombie ants in approximately 15 km2 of undisturbed tropical forest in central Amazonia. Our results show a longer permanence of corpses with increasing ground height, suggesting that the parasites may have better chances of releasing spores and infecting new hosts at these places. We found that the zombie ants that last longer on the substrate die under the moss mat in tree trunks, not necessarily biting vegetation. The biting behavior appears to be the most derived and complex mechanism among Ophiocordyceps syndromes. Our results put these findings under a new perspective, proposing that seemingly less complex behavioral changes are ecologically equivalent and adaptative for other parasite lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Sarti Andriolli
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Coordenação de Biodiversidade - COBIO, Av. André Araújo 2936, PetrópolisManaus, AM, 69083-000, Brazil.
| | - José Aragão Cardoso Neto
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Amazonas - IFAM/CMA, Estradas Dos Moraes, S/N, Senador José Esteves, Maués, AM, 69190-000, Brazil
| | - José Wellington de Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Coordenação de Biodiversidade - COBIO, Av. André Araújo 2936, PetrópolisManaus, AM, 69083-000, Brazil
| | - Fabricio Beggiato Baccaro
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Do Amazonas (UFAM), Av. General Rodrigo Octávio, Manaus, AM, 620069.080-900, Brazil
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Lu Y, Tang D, Liu Z, Zhao J, Chen Y, Ma J, Luo L, Yu H. Genomic comparative analysis of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1293077. [PMID: 38686108 PMCID: PMC11057048 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1293077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato is a common pathogenic fungus of ants. A new species, O. fusiformispora, was described based on morphology and phylogenetic evidence from five genes (SSU, LSU, TEF1α, RPB1, and RPB2). The whole genomes of O. fusiformispora, O. contiispora, O. subtiliphialida, O. satoi, O. flabellata, O. acroasca, and O. camponoti-leonardi were sequenced and annotated and compared with whole genome sequences of other species in O. unilateralis sensu lato. The basic genome-wide characteristics of the 12 species showed that the related species had similar GC content and genome size. AntiSMASH and local BLAST analyses revealed that the number and types of putative SM BGCs, NPPS, PKS, and hybrid PKS-NRPS domains for the 12 species differed significantly among different species in the same genus. The putative BGC of five compounds, namely, NG-391, lucilactaene, higginsianin B, pyripyropene A, and pyranonigrin E were excavated. NG-391 and lucilactaene were 7-desmethyl analogs of fusarin C. Furthermore, the 12 genomes had common domains, such as KS-AT-DH-MT-ER-KR-ACP and SAT-KS-AT-PT-ACP-ACP-Te. The ML and BI trees of SAT-KS-AT-PT-ACP-ACP-Te were highly consistent with the multigene phylogenetic tree in the 12 species. This study provided a method to obtain the living culture of O. unilateralis sensu lato species and its asexual formed on the basis of living culture, which was of great value for further study of O. unilateralis sensu lato species in the future, and also laid a foundation for further analysis of secondary metabolites of O. unilateralis sensu lato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingling Lu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Dexiang Tang
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Zuoheng Liu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jinmei Ma
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Lijun Luo
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Herbal Laboratory, College of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- The International Joint Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Cordyceps Bioresources in China and Southeast Asia, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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de Menezes TA, Aburjaile FF, Quintanilha-Peixoto G, Tomé LMR, Fonseca PLC, Mendes-Pereira T, Araújo DS, Melo TS, Kato RB, Delabie JHC, Ribeiro SP, Brenig B, Azevedo V, Drechsler-Santos ER, Andrade BS, Góes-Neto A. Unraveling the Secrets of a Double-Life Fungus by Genomics: Ophiocordyceps australis CCMB661 Displays Molecular Machinery for Both Parasitic and Endophytic Lifestyles. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9010110. [PMID: 36675931 PMCID: PMC9864599 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ophiocordyceps australis (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) is a classic entomopathogenic fungus that parasitizes ants (Hymenoptera, Ponerinae, Ponerini). Nonetheless, according to our results, this fungal species also exhibits a complete set of genes coding for plant cell wall degrading Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), enabling a full endophytic stage and, consequently, its dual ability to both parasitize insects and live inside plant tissue. The main objective of our study was the sequencing and full characterization of the genome of the fungal strain of O. australis (CCMB661) and its predicted secretome. The assembled genome had a total length of 30.31 Mb, N50 of 92.624 bp, GC content of 46.36%, and 8,043 protein-coding genes, 175 of which encoded CAZymes. In addition, the primary genes encoding proteins and critical enzymes during the infection process and those responsible for the host-pathogen interaction have been identified, including proteases (Pr1, Pr4), aminopeptidases, chitinases (Cht2), adhesins, lectins, lipases, and behavioral manipulators, such as enterotoxins, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs), and Glycoside Hydrolases (GHs). Our findings indicate that the presence of genes coding for Mad2 and GHs in O. australis may facilitate the infection process in plants, suggesting interkingdom colonization. Furthermore, our study elucidated the pathogenicity mechanisms for this Ophiocordyceps species, which still is scarcely studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Almeida de Menezes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
| | - Flávia Figueira Aburjaile
- Laboratory of Integrative Bioinformatics, Preventive Veterinary Medicine Department, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Quintanilha-Peixoto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Marcelo Ribeiro Tomé
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Thairine Mendes-Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniel Silva Araújo
- Program in Bioinformatics, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Tarcisio Silva Melo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana 44036-900, BA, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bentes Kato
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie
- Laboratory of Myrmecology, Centro de Pesquisa do Cacau, Ilhéus 45600-000, BA, Brazil
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus 45600-970, BA, Brazil
| | - Sérvio Pontes Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Ecology of Diseases and Forests, Nucleus of Biological Science, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35402-163, MG, Brazil
| | - Bertram Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Burckhardtweg, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Genetics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Sudoeste da Bahia, Av. José Moreira Sobrinho, s/n, Jequiezinho, Jequié 45205-490, BA, Brazil
| | - Aristóteles Góes-Neto
- Laboratory of Molecular and Computational Biology of Fungi, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-31-3409-3050
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Arruda I, Villanueva-Bonilla G, Faustino M, Moura-Sobczak J, Sobczak J. Behavioral manipulation of the spider Macrophyes pacoti (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) by the araneopathogenic fungus Gibellula sp. (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Host manipulation has already been documented in several distinct host–parasite associations, covering all major phyla of living organisms. While in animals we know that several species have the ability to manipulate their hosts for the benefit of the parasite, in arthropopathogenic fungi there is very little knowledge about possible behavioral manipulation. We report for the first time the interaction between the araneopathogenic fungus genus Gibellula Cavara and the spider Macrophyes pacoti Brescovit, Oliveira, Sobczak and Sobczak, 2019 (Anyphaenidae) in addition to investigating the potential change in behavior of spiders infected by the parasitic fungus. We also investigated whether the rainfall regime influences the abundance of infected spiders and the parasitism rate by the araneopathogenic fungus. Our results corroborated our hypothesis that the fungus induces vertical segregation in the spider population, inducing infected spiders to be at higher heights than uninfected ones. Dead infected spiders were found in a stretched position that probably helps in fixing the carcass on the leaves by increasing the contact surface between the host and the substrate. Our results also confirm the positive relationship between the rainy season and the greater number of parasitized spiders and the parasitism rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- I.D.P. Arruda
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - G.A. Villanueva-Bonilla
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109, CEP 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - M.L. Faustino
- Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, R. José Franco de Oliveira, s/n, Redenção, Ceará, 62790-972, Acarape, CE, Brazil
| | - J.C.M.S. Moura-Sobczak
- Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, R. José Franco de Oliveira, s/n, Redenção, Ceará, 62790-972, Acarape, CE, Brazil
| | - J.F. Sobczak
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Biologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, R. José Franco de Oliveira, s/n, Redenção, Ceará, 62790-972, Acarape, CE, Brazil
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Genetic Underpinnings of Host Manipulation by Ophiocordyceps as Revealed by Comparative Transcriptomics. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:2275-2296. [PMID: 32354705 PMCID: PMC7341126 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ant-infecting Ophiocordyceps fungi are globally distributed, host manipulating, specialist parasites that drive aberrant behaviors in infected ants, at a lethal cost to the host. An apparent increase in activity and wandering behaviors precedes a final summiting and biting behavior onto vegetation, which positions the manipulated ant in a site beneficial for fungal growth and transmission. We investigated the genetic underpinnings of host manipulation by: (i) producing a high-quality hybrid assembly and annotation of the Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani genome, (ii) conducting laboratory infections coupled with RNAseq of O. camponoti-floridani and its host, Camponotus floridanus, and (iii) comparing these data to RNAseq data of Ophiocordyceps kimflemingiae and Camponotus castaneus as a powerful method to identify gene expression patterns that suggest shared behavioral manipulation mechanisms across Ophiocordyceps-ant species interactions. We propose differentially expressed genes tied to ant neurobiology, odor response, circadian rhythms, and foraging behavior may result by activity of putative fungal effectors such as enterotoxins, aflatrem, and mechanisms disrupting feeding behaviors in the ant.
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