Analysis of steroids produced by symbiotic fungi isolated from the stingless bees' rearing cell

• Grant number: 18/03650-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Gabriela Toninato de Paula
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/50954-0 - Novel therapeutic agents from the bacterial symbionts of Brazilian invertebrates, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

A recent work by our research group has described the presence of a fungus, belonging to the genus Zygosaccharomyces, inside the rearing cells of Scaptotrigona depilis, which provides ergosterol for the development of larvae of this stingless bee. This account shows a close symbiotic relationship between the bee and the fungus. Symbiotic interactions have already been reported in social insects, such as leaf-cutting ants, termites, but little is known about this interaction between bees, evidencing the importance of studies involving these organisms. In addition, in view of the alarming decline of the world bee population, greater knowledge about these pollinators is of paramount importance. Therefore, this project aims to expand the previous study, using different species of stingless bee that occur in the Brazilian territory and for which the presence of fungus in the breeding cell has already been evidenced. The fungi-food of different species will be isolated and the production of steroids by these fungi will be evaluated by GC-MS. The project will broaden the understanding of the symbiosis between fungi present in the breeding cell and the stingless bees, contributing to the planning of possible strategies for the preservation of these important pollinators.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE PAULA, GABRIELA TONINATO; MENEZES, CRISTIANO; PUPO, MONICA TALLARICO; ROSA, CARLOS AUGUSTO. Stingless bees and microbial interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE, v. 44, p. 41-47, APR 2021. (18/03650-0, 13/50954-0)

DE PAULA, GABRIELA TONINATO; MELO, WEILAN GOMES DA PAIXAO; DE CASTRO, IVAN; MENEZES, CRISTIANO; PALUDO, CAMILA RAQUEL; ROSA, CARLOS AUGUSTO; PUPO, MONICA TALLARICO. Further evidences of an emerging stingless bee-yeast symbiosis. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 14, p. 10-pg., 2023-08-11. (13/50954-0, 13/07600-3, 18/03650-0, 15/01001-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PAULA, Gabriela Toninato de. Phylogenetic, morphological and chemical analyzes of Zygosaccharomyces associated with stingless bees. 2020. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.