Ecology and killer toxins of yeasts associated with stingless bees Scaptotrigona depilis and Tetragona clavipes

• Grant number: 23/17897-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Rodolfo Bizarria Júnior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Several yeasts live in association with insects. Although some models have been deeply studied, such as Drosophila-yeast associations, some interactions are still elusive, like the stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apidae: Meliponini). The project aims to describe the diversity of yeasts associated with Meliponini bees (using the bees Scaptotrigona depilis and Tetragona clavipes as a study model), and explore this association in the light of insect-yeast interactions. The study will explore (i) the diversity of yeasts in this environment, (2) the preference of bees for yeast volatiles, (3) the presence of yeast sexual cells in the gut of bees, (4) the occurrence of killer yeasts and its dsRNA elements in this environment, and (5) the killer toxins activity towards undesirable yeasts from fermentative processes. Besides advancing on key points in the ecology of yeasts associated with insects, especially on Meliponini bees, the project can contribute to elucidating mechanisms of virus-eukaryote interaction, since killer toxins are sometimes encoded by dsRNA elements (Totivirus and satellite). In general, the study will involve the description of a yeast community, and the prospecting of versatile killer toxins, which can be used in the future to tackle fungal infections, including fungal pathogens of clinical, industrial, and agronomic interest.