Stingless Bee Larvae Require Fungal Steroid to Pupate

Author(s):Show less -

Paludo, Camila R. ^[1] ; Menezes, Cristiano ^{[2, 3]} ; Silva-Junior, Eduardo A. ^[1] ; Vollet-Neto, Ayrton ^[2] ; Andrade-Dominguez, Andres ^[4] ; Pishchany, Gleb ^[4] ; Khadempour, Lily ^{[5, 6]} ; do Nascimento, Fabio S. ^[2] ; Currie, Cameron R. ^[5] ; Kolter, Roberto ^[4] ; Clardy, Jon ^[7] ; Pupo, Monica T. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, FFCLRP, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Embrapa Amazonia Oriental, Brazilian Agr Res Corp, BR-66095100 Belem, Para - Brazil

^[4] Harvard Med Sch, Dept Microbiol & Immunobiol, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[5] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Bacteriol, Madison, WI 53706 - USA

^[6] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Zool, Madison, WI 53706 - USA

^[7] Harvard Med Sch, Dept Biol Chem & Mol Pharmacol, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 8, JAN 18 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

The larval stage of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis must consume a specific brood cell fungus in order to continue development. Here we show that this fungus is a member of the genus Zygosaccharomyces and provides essential steroid precursors to the developing bee. Insect pupation requires ecdysteroid hormones, and as insects cannot synthesize sterols de novo, they must obtain steroids in their diet. Larval in vitro culturing assays demonstrated that consuming ergosterol recapitulates the developmental effects on S. depilis as ingestion of Zygosaccharomyces sp. cells. Thus, we determined the molecular underpinning of this intimate mutualistic symbiosis. Phylogenetic analyses showed that similar cases of bee-Zygosaccharomyces symbiosis may exist. This unprecedented case of bee-fungus symbiosis driven by steroid requirement brings new perspectives regarding pollinator-microbiota interaction and preservation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/22487-6 - Chemical and biological study of natural products of microorganisms associated with stingless bee species Scaptotrigona depilis
• Grantee: Camila Raquel Paludo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/24204-1 - Natural products involved in chemical and biological interactions of microorganisms associated to nests of the leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens rubropilosa
• Grantee: Eduardo Afonso da Silva Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery
• Grantee: Glaucius Oliva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 13/50954-0 - Novel therapeutic agents from the bacterial symbionts of Brazilian invertebrates
• Grantee: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/04092-7 - Natural products from microorganisms associated with the social insects Scaptotrigona depilis and Atta sexdens rubropilosa: chemical characterization, biological and ecological functions
• Grantee: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/23532-0 - Genetic sequencing, ecological and chemical aspects of Bacillus sp. isolated from the larval stage of stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis
• Grantee: Camila Raquel Paludo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate