Microbial community modulates growth of symbiotic fungus required for stingless bee metamorphosis

Author(s)

Paludo, Camila Raquel ^[1] ; Pishchany, Gleb ^[2] ; Andrade-Dominguez, Andres ^[2] ; Silva-Junior, Eduardo Afonso ^[1] ; Menezes, Cristiano ^[3] ; Nascimento, Fabio Santos ^[4] ; Currie, Cameron R. ^[5] ; Kolter, Roberto ^[2] ; Clardy, Jon ^[6] ; Pupo, Monica Tallarico ^[1]

Affiliation

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

^[2] Harvard Med Sch, Dept Microbiol, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[3] Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Brazilian Agr Res Corp, Jaguariuna, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, FFCLRP, Dept Biol, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

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

^[6] Harvard Med Sch, Dept Biol Chem & Mol Pharmacol, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 14, n. 7 JUL 25 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The Brazilian stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis requires the brood cells-associated fungus Zygosaccharomyces sp. as steroid source for metamorphosis. Besides the presence of Zygosaccharomyces sp., other fungi inhabit S. depilis brood cells, but their biological functions are unknown. Here we show that Candida sp. and Monascus ruber, isolated from cerumen of S. depilis brood provisions, interact with Zygosaccharomyces sp. and modulate its growth. Candida sp. produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that stimulate Zygosacchromyces sp. development. Monascus ruber inhibits Zygosacchromyces sp. growth by producing lovastatin, which blocks steroid biosynthesis. We also observed that in co-cultures M. ruber inhibits Candida sp. through the production of monascin. The modulation of Zygosaccharomyces sp. growth by brood cell-associated fungi suggests their involvement in S. depilis larval development. This tripartite fungal community opens new perspectives in the research of microbial interactions with bees. (AU)

• 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: 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: 15/25301-9 - Evaluating the exogenous and endogenous mechanisms influencing variability of cuticular hydrocarbons in Neotropical social insects
• Grantee: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• 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: 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