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

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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	PALUDO, C. R., PISHCHANY, G., DOMINGUEZ, A.-A., SILVA JÚNIOR, E. A., MENEZES, C., NASCIMENTO, F. S., CURRIE, C. R., KOLTER, R., CLARDY, J., PUPO, M. T.
Other Authors:	CAMILA RAQUEL PALUDO, FCFRP-USP; GLEB PISHCHANY, Harvard Medical School; ANDRES-ANDRADE DOMINGUEZ, Harvard Medical School; EDUARDO AFONSO SILVA JUNIOR, FCFRP-USP; CRISTIANO MENEZES, CNPMA; FABIO SANTOS NASCIMENTO, FFCLRP-USP; CAMERON ROBERT CURRIE, University of Wisconsin; ROBERTO KOLTER, Harvard Medical School; JOHN CLARDY, Harvard Medical School; MONICA TALLARICO PUPO, FCFRP-USP.
Format:	Artigo de periódico biblioteca
Language:	English eng
Published:	2019-11-26
Subjects:	Abelha, Abelha Brasileira, Fungo, Metamorfose, Stingless bees, Fungi, Metamorphosis, Microbial communities,
Online Access:	http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1115223 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219696
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