Fungus-growing Allomerus ants are associated with antibiotic-producing actinobacteria

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2012 Feb;101(2):443-7. doi: 10.1007/s10482-011-9621-y. Epub 2011 Jul 12.

Abstract

Fungus-growing attine ants use natural-product antibiotics produced by mutualist actinobacteria as 'weedkillers' in their fungal gardens. Here we report for the first time that fungus-growing Allomerus ants, which lie outside the tribe Attini, are associated with antifungal-producing actinobacteria, which offer them protection against non-cultivar fungi isolated from their ant-plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actinobacteria / classification
  • Actinobacteria / genetics
  • Actinobacteria / isolation & purification
  • Actinobacteria / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Ants / microbiology*
  • Ants / physiology*
  • Fungi / drug effects
  • Fungi / growth & development*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Symbiosis*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents