Article
Microbiology
Lily Khadempour, Jennifer E. Kyle, Bobbie-Jo M. Webb-Robertson, Carrie D. Nicora, Francesca B. Smith, Richard D. Smith, Mary S. Lipton, Cameron R. Currie, Erin S. Baker, Kristin E. Burnum-Johnson
Summary: This study used global lipidomic methods to evaluate lipids in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens, revealing differences in lipid molecular species and providing insights into the role of lipids in energy transfer and interkingdom communication in this mutualistic system. The research also conducted a behavioral experiment showing leaf-cutter ants responded differently to fatty acids, with attraction towards 18:2 and aggression towards 18:3.
Article
Ecology
Patrick Baudy, Jochen P. Zubrod, Marco Konschak, Sara Kolbenschlag, Annika Pollitt, Christiane Baschien, Ralf Schulz, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Fungi play a critical role in decomposing dead organic matter in ecosystems. Using biomolecular tools, researchers investigated fungal interactions in aquatic environments, finding that fungal diversity significantly impacts leaf colonization.
Article
Ecology
Rodolfo Bizarria Jr, Tatiane de Castro Pietrobon, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Yeast diversity in attine ant environments was assessed by sampling fungus gardens across different fungiculture systems. Taxonomically unique and diverse yeast communities were found in the fungus gardens of all ants examined. Different ant colonies and fungiculture systems harbored distinct yeast communities. Killer yeasts were also identified, exhibiting a classical inhibition pattern. These findings highlight the importance of studying yeast diversity and ecology in attine ant fungus gardens.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Johannes-Paul Fladerer, Selina Grollitsch, Franz Bucar
Summary: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have various roles in insects' chemical ecology. Leafcutter ants have a specific symbiosis with fungi and different bacteria, and some of the CHCs may have mutualistic functions in this symbiosis. By comparing the CHC profiles of leafcutter ants with symbiotic bacteria to other ant species, researchers identified three alkyl amides that are specific to leafcutter ants with symbiotic bacteria. The results suggest that these alkyl amides may play a role in the tripartite symbiosis of leafcutter ants.
ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ziyan Zhang, Qingmei Deng, Hui Ye, Gaofei Ge
Summary: Multiple studies have shown that the heavy-metal content in tea is increasing. Researchers examined soil from over 100 tea gardens in China and found higher levels of lead in some soils. This study investigates the effect of lead contamination on soil microorganisms in tea gardens to understand its impact on essential microbial functions.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eugenio Miranda Sperandio, Jefferson Brendon Almeida dos Reis, Lucas Gabriel Ferreira Coelho, Helson Mario Martins do Vale
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence, density, and diversity of yeast species on the leaves and fruits of two plant species in Brazil. The findings showed a high diversity of yeast species, including some new ones.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Charlotte B. Francoeur, Daniel S. May, Margaret W. Thairu, Don Q. Hoang, Olivia Panthofer, Tim S. Bugni, Monica T. Pupo, Jon Clardy, Adrian A. Pinto-Tomas, Cameron R. Currie
Summary: Research suggests that bacteria of the genus Burkholderia in ant fungus gardens may play a key role in inhibiting parasitic fungi.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kathleen E. Kyle, Sara P. Puckett, Andres Mauricio Caraballo-Rodriguez, Jose Rivera-Chavez, Robert M. Samples, Cody E. Earp, Huzefa A. Raja, Cedric J. Pearce, Madeleine Ernst, Justin J. J. van der Hooft, Madison E. Adams, Nicholas H. Oberlies, Pieter C. Dorrestein, Jonathan L. Klassen, Marcy J. Balunas
Summary: This study reveals that Trichoderma spp. can act as previously unrecognized pathogens of Trachymyrmex septentrionalis fungus gardens. The ants detect and respond to Trichoderma infections through specific secondary metabolites called peptaibols. This discovery is important for understanding ant fungiculture behavior and the protective mechanisms of fungus gardens.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
M. Probst, M. Gomez-Brandon, C. Herbon, M. T. Barral, R. Paradelo
Summary: This study evaluated the composition and diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in 40 soil samples collected from 10 urban allotment garden areas in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The richness of microbial communities in these urban gardens was comparable to that of soils from other urban land-use categories with lower anthropogenic influence. Soil properties and geographical distances had minimal impact on the microbial communities. Network analysis showed that microbial associations formed small modules and frequently remained unconnected. These findings highlight the potential implications of anthropogenic activity on soil health and ecosystem functionality.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick Schultheiss, Sabine S. Nooten, Runxi Wang, Mark K. L. Wong, Francois Brassard, Benoit Guenard
Summary: Knowledge on the distribution and abundance of organisms is essential. However, there is currently a lack of such knowledge for insects, particularly ants. This study provides an empirical estimate of global ant abundance based on 489 studies, highlighting their significant role in terrestrial ecosystems and the gaps in our knowledge.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Entomology
S. Riaz, F. Farooq, F. Manzoor
Summary: This article explores the obvious interactions between ants and fungi, including fungi serving as food, protection of ant colonies from pathogens, and the use of fungal isolates in sustainable agriculture. It is found that ants and fungi have a close mutualistic relationship, with the fungi providing antibiotics and antifungal activity, as well as protecting ant colonies from diseases.
ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mark K. L. Wong, Evan P. Economo, Benoit Guenard
Summary: This study comprehensively maps the human-mediated spread of 520 alien ant species across 525 regions globally by analyzing over 146,000 occurrence records. The study reveals that alien species with different invasion capacities have different sources and sinks globally. Additionally, border interceptions worldwide miss two-thirds of alien species with naturalization capacity. This research documents the vast spread of alien ants globally and suggests more targeted biosecurity responses.
Article
Biology
Eniko Csata, Luca Pietro Casacci, Joachim Ruther, Abel Bernadou, Juergen Heinze, Balint Marko
Summary: The application of alkane tricosane (n-C23) reduces aggression towards non-nestmates in ants, indicating a pacifying signal in ant nestmate discrimination in parasitic interferences. Parasites often interfere with the behavior of their hosts, leading to changes at both individual and societal levels. The ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii influences Myrmica ants by expanding their nestmate recognition template, increasing the acceptance of infected non-nestmates. Infected ants consistently show an increase in alkane tricosane (n-C23) in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Experimental application of synthetic n-C23 mimicking fungal infection resulted in peaceful behavior towards infected non-nestmates, supporting the hypothesis that n-C23 acts as a 'pacifying' signal. This study suggests that parasitic interference in nestmate discrimination can alter colony structure by increasing genetic heterogeneity in infected colonies.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Antoine Gobert, Marie Sarah Evers, Christophe Morge, Celine Sparrow, Vincent Delafont
Summary: High-throughput sequencing allows for a detailed understanding of microbial communities, while traditional cultivation methods have limitations. This study compares five microbial DNA extraction methods in wine samples and identifies two suitable methods for robust evaluation of microbial communities.
Article
Microbiology
Di Liu, Kate Howell
Summary: The study investigates the impact of microbial ecology on grapevine health and productivity in wine production, as well as the dynamics of fungi in the vineyard ecosystem at different stages. Fungi are influenced by grapevine habitat and plant development stage, with core microbiome playing a crucial role in seasonal community succession.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rosymar Coutinho de Lucas, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Matheus Sanita Lima, Thiago Machado Pasin, Ana Silvia de Almeida Scarcella, Rolf Alexander Prade, Fernando Segato, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: This study aimed to improve the conversion of polysaccharides in the plant cell wall by enzymatic pretreatment. The results showed that the enzymes performed better on sugarcane bagasse (SCB), especially the synergy between xylanase C (XynC) and CBH I. The enzymatic pretreatment with XynC was essential to improve the glucan conversion by CBH I.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ana Silvia de Almeida Scarcella, Thiago Machado Pasin, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Rosymar Coutinho de Lucas, Monica Stropa Ferreira-Nozawa, Emanuelle Neiverth de Freitas, Ana Claudia Vici, Marcos Silveira Buckeridge, Michele Michelin, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: This study evaluated the hydrolysis of different sugarcane bagasse varieties using fungal enzymatic extracts, showing that M. thermophilus and T. reesei had the best hydrolysis efficiency when grown in corn straw. The co-cultivation of these fungi in corn straw at 35 degrees C resulted in the highest release of sugars from mixed sugarcane bagasse, indicating their promising potential for enzymatic cocktail design and sacchariflcation of sugarcane biomass.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rosymar Coutinho de Lucas, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Matheus Sanita Lima, Thiago Machado Pasin, Ana Silvia de Almeida Scarcella, Liliane Fraga Costa Ribeiro, Caio Carvalho, Andre Ricardo de Lima Damasio, Marcos Silveira Buckeridge, Rolf Alexander Prade, Fernando Segato, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: The enzymatic repertoire necessary for degrading sugarcane bagasse was characterized, revealing changes in composition and differential expression of enzymes due to different pretreatments. Understanding nutritional strategies of Aspergillus clavatus through proteomic analysis can improve biomass conversion technology.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ana Silvia de Almeida Scarcella, Thiago Machado Pasin, Rosymar Coutinho de Lucas, Monica Stropa Ferreira-Nozawa, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Alex Graca Contato, Adriana Grandis, Marcos Silveira Buckeridge, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: The economic interest in sugarcane bagasse has grown due to the demand for sustainable energy production. This study analyzed the production profile of holocellulases from various fungi and their capacity to hydrolyze different types of sugarcane residues. The results showed that M. thermophilus and T. reesei RP698 are good producers of holocellulases with high hydrolysis capacity.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rodolfo Bizarria, Fernando Carlos Pagnocca, Andre Rodrigues
Summary: Insects interact with a diverse array of yeasts, with Attine ants and basidiomycete fungi forming a mutualistic relationship for millions of years. Previous research has focused on a small fraction of Attine ants, identifying common yeast orders and genera, but the full ecological roles of yeasts in this mutualism remain largely unexplored. The attine ant environment holds significant potential for studying yeast biodiversity, ecology, and biotechnology, with parallels seen in biotechnological processes.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emanuelle N. de Freitas, Vinay Khatri, Daniele R. Contin, Tassio B. de Oliveira, Alex G. Contato, Rosane M. Peralta, Wanderley D. dos Santos, Carlos A. Martinez, Jack N. Saddler, Maria de Lourdes T. M. Polizeli
Summary: The study investigated the impact of elevated temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration on the cell-wall structure and hydrolytic performance of Panicum maximum. Results showed that warming led to lower recalcitrance in P. maximum biomass, positively affecting its use in biorefineries. This research provides important ecological and economic information for selecting tropical forage grasses efficiently adapted to climate change, with a positive effect on bioenergy production.
BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Guilherme Mauro Aranha, Alex Graca Contato, Jose Carlos dos Santos Salgado, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Karina Miyuki Retamiro, Guilherme Guimaraes Ortolan, Eduardo Jose Crevelin, Celso Vataru Nakamura, Luiz Alberto Beraldo de Moraes, Rosane Marina Peralta, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: This study evaluated the antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, and cytotoxicity of mycelium extracts from two new Basidiomycete mushroom strains, Lepista sordida GMA-05 and Trametes hirsuta GMA-01, isolated in Brazil. The results showed that both mushroom extracts contained high amounts of proteins, free amino acids, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds. The aqueous extract from T. hirsuta exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity tests on different cell lines revealed that L. sordida had higher toxicity in macrophages, while it was less toxic in Vero cells compared to T. hirsuta.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Natalia O. P. Maciel, Ana R. O. Santos, Ciro R. Felix, Melissa F. Landell, Danielle M. Pagani, Raphael S. Pimenta, Paula B. Morais, Jirameth Angchuan, Kannika Wongpanit, Nantana Srisuk, Marc-Andre Lachance, Carlos A. Rosa
Summary: This study isolated new yeast species related to the genus Wickerhamiella from various samples in Brazil and Thailand, and proposed a new species name based on genetic analysis of its differences from known species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Stefan Alexander Bruck, Alex Graca Contato, Paul Gamboa-Trujillo, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Mariana Cereia, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: Isolation of filamentous fungal strains from high-altitude soil in Ecuador led to the discovery of enzymes with varied activities, which can be useful in industrial applications. Among these strains, cold-adapted enzymes from fungi like Didymella sp. have shown potential for applications such as bioremediation and wastewater treatment under cold climatic conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Hector M. C. Navarro, Ciro Ramon Felix, Victor D. F. S. Tavares, Francisca M. P. de Sousa, Ana R. O. Santos, Paula B. Morais, Carlos A. Rosa, Patricia Valente, Melissa Fontes Landell
Summary: In this study, eight yeast isolates closely related to the genus Tremella were obtained from bromeliads in different locations in Brazil. Sequence analysis revealed that they may represent two novel species of Tremella.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Guilherme Sena, Alan M. Tonin, Adriano Caliman, Marcos Callisto, Neusa Hamada, Luiz U. Hepp, Vania L. Kowalczuk, Renato T. Martins, Adriana O. Medeiros, Paula B. Morais, Marcelo Moretti, Yara Moretto, Mauricio M. Petrucio, Lais Salgueiro, Luciana S. Carneiro, Gisele M. dos Santos, Edson S. A. Junior, Lorrane A. M. Feitoza, Jose F. Goncalves Jr
Summary: Riparian forests provide plant litter for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and this study explored the traits of litter from riparian forests in three South American biomes. The findings showed similarities and differences in litter traits, with litter from drier biomes being more chemically defended and lower in nutritional quality than litter from humid biomes. The study also found that trait differences across biomes were primarily determined by environmental factors rather than phylogenetics.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos A. Rosa, Marc-Andre Lachance, Savitree Limtong, Ana R. O. Santos, Mellisa F. Landell, Andreas K. Gombert, Paula B. Morais, Jose P. Sampaio, Carla Goncalves, Paula Goncalves, Aristoteles Goes-Neto, Rosangela Santa-Brigida, Marlucia B. Martins, Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs
Summary: Tropical rainforests and related biomes are tremendous sources of novel yeasts. Tropical yeasts participate in several ecological interactions that contribute to the health of these ecosystems. Most studies of yeast diversity in tropical forests were carried out using culture-dependent methods. Yeasts from tropical rainforests are rich sources for bioinnovation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alex Graca Contato, Ana Claudia Vici, Vanessa Elisa Pinheiro, Tassio Brito de Oliveira, Emanuelle Neiverth de Freitas, Guilherme Mauro Aranha, Almir Luiz Aparecido Valvassora Junior, Carem Gledes Vargas Rechia, Marcos Silveira Buckeridge, Maria de Lourdes Teixeira de Moraes Polizeli
Summary: This study optimized the production of xyloglucanase from Trichoderma longibrachiatum using tamarind and jatoba seeds as carbon sources, and successfully immobilized the enzyme on ionic supports. The study found that tamarind seeds had higher activity than jatoba seeds, and scaling up the production increased the enzyme activity.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taides T. dos Santos, Ana Maria O. Pes, Paula B. de Morais
Summary: Research on the fungal community associated with the digestive tract of aquatic shredder larvae revealed that the fungi primarily derive from food sources in riparian vegetation or indigenous to aquatic ecosystems. The diversity of fungal taxa is high, with a significant portion exhibiting cellulolytic activity and showing host specificity.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2021)