scholarly journals From plants to ants: Fungal modification of leaf lipids for nutrition and communication in the leaf-cutter ant fungal garden ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Khadempour ◽  
Jennifer E. Kyle ◽  
Bobbie-Jo M. Webb-Robertson ◽  
Carrie D. Nicora ◽  
Francesca B. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Mobility ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Behavioral Experiment ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Alpha Linolenic Acid ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Fresh Plant Material ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Leucoagaricus Gongylophorus

Lipids are essential to all living organisms, as an energy source, as an important cellular structural component, and as a communication tool. In this study, we used global lipidomic methods to evaluate the lipids in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens. Leaf-cutter ants and their coevolved fungal cultivar, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, are a model mutualistic system. The fungus enzymatically digests fresh plant material that the ants cut and deliver, converting energy and nutrients from plants, and providing them to the ants through specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia. Using combined liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry we evaluated differences between the molecular speciation of lipids in the leaf-cutter ant fungal garden ecosystem. This lipidomic study characterized leaves that are fed to the gardens, gongylidia that are produced by the fungus to feed the ants, and spatially resolved regions of the fungal garden through stages of leaf degradation. Lipids containing alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) were enriched in leaves and the top of the gardens, but not dominant in the middle or bottom regions. Gongylidia were dominated by lipids containing linoleic acid (18:2). To evaluate the communicative potential of the lipids in fungal gardens we conducted a behavioral experiment that showed Atta leaf-cutter ants responded differently to 18:3 and 18:2 fatty acids, with aggression towards 18:3 and attraction for 18:2. This work demonstrates the role of lipids in both the transfer of energy and as an inter-kingdom communication tool in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens.

scholarly journals From Plants to Ants: Fungal Modification of Leaf Lipids for Nutrition and Communication in the Leaf-Cutter Ant Fungal Garden Ecosystem

mSystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Khadempour ◽  
Jennifer E. Kyle ◽  
Bobbie-Jo M. Webb-Robertson ◽  
Carrie D. Nicora ◽  
Francesca B. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Experiment ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Alpha Linolenic Acid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Fresh Plant Material ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Leucoagaricus Gongylophorus ◽  
Interkingdom Communication

ABSTRACT Lipids are essential to all living organisms, as an energy source, as an important cellular structural component, and as a communication tool. In this study, we used global lipidomic methods to evaluate the lipids in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens. Leaf-cutter ants and their coevolved fungal cultivar, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, are a model mutualistic system. The fungus enzymatically digests fresh plant material that the ants cut and deliver, converting energy and nutrients from plants and providing them to the ants through specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia. Using combined liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry, we evaluated differences between the molecular species of lipids in the leaf-cutter ant fungal garden ecosystem. This lipidomic study characterized leaves that are fed to the gardens, gongylidia that are produced by the fungus to feed the ants, and spatially resolved regions of the fungal garden through stages of leaf degradation. Lipids containing alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) were enriched in leaves and the top of the gardens but not dominant in the middle or bottom regions. Gongylidia were dominated by lipids containing linoleic acid (18:2). To evaluate the communicative potential of the lipids in fungal gardens, we conducted a behavioral experiment that showed Atta leaf-cutter ants responded differently to 18:3 and 18:2 fatty acids, with aggression toward 18:3 and attraction for 18:2. This work demonstrates the role of lipids in both the transfer of energy and as an interkingdom communication tool in leaf-cutter ant fungal gardens. IMPORTANCE In this work, we examined the role of lipids in the mutualism between leaf-cutter ants and fungus. These ants cut fresh leaf material, which they provide to their fungal cultivar, that converts energy and nutrients from the plants and provides it to the ants in specialized hyphal swellings called gongylidia. This work constitutes the first example of a global lipidomics study of a symbiotic system and provides insights as to how the fungus modifies plant lipids into a usable source for the ants. Through a behavioral experiment, this work also demonstrates how lipids can be used as an interkingdom communication tool, in this case, as an attractant rather than as a repellant, which is more often seen.

scholarly journals I Like the Way You Eat It: Lemur (Indri indri) Gut Mycobiome and Geophagy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigimaria Borruso ◽  
Alice Checcucci ◽  
Valeria Torti ◽  
Federico Correa ◽  
Camillo Sandri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Beneficial Role ◽  
Intimate Connection ◽  
Indri Indri ◽  
Lemur Species

AbstractHere, we investigated the possible linkages among geophagy, soil characteristics, and gut mycobiome of indri (Indri indri), an endangered lemur species able to survive only in wild conditions. The soil eaten by indri resulted in enriched secondary oxide-hydroxides and clays, together with a high concentration of specific essential micronutrients. This could partially explain the role of the soil in detoxification and as a nutrient supply. Besides, we found that soil subject to geophagy and indris’ faeces shared about 8.9% of the fungal OTUs. Also, several genera (e.g. Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium) commonly associated with soil and plant material were found in both geophagic soil and indri samples. On the contrary, some taxa with pathogenic potentials, such as Cryptococcus, were only found in indri samples. Further, many saprotrophs and plant-associated fungal taxa were detected in the indri faeces. These fungal species may be involved in the digestion processes of leaves and could have a beneficial role in their health. In conclusion, we found an intimate connection between gut mycobiome and soil, highlighting, once again, the potential consequent impacts on the wider habitat.

scholarly journals Bringing high spatial resolution to the far-infrared

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Linz ◽  
Henrik Beuther ◽  
Maryvonne Gerin ◽  
Javier R. Goicoechea ◽  
Frank Helmich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Main Theme ◽  
Spatially Resolved ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
External Galaxies ◽  
Emergence Of Life ◽  
Fine Structure Lines

AbstractThe far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist. None of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron, or the Origins Space Telescope will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO), light hydrides, and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. A main theme will be to trace the role of water in proto-planetary discs, to observationally advance our understanding of the planet formation process and, intimately related to that, the pathways to habitable planets and the emergence of life. Furthermore, key observations will zoom into the physics and chemistry of the star-formation process in our own Galaxy, as well as in external galaxies. The FIR provides unique tools to investigate in particular the energetics of heating, cooling, and shocks. The velocity-resolved data in these tracers will reveal the detailed dynamics engrained in these processes in a spatially resolved fashion, and will deliver the perfect synergy with ground-based molecular line data for the colder dense gas.

scholarly journals Potential Role of Trace Elements (Al, Cu, Zn, and Se) in Multiple Sclerosis Physiopathology

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-177
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sadegh Hesamian ◽  
Nahid Eskandari
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Trace Elements ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Peripheral Tolerance ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Tolerance Breakdown ◽  
Peripheral Immune Cells

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. The cause of MS is not known completely, and pathology is specified by involved demyelinated areas in the white and gray matter of the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation and peripheral tolerance breakdown due to Treg cell defects and/or effector cell resistance are present at all stages of the disease. Several invading peripheral immune cells are included in the process of the disease such as macrophages, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, and plasma cells. Trace elements are known as elements found in soil, plants, and living organisms in small quantities. Some of them (e.g., Al, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Se) are essential for the body’s functions like catalysts in enzyme systems, energy metabolism, etc. Al toxicity and Cu, Zn, and Se toxicity and deficiency can affect the immune system and following neuron inflammation and degeneration. These processes may result in MS pathology. Of course, factors such as lifestyle, environment, and industrialization can affect levels of trace elements in the human body.

Biopolymers: A comprehensive review

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 013-018
Author(s):  
Mohini Chandrashekhar Upadhye ◽  
Mohini Chetan Kuchekar ◽  
Rohini Revansiddhappa Pujari ◽  
Nutan Uttam Sable
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Biological Systems ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Skin Care ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Green Nanotechnology ◽  
Biological Sources ◽  
Living Organisms

Biopolymers are compounds prepared by using various living organisms, including plants. These are composed of repeated units of the same or similar structure (monomers) linked together. Rubber, starch, cellulose, proteins and DNA, RNA, chitin, and peptides are some of the examples of natural biopolymers. Biopolymers are a diverse and remarkably versatile class of materials that are either produced by biological systems or synthesize from biological sources. Biopolymers are used in pharmaceutical industry and also in food industry.Naturally derived polymers are also used for conditioning benefits in hair and skin care. Biopolymers have various applications in medicine, food, packaging, and petroleum industries. This review article is focused on various aspects of biopolymers with a special emphasis on role of biopolymers in green nanotechnology and agriculture.

The role of tree stem proximity in the spatial variability of soil water repellency in a eucalypt plantation in coastal Portugal

Soil Research ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Keizer ◽  
A. J. D. Ferreira ◽  
C. O. A. Coelho ◽  
S. H. Doerr ◽  
M. C. Malvar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Individual Measurement ◽  
Hydrophobic Compounds ◽  
Ethanol Droplet ◽  
Central Portugal ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Tree Stem

Certain organic compounds derived from living organisms or their decaying parts are generally accepted to induce soil water repellency. Water repellency may therefore be expected to increase with proximity to organisms releasing hydrophobic compounds. This hypothesis is tested here for Eucalyptus globulus trees, since eucalypt species are frequently associated with elevated repellency levels. In a young, first-rotation plantation on coastal dune sands in central Portugal, repeat measurements of water repellency using the ‘Molarity of an Ethanol Droplet’ (MED) test were carried out in situ between April 2001 and May 2002. On 25 dates, repellency was measured at initially 2 and later 3 distances on 2 sides of 8–11 randomly selected trees. On 15 occasions, additional repellency measurements were performed within small grids aside 3 of the selected trees. The postulated decrease in topsoil water repellency with increased distance from eucalypt tree stems was found to apply on several individual measurement dates, as well as, more unexpectedly since repellency usually is a transient phenomenon, for the study period as a whole. The results confirm the general association of eucalypt trees with water repellency, and indicate that tree stem proximity is an important but not sufficient factor to explain repellency distribution in topsoil.

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