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Naidispora caidianensis n. gen. n. sp. infecting coelomocytes of oligochaete Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta: Naididae) in China. J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 191:107768. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Pathogen-mediated natural and manipulated population collapse in an invasive social insect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2114558119. [PMID: 35344435 PMCID: PMC9168452 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114558119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive social insects are among the most damaging of invasive organisms and have proved universally intractable to biological control. Despite this, populations of some invasive social insects collapse from unknown causes. We report long-term studies demonstrating that infection by a microsporidian pathogen causes populations of a globally significant invasive ant to collapse to local extinction, providing a mechanistic understanding of a pervasive phenomenon in biological invasions: the collapse of established populations from endogenous factors. We apply this knowledge and successfully eliminate two large, introduced populations of these ants. More broadly, microsporidian pathogens should be evaluated for control of other supercolonial invasive social insects. Diagnosing the cause of unanticipated population collapse in invasive organisms can lead to applied solutions. Boom-bust population dynamics are a recurrent, widespread, and typically unexplained property of many species invasions. Declines also occur in invasive social insects from unknown causes. Nevertheless, social insects have proved intractable to biological control. Tawny crazy ants, an environmentally damaging invasive pest in several countries globally, are spreading in North America. Examining 15 local populations spanning 9 y, we document both the collapse of local populations of this ant in North America and a strong association of collapse with infection by the microsporidian pathogen, Myrmecomorba nylanderiae. Over the observation period, all longitudinally sampled local populations that harbored the pathogen declined, with 62% of these populations disappearing entirely. We test the causality of this relationship by introducing this pathogen into two local populations. At both sites, within 7 mo the pathogen was nearly universally prevalent, and within 2 y, tawny crazy ants were eliminated. In contrast, uninfected populations showed no tendency to decline over a similar period. Concurrent laboratory studies indicate that colony fragments died out because infected workers do not survive long enough to bridge the gap created by normal, winter cessation of immature ant production. Population-level collapse occurred because the pathogen spread faster than colony fragments declined, eliminating the density-dependent regulation seen with many pathogens. Invasive species beset by such pathogens may collapse if factors favoring transmission, like genetic homogeneity, high population density, or socially facilitated intragroup transmission, allow virulent pathogens to spread widely before disease impacts occur. These invasive species may be susceptible to boom-bust dynamics and pathogen-driven local extinction.
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Sugar is an ant’s best friend? Testing food web theory predictions about trophic position and abundance in an invasive ant (Nylanderia fulva). Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Meng J, Lei J, Davitt A, Holt JR, Huang J, Gold R, Vargo EL, Tarone AM, Zhu-Salzman K. Suppressing tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) by RNAi technology. INSECT SCIENCE 2020; 27:113-121. [PMID: 29790281 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) is a new invasive pest in the United States. At present, its management mainly relies on the use of synthetic insecticides, which are generally ineffective at producing lasting control of the pest, necessitating alternative environmentally friendly measures. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of gene silencing to control this ant species. Six housekeeping genes encoding actin (NfActin), coatomer subunit β (NfCOPβ), arginine kinase (NfArgK), and V-type proton ATPase subunits A (NfvATPaseA), B (NfvATPaseB) and E (NfvATPaseE) were cloned. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high sequence similarity to homologs from other ant species, particularly the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus). To silence these genes, vector L4440 was used to generate six specific RNAi constructs for bacterial expression. Heat-inactivated, dsRNA-expressing Escherichia coli were incorporated into artificial diet. Worker ants exhibited reduced endogenous gene expression after feeding on such diet for 9 d. However, only ingestion of dsRNAs of NfCOPβ (a gene involved in protein trafficking) and NfArgK (a cellular energy reserve regulatory gene in invertebrates) caused modest but significantly higher ant mortality than the control. These results suggest that bacterially expressed dsRNA can be orally delivered to ant cells as a mean to target its vulnerabilities. Improved efficacy is necessary for the RNAi-based approach to be useful in tawny crazy ant management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Meng
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Institute for Plant Genomics & Biotechnology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jiaxin Lei
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Institute for Plant Genomics & Biotechnology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew Davitt
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jocelyn R Holt
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jian Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Roger Gold
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Aaron M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Keyan Zhu-Salzman
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
- Institute for Plant Genomics & Biotechnology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Abril S, Jurvansuu J. Season- and caste-specific variation in RNA viruses in the invasive Argentine ant European supercolony. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:322-333. [PMID: 31985392 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile, Mayr) is a highly invasive species. Recently, several RNA viruses have been identified in samples from invasive Argentine ant colonies. Using quantitative PCR, we investigated variation in the levels of these viruses in the main European supercolony over the course of a year. We discovered that virus prevalence and amounts of viral RNA were affected by season and caste: ants had more virus types during warm versus cold months, and queens had more virus types and higher virus prevalence than did workers or males. This seasonal variation was largely due to the appearance of positive-strand RNA viruses in the summer and their subsequent disappearance in the winter. The prevalences of positive-strand RNA viruses were positively correlated with worker foraging activity. We hypothesise that during warmer months, ants are more active and more numerous and, as a result, they have more conspecific and heterospecific interactions that promote virus transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Abril
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jaana Jurvansuu
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Wijayawardene NN, Pawłowska J, Letcher PM, Kirk PM, Humber RA, Schüßler A, Wrzosek M, Muszewska A, Okrasińska A, Istel Ł, Gęsiorska A, Mungai P, Lateef AA, Rajeshkumar KC, Singh RV, Radek R, Walther G, Wagner L, Walker C, Wijesundara DSA, Papizadeh M, Dolatabadi S, Shenoy BD, Tokarev YS, Lumyong S, Hyde KD. Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota). FUNGAL DIVERS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-018-0409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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A Review of the Tawny Crazy Ant, Nylanderia fulva, an Emergent Ant Invader in the Southern United States: Is Biological Control a Feasible Management Option? INSECTS 2016; 7:insects7040077. [PMID: 27983690 PMCID: PMC5198225 DOI: 10.3390/insects7040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), has invaded states of the U.S. including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Native to South America, N. fulva is considered a pest in the U.S. capable of annoying homeowners and farmers, as well as displacing native ant species. As it continues to expand its range, there is a growing need to develop novel management techniques to control the pest and prevent further spread. Current management efforts rely heavily on chemical control, but these methods have not been successful. A review of the biology, taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of N. fulva, including discussion of ecological and economic consequences of this invasive species, is presented. Options for future management are suggested focusing on biological control, including parasitoid flies in the genus Pseudacteon, the microsporidian parasite Myrmecomorba nylanderiae, and a novel polynucleotide virus as potential biological control agents. We suggest further investigation of natural enemies present in the adventive range, as well as foreign exploration undertaken in the native range including Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. We conclude that N. fulva may be a suitable candidate for biological control.
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Valles SM, Oi DH, Becnel JJ, Wetterer JK, LaPolla JS, Firth AE. Isolation and characterization of Nylanderia fulva virus 1, a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus infecting the tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva. Virology 2016; 496:244-254. [PMID: 27372180 PMCID: PMC4980443 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We report the discovery of Nylanderia fulva virus 1 (NfV-1), the first virus identified and characterized from the ant, Nylanderia fulva. The NfV-1 genome (GenBank accession KX024775) is 10,881 nucleotides in length, encoding one large open reading frame (ORF). Helicase, protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and jelly-roll capsid protein domains were recognized within the polyprotein. Phylogenetic analysis placed NfV-1 in an unclassified clade of viruses. Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained samples revealed particles with icosahedral symmetry with a diameter of 28.7±1.1nm. The virus was detected by RT-PCR in larval, pupal, worker and queen developmental stages. However, the replicative strand of NfV-1 was only detected in larvae. Vertical transmission did not appear to occur, but horizontal transmission was facile. The inter-colonial field prevalence of NfV-1 was 52±35% with some local infections reaching 100%. NfV-1 was not detected in limited samples of other Nylanderia species or closely related ant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Valles
- Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
| | - David H Oi
- Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - James J Becnel
- Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - James K Wetterer
- Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - John S LaPolla
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - Andrew E Firth
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
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