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Kreuzenbeck NB, Dhiman S, Roman D, Burkhardt I, Conlon BH, Fricke J, Guo H, Blume J, Görls H, Poulsen M, Dickschat JS, Köllner TG, Arndt HD, Beemelmanns C. Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi. Commun Chem 2023; 6:79. [PMID: 37095327 PMCID: PMC10126200 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00871-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrotermitinae termites have farmed fungi in the genus Termitomyces as a food source for millions of years. However, the biochemical mechanisms orchestrating this mutualistic relationship are largely unknown. To deduce fungal signals and ecological patterns that relate to the stability of this symbiosis, we explored the volatile organic compound (VOC) repertoire of Termitomyces from Macrotermes natalensis colonies. Results show that mushrooms emit a VOC pattern that differs from mycelium grown in fungal gardens and laboratory cultures. The abundance of sesquiterpenoids from mushrooms allowed targeted isolation of five drimane sesquiterpenes from plate cultivations. The total synthesis of one of these, drimenol, and related drimanes assisted in structural and comparative analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and antimicrobial activity testing. Enzyme candidates putatively involved in terpene biosynthesis were heterologously expressed and while these were not involved in the biosynthesis of the complete drimane skeleton, they catalyzed the formation of two structurally related monocyclic sesquiterpenes named nectrianolins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina B Kreuzenbeck
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Seema Dhiman
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Dávid Roman
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Immo Burkhardt
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janis Fricke
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Huijuan Guo
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Janis Blume
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Helmar Görls
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Humboldtstrasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias G Köllner
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Arndt
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Universität des Saarlandes, Campus E8, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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2
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Guo H, Daniel JM, Seibel E, Burkhardt I, Conlon BH, Görls H, Vassão DG, Dickschat JS, Poulsen M, Beemelmanns C. Insights into the Metabolomic Capacity of Podaxis and Isolation of Podaxisterols A-D, Ergosterol Derivatives Carrying Nitrosyl Cyanide-Derived Modifications. J Nat Prod 2022; 85:2159-2167. [PMID: 36040034 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cultures of a termite-associated and a free-living member of the fungal genus Podaxis, revived from spores maintained in century-old herbarium collections, were analyzed for their insecticidal and antimicrobial effects. Their secondary metabolomes were explored to uncover possible adaptive mechanisms of termite association, and dereplication of LC-HRMS/MS data sets led to the isolation of podaxisterols A-D (1-4), modified ergosterol derivatives that result from a Diels-Alder reaction with endogenous nitrosyl cyanide. Chemical structures were determined based on HRMS/MS and NMR analyses as well as X-ray crystallography. The putative origin of the endogenous fungal nitrosyl cyanide and ergosterol derivatives is discussed based on results obtained from stable isotope experiments and in silico analysis. Our "omics"-driven analysis of this underexplored yet worldwide distributed fungal genus builds a foundation for studies on a potential metabolic adaptations to diverse lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Guo
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jan-Martin Daniel
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Elena Seibel
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Immo Burkhardt
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Helmar Görls
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Lessingstrasse 8, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Daniel Giddings Vassão
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Biochemistry of Microbial Metabolism, Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21-23, Leipzig 04103, Germany
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Conlon BH, O'Tuama D, Michelsen A, Crumière AJJ, Shik JZ. A fungal symbiont converts provisioned cellulose into edible yield for its leafcutter ant farmers. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220022. [PMID: 35440234 PMCID: PMC9019514 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
While ants are dominant consumers in terrestrial habitats, only the leafcutters practice herbivory. Leafcutters do this by provisioning a fungal cultivar (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) with freshly cut plant fragments and harnessing its metabolic machinery to convert plant mulch into edible fungal tissue (hyphae and swollen hyphal cells called gongylidia). The cultivar is known to degrade cellulose, but whether it assimilates this ubiquitous but recalcitrant molecule into its nutritional reward structures is unknown. We use in vitro experiments with isotopically labelled cellulose to show that fungal cultures from an Atta colombica leafcutter colony convert cellulose-derived carbon into gongylidia, even when potential bacterial symbionts are excluded. A laboratory feeding experiment showed that cellulose assimilation also occurs in vivo in A. colombica colonies. Analyses of publicly available transcriptomic data further identified a complete, constitutively expressed, cellulose-degradation pathway in the fungal cultivar. Confirming leafcutters use cellulose as a food source sheds light on the eco-evolutionary success of these important herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - David O'Tuama
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Anders Michelsen
- Section for Terrestrial Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antonin J J Crumière
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Z Shik
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen East, Denmark.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
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4
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Abstract
There are few protocols available for DNA extraction from fungi. Here we present four complementary protocols for extraction of genomic DNA from fungi. We quantify the efficacy of extractions and compare eight species from five filamentous fungal genera, including both basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. These protocols should be useful for extraction of DNA from a variety of filamentous fungi. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Conlon et al. (2021). Comparison of four DNA extraction protocols for fungi Freeze-drying greatly increases DNA yield CTAB extraction is optimal for high yield and fragment length Chelex is a quick technique for DNA extraction from fungi
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Conlon BH, Gostinčar C, Fricke J, Kreuzenbeck NB, Daniel JM, Schlosser MS, Peereboom N, Aanen DK, de Beer ZW, Beemelmanns C, Gunde-Cimerman N, Poulsen M. Genome reduction and relaxed selection is associated with the transition to symbiosis in the basidiomycete genus Podaxis. iScience 2021; 24:102680. [PMID: 34189441 PMCID: PMC8220239 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Insights into the genomic consequences of symbiosis for basidiomycete fungi associated with social insects remain sparse. Capitalizing on viability of spores from centuries-old herbarium specimens of free-living, facultative, and specialist termite-associated Podaxis fungi, we obtained genomes of 10 specimens, including two type species described by Linnaeus >240 years ago. We document that the transition to termite association was accompanied by significant reductions in genome size and gene content, accelerated evolution in protein-coding genes, and reduced functional capacities for oxidative stress responses and lignin degradation. Functional testing confirmed that termite specialists perform worse under oxidative stress, while all lineages retained some capacity to cleave lignin. Mitochondrial genomes of termite associates were significantly larger; possibly driven by smaller population sizes or reduced competition, supported by apparent loss of certain biosynthetic gene clusters. Our findings point to relaxed selection that mirrors genome traits observed among obligate endosymbiotic bacteria of many insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H. Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janis Fricke
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoll-Institute, Chemical Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Nina B. Kreuzenbeck
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoll-Institute, Chemical Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jan-Martin Daniel
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoll-Institute, Chemical Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Malte S.L. Schlosser
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Nils Peereboom
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Duur K. Aanen
- Department of Plant Sciences, Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Z. Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knoll-Institute, Chemical Biology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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6
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Schalk F, Fricke J, Um S, Conlon BH, Maus H, Jäger N, Heinzel T, Schirmeister T, Poulsen M, Beemelmanns C. GNPS-guided discovery of xylacremolide C and D, evaluation of their putative biosynthetic origin and bioactivity studies of xylacremolide A and B. RSC Adv 2021; 11:18748-18756. [PMID: 34046176 PMCID: PMC8142242 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra00997d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted HRMS2-GNPS-based metabolomic analysis of Pseudoxylaria sp. X187, a fungal antagonist of the fungus-growing termite symbiosis, resulted in the identification of two lipopeptidic congeners of xylacremolides, named xylacremolide C and D, which are built from d-phenylalanine, l-proline and an acetyl-CoA starter unit elongated by four malonyl-CoA derived ketide units. The putative xya gene cluster was identified from a draft genome generated by Illumina and PacBio sequencing and RNAseq studies. Biological activities of xylacremolide A and B were evaluated and revealed weak histone deacetylase inhibitory (HDACi) and antifungal activities, as well as moderate protease inhibition activity across a panel of nine human, viral and bacterial proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schalk
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Janis Fricke
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Soohyun Um
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Benjamin H Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 2100 Copenhagen East Denmark
| | - Hannah Maus
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Staudingerweg 5 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Nils Jäger
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Department of Biochemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena Hans-Knöll-Straße 2 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinzel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Department of Biochemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena Hans-Knöll-Straße 2 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Staudingerweg 5 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 2100 Copenhagen East Denmark
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
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7
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Sinotte VM, Conlon BH, Seibel E, Schwitalla JW, de Beer ZW, Poulsen M, Bos N. Female-biased sex allocation and lack of inbreeding avoidance in Cubitermes termites. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5598-5605. [PMID: 34026032 PMCID: PMC8131773 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually reproducing organisms face a strong selective pressure to find a mate and ensure reproduction. An important criterion during mate-selection is to avoid closely related individuals and subsequent potential fitness costs of resulting inbred offspring. Inbreeding avoidance can be active through kin recognition during mate choice, or passive through differential male and female-biased sex ratios, which effectively prevents sib-mating. In addition, sex allocation, or the resources allotted to male and female offspring, can impact mating and reproductive success. Here, we investigate mate choice, sex ratios, and sex allocation in dispersing reproductives (alates) from colonies of the termite Cubitermes tenuiceps. Termites have a short time to select a mate for life, which should intensify any fitness consequences of inbreeding. However, alates did not actively avoid inbreeding through mate choice via kin recognition based on genetic or environmental cues. Furthermore, the majority of colonies exhibited a female-biased sex ratio, and none exhibited a male-bias, indicating that differential bias does not reduce inbreeding. Sex allocation was generally female-biased, as females also were heavier, but the potential fitness effect of this costly strategy remains unclear. The bacterium Wolbachia, known in other insects to parasitically distort sex allocation toward females, was present within all alates. While Wolbachia is commonly associated with termites, parasitism has yet to be demonstrated, warranting further study of the nature of the symbiosis. Both the apparent lack of inbreeding avoidance and potential maladaptive sex allocation implies possible negative effects on mating and fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica M. Sinotte
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Benjamin H. Conlon
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Elena Seibel
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans‐Knöll‐InstituteJenaGermany
| | - Jan W. Schwitalla
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans‐Knöll‐InstituteJenaGermany
| | - Z. Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyForestry and Agriculture Biotechnology InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
| | - Nick Bos
- Department of BiologySection for Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen EastDenmark
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8
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Aurori CM, Giurgiu A, Conlon BH, Kastally C, Dezmirean DS, Routtu J, Aurori A. Juvenile hormone pathway in honey bee larvae: A source of possible signal molecules for the reproductive behavior of Varroa destructor. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:1057-1068. [PMID: 33520186 PMCID: PMC7820148 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor devastates honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies around the world. Entering a brood cell shortly before capping, the Varroa mother feeds on the honey bee larvae. The hormones 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH), acquired from the host, have been considered to play a key role in initiating Varroa's reproductive cycle. This study focuses on differential expression of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of JH and ecdysone at six time points during the first 30 hr after cell capping in both drone and worker larvae of A. mellifera. This time frame, covering the conclusion of the honey bee brood cell invasion and the start of Varroa's ovogenesis, is critical to the successful initiation of a reproductive cycle. Our findings support a later activation of the ecdysteroid cascade in honey bee drones compared to worker larvae, which could account for the increased egg production of Varroa in A. mellifera drone cells. The JH pathway was generally downregulated confirming its activity is antagonistic to the ecdysteroid pathway during the larva development. Nevertheless, the genes involved in JH synthesis revealed an increased expression in drones. The upregulation of jhamt gene involved in methyl farnesoate (MF) synthesis came into attention since the MF is not only a precursor of JH but it is also an insect pheromone in its own right as well as JH-like hormone in Acari. This could indicate a possible kairomone effect of MF for attracting the mites into the drone brood cells, along with its potential involvement in ovogenesis after the cell capping, stimulating Varroa's initiation of egg laying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian M. Aurori
- Faculty of Animal Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary MedicineCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Alexandru‐Ioan Giurgiu
- Faculty of Animal Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary MedicineCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Benjamin H. Conlon
- Molecular EcologyInstitute of Biology/ZoologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
- Section for Ecology and EvolutionDepartment of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Chedly Kastally
- Molecular EcologyInstitute of Biology/ZoologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
- Department of Ecology and Genetics and Biocenter OuluUniversity of OuluOuluFinland
| | - Daniel S. Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary MedicineCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | - Jarkko Routtu
- Molecular EcologyInstitute of Biology/ZoologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalleGermany
| | - Adriana Aurori
- Faculty of Animal Science and BiotechnologyUniversity of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary MedicineCluj‐NapocaRomania
- Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of TransylvaniaUniversity of Agriculture Sciences and Veterinary MedicineCluj‐NapocaRomania
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9
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Conlon BH, Kastally C, Kardell M, Kefuss J, Moritz RFA, Routtu J. Selection for outbreeding in
Varroa
parasitising resistant honey bee (
Apis mellifera
) colonies. Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H. Conlon
- Molecular Ecology Institute of Biology/Zoology Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle an der Saale Germany
- Section for Ecology and Evolution Department of Biology University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Chedly Kastally
- Molecular Ecology Institute of Biology/Zoology Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle an der Saale Germany
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Marina Kardell
- Molecular Ecology Institute of Biology/Zoology Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle an der Saale Germany
| | | | - Robin F. A. Moritz
- Molecular Ecology Institute of Biology/Zoology Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle an der Saale Germany
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Jarkko Routtu
- Molecular Ecology Institute of Biology/Zoology Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle an der Saale Germany
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10
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Conlon BH, Aurori A, Giurgiu AI, Kefuss J, Dezmirean DS, Moritz RFA, Routtu J. A gene for resistance to the Varroa mite (Acari) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:2958-2966. [PMID: 30916410 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Social insect colonies possess a range of defences which protect them against highly virulent parasites and colony collapse. The host-parasite interaction between honey bees (Apis mellifera) and the mite Varroa destructor is unusual, as honey bee colonies are relatively poorly defended against this parasite. The interaction has existed since the mid-20th Century, when Varroa switched host to parasitize A. mellifera. The combination of a virulent parasite and relatively naïve host means that, without acaricides, honey bee colonies typically die within 3 years of Varroa infestation. A consequence of acaricide use has been a reduced selective pressure for the evolution of Varroa resistance in honey bee colonies. However, in the past 20 years, several natural-selection-based breeding programmes have resulted in the evolution of Varroa-resistant populations. In these populations, the inhibition of Varroa's reproduction is a common trait. Using a high-density genome-wide association analysis in a Varroa-resistant honey bee population, we identify an ecdysone-induced gene significantly linked to resistance. Ecdysone both initiates metamorphosis in insects and reproduction in Varroa. Previously, using a less dense genetic map and a quantitative trait loci analysis, we have identified Ecdysone-related genes at resistance loci in an independently evolved resistant population. Varroa cannot biosynthesize ecdysone but can acquire it from its diet. Using qPCR, we are able to link the expression of ecdysone-linked resistance genes to Varroa's meals and reproduction. If Varroa co-opts pupal compounds to initiate and time its own reproduction, mutations in the host's ecdysone pathway may represent a key selection tool for honey bee resistance and breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Conlon
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Department of Biology, Section for Ecology and Evolution, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adriana Aurori
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | | | - Daniel S Dezmirean
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Robin F A Moritz
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.,University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jarkko Routtu
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Conlon BH, Frey E, Rosenkranz P, Locke B, Moritz RFA, Routtu J. The role of epistatic interactions underpinning resistance to parasitic Varroa mites in haploid honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:801-809. [PMID: 29577506 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The Red Queen hypothesis predicts that host-parasite coevolutionary dynamics can select for host resistance through increased genetic diversity, recombination and evolutionary rates. However, in haplodiploid organisms such as the honeybee (Apis mellifera), models suggest the selective pressure is weaker than in diploids. Haplodiploid sex determination, found in A. mellifera, can allow deleterious recessive alleles to persist in the population through the diploid sex with negative effects predominantly expressed in the haploid sex. To overcome these negative effects in haploid genomes, epistatic interactions have been hypothesized to play an important role. Here, we use the interaction between A. mellifera and the parasitic mite Varroa destructor to test epistasis in the expression of resistance, through the inhibition of parasite reproduction, in haploid drones. We find novel loci on three chromosomes which explain over 45% of the resistance phenotype. Two of these loci interact only additively, suggesting their expression is independent of each other, but both loci interact epistatically with the third locus. With drone offspring inheriting only one copy of the queen's chromosomes, the drones will only possess one of two queen alleles throughout the years-long lifetime of the honeybee colony. Varroa, in comparison, completes its highly inbred reproductive cycle in a matter of weeks, allowing it to rapidly evolve resistance. Faced with the rapidly evolving Varroa, a diversity of pathways and epistatic interactions for the inhibition of Varroa reproduction could therefore provide a selective advantage to the high levels of recombination seen in A. mellifera. This allows for the remixing of phenotypes despite a fixed queen genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Conlon
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle an der Saale, Germany
| | - Eva Frey
- Apicultural State Institute, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter Rosenkranz
- Apicultural State Institute, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Barbara Locke
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robin F A Moritz
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle an der Saale, Germany
| | - Jarkko Routtu
- Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle an der Saale, Germany
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Conlon BH, Mitchell J, de Beer ZW, Carøe C, Gilbert MTP, Eilenberg J, Poulsen M, de Fine Licht HH. Draft genome of the fungus-growing termite pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps bispora (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota). Data Brief 2017; 11:537-542. [PMID: 28349099 PMCID: PMC5357700 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.02.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This article documents the public availability of genome sequence data and assembled contigs representing the partial draft genome of Ophiocordyceps bispora. As one of the few known pathogens of fungus-farming termites, a draft genome of O. bispora represents the opportunity to further the understanding of disease and resistance in these complex termite societies. With the ongoing attempts to resolve the taxonomy of the Hypocralaean family, more genetic data will also help to shed light on the phylogenetic relationship between sexual and asexual life stages. Next generation sequence data is available from the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) under accession PRJEB13655; run numbers: ERR1368522, ERR1368523, and ERR1368524. Genome assembly available from ENA under accession numbers: FKNF01000001-FKNF01000302. Gene prediction available as protein fasta, nucleotide fasta and GFF file from Mendeley Data with accession doi:10.17632/r99fd6g3s4.2 (http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/r99fd6g3s4.2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Conlon
- Centre for Social Evolution, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, 06099 Halle an der Saale, Germany
| | - Jannette Mitchell
- ARC-PPRI Rietondale, 600 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - Z Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng 0001, South Africa
| | - Christian Carøe
- Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Eilenberg
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Centre for Social Evolution, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik H de Fine Licht
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Conlon BH, de Beer ZW, De Fine Licht HH, Aanen DK, Poulsen M. Phylogenetic analyses of Podaxis specimens from Southern Africa reveal hidden diversity and new insights into associations with termites. Fungal Biol 2016; 120:1065-76. [PMID: 27567713 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although frequently found on mounds of the grass-cutting termite genus Trinervitermes, virtually nothing is known about the natural history of the fungal genus Podaxis (Agaricaceae) nor why it associates with termite mounds. More than 40 species of this secotioid genus have been described since Linnaeus characterised the first species in 1771. However, taxonomic confusion arose when most of these species were reduced to synonymy with Podaxis pistillaris in 1933. Although a few more species have since been described, the vast majority of specimens worldwide are still treated as P. pistillaris. Using 45 fresh and herbarium specimens from Southern Africa, four from North America and one each from Ethiopia, and Kenya, we constructed the first comprehensive phylogeny of the genus. Four of the genotyped specimens were more than 100 y old. With the exception of the type specimen of Podaxis rugospora, all herbarium specimens were labelled as P. pistillaris or Podaxis sp. However, our data shows that the genus contains at least five well-supported clades with significant inter-clade differences in spore length, width and wall thickness, and fruiting body length, supporting that clades likely represent distinct Podaxis species. Certain clades consistently associate with termites while others appear entirely free-living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Conlon
- Centre for Social Evolution, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Molecular Ecology, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 4, 06099 Halle an der Saale, Germany.
| | - Z Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Microbiology, Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng 0001, South Africa.
| | - Henrik H De Fine Licht
- Section for Organismal Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
| | - Duur K Aanen
- Laboratory of Genetics, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands.
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Centre for Social Evolution, Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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