Evolutionary and Ecological Interactions of Mould and Insects

Rohlfs, Marko; Trienens, Monika; Fohgrub, Ulrike; Kempken, Frank

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-00286-1_7

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 130 publications

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“…The presence of wild type A . nidulans (FGSC A4) significantly reduces larval survival, as has been shown earlier [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]. The largest number of pupae was observed with the veA1 strain, with a very high significance compared to the wild type (p < 0.001), whereas on the Δ veA strain fewer pupae (also p < 0.001) were observed (medians of 72.2% vs. 60.2%).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 65%

“…Fungi and animals interact in many ways, including mutualistic, predatory, pathogenic, or competitive interrelationships [ 1 , 2 ], which so far are only poorly understood. With respect to the tremendous importance of fungi for many terrestrial ecosystems [ 3 ], a better knowledge of the different types of interactions of fungi with animals, their causes and consequences is of ecological importance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fungivores including insects, nematodes, mites, and others have a tremendous effect on fungi in soil ecosystems [ 4 ]. In addition, saprotrophic fungi, which exploit food sources such as fruit or carrion are engaged in competitive interactions with animals living on the same resources [ 1 , 5 ]. In both circumstances fungivores and competitors can harm fungi seriously and thus may affect negatively fungal evolutionary fitness [ 6 – 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans

Regulin

Kempken

2018

PLoS ONE

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Fungi produce an astonishing variety of secondary metabolites, some of which belong to the most toxic compounds in the living world. Several fungal metabolites have anti-insecticidal properties which may yield advantages to the fungus in competition with insects for exploitation of environmental resources. Using the Drosophila melanogaster/Aspergillus nidulans ecological model system to assess secondary metabolite mutant genotypes, we find a major role for the veA allele in insect/fungal confrontations that exceeds the influence of other factors such as LaeA. VeA along with LaeA is a member of a transcriptional complex governing secondary metabolism in A. nidulans. However, historically a mutant veA allele, veA1 reduced in secondary metabolite output, has been used in many studies of this model organism. To test the significance of this allele in our system, Aspergillus nidulans veA wild type, veA1, ΔveA and ΔlaeA were evaluated in confrontation assays to analyze egg laying activity, and the survival rate of larvae. The veA1 genetic background led to a significant increase of larval survival. Adult flies were observed almost exclusively on veA1, ΔveA or ΔlaeA genetic backgrounds, suggesting a role for the velvet complex in insect/fungal interactions. This effect was most profound using the veA1 mutant. Hence, larval survival in confrontations is highly affected by the fungal genotype.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans

Regulin

Kempken

2018

PLoS ONE

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“…Drosophila-associated fungi interact with the host through a variety of mechanisms such as mutualistic, predatory, pathogenic, competitive relationships, which may affect the behaviour, diversity, and fitness of Drosophila species (Vega & Blackwell, 2005;Rohlfs et al, 2009;Gurung et al, 2019;Jing et al, 2020). In a previous study, Anagnostou et al (2010) demonstrated that Drosophila larvae prefer yeast species that contribute to faster development and increased adult body weight.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host–pathogen interaction between the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus, and its external mycobiome under laboratory conditions

Sharma,

Ramniwas,

Kumar

et al. 2024

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an ecologically diverse pest species that interacts with and feeds on various microbial pathogens including bacteria and yeast found in decomposing fruits. However, the interaction of Z. indianus with its microbial community and microbial pathogens is obscure. To determine the presence of fungal pathogens, we collected wild Z. indianus from the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. Based on molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis, Debaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) Lodder & Kreger‐van Rij (isolate ziha1) was the most commonly observed fungus associated with Z. indianus. Furthermore, we identified two more opportunistic fungal pathogens: Aspergillus flavus Link (isolate zias2), and Pichia kudriavzevii Boidin, Pignal & Besson (isolate zibd3). The interaction of isolated fungi with Z. indianus was evaluated in terms of larval mortality, adult emergence, and fecundity. Debaryomyces hansenii ziha1 resulted in 90% emergence rate for adults, and did not cause significant mortality in the larval stage. In contrast, A. flavus zias2 and P. kudriavzevii zibd3 showed a significant reduction in fecundity and caused 99% and 74% larval mortality of Z. indianus, respectively. In the laboratory oviposition preference assay, mated females of Z. indianus preferred D. hansenii ziha1 supplemented food with a positive oviposition index compared to the uninfected control and compared to food infected with P. kudriavzevii zibd3 or A. flavus zias2. These findings underscore Z. indianus' potential to act as a reservoir for both symbiotic and pathogenic fungal species, some of which may be further harnessed for effective fruit fly pest control strategies.

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“…A mycotoxin producing wild type strain of Aspergillus nidulans (RDIT2.3) was cultured under the same conditions as the above mentioned yeast species. This strain has been shown to seriously increased Drosophila larval mortality due to competitive but non‐pathogenic interactions (Rohlfs et al. 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Saprophagous insect larvae,Drosophila melanogaster, profit from increased species richness in beneficial microbes

Rohlfs

Kürschner

2010

J Applied Entomology

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Female fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, lay their eggs on decaying plant material. Foraging fly larvae strongly depend on the availability of dietary microbes, such as yeasts, to reach the adult stage. In contrast, strong interference competition with filamentous fungi can cause high mortality among Drosophila larvae. Given that many insects are known for employing beneficial microbes to combat antagonistic ones, we hypothesized that fly larvae engaged in competition with the noxious mould Aspergillus nidulans benefit from the presence of dietary yeast species, especially when they are associated with increasingly species rich yeast communities (ranging from one to six yeast species per community). On a nutrient‐limited fruit substrate infested with A. nidulans, both larval survival and development time were positively affected by more diverse yeast communities. On a mould‐free fruit substrate, merely larval development but not survival was found to be affected by increasing species richness of dietary yeasts. Not only yeast diversity had an effect on D. melanogaster life‐history traits, but also the identity of the yeast combinations. These findings demonstrate the importance of the structure and diversity of microbial communities in mutualistic animal–microbe interactions.

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Evolutionary and Ecological Interactions of Mould and Insects

Cited by 6 publications

References 130 publications

Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans

Fungal genotype determines survival of Drosophila melanogaster when competing with Aspergillus nidulans

Host–pathogen interaction between the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus, and its external mycobiome under laboratory conditions

Saprophagous insect larvae,Drosophila melanogaster, profit from increased species richness in beneficial microbes

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