Microbiological characteristic of anthills of Lasius niger

Antimicrobial Activity of Microorganisms Isolated from Ant Nests of Lasius niger

“…Although the nests were located in the same garden in neighboring apple trees, the partial discrepancy in the species composition of bacteria can be explained by the difference in the properties of the substrates inside the nests (Table 1), which could be related to some differences in the trees and could affect the species composition of microbial communities. The concentrations of CFU in the substrates of both nests were approximately equal to each other and also fell into the range of concentrations of CFU found in previous publications on anthills of L. niger [23].…”

“…The symbiotic association between ants and antibiotic-producing microorganisms was previously reported by several different authors [5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15]19,23]. Various studies of microorganisms accompanying L. niger have been conducted, and fungi (from the genera Penicillium, Acremonium, and Mucor), bacteria of various taxonomic groups, including bacilli, and a large number of actinomycetes (from the genera Streptomyces, Nocardia, and Micromonospora) have been described [23]. The results obtained were unexpected for us, since fungi were completely absent in the cultures of substrates from the nests of ants we studied, and the species composition of the bacteria was poor: Gram-negative bacteria were absent and only four species of Gram-positive bacteria were found in the two nests.…”

“…The symbiotic association between ants and antibiotic-producing microorganisms was previously reported by several different authors [5][6][7][8][9][10][12][13][14][15]19,23]. Various studies of microorganisms accompanying L. niger have been conducted, and fungi (from the genera Penicillium, Acremonium, and Mucor), bacteria of various taxonomic groups, including bacilli, and a large number of actinomycetes (from the genera Streptomyces, Nocardia, and Micromonospora) have been described [23].…”

“…Traditionally, most species of bacilli, actinomycetes, and soil fungi isolated from the soils of the Moscow Region grow well on Gause agar medium #2. This medium is also suitable for the growth of microorganisms previously isolated from L. niger anthills [23][24][25]. Although the nests were located in the same garden in neighboring apple trees, the partial discrepancy in the species composition of bacteria can be explained by the difference in the properties of the substrates inside the nests (Table 1), which could be related to some differences in the trees and could affect the species composition of microbial communities.…”

“…These ants feed on small invertebrates, as well as the sweet secretions of the aphids that they cultivate and protect [22]. In their anthills, representatives of the genus Bacillus dominate, and bacteria of other taxonomic groups, as well as actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces, which, under laboratory conditions, exhibit antibiotic properties against bacteria from the same anthill, have also been found [23]. A comparative analysis of the abundance and biodiversity of actinomycete communities isolated from the living ants L. niger and Formica cunicularia, as well as their anthills, showed that the number of actinomycetes detected in L. niger ants is close to the number of actinomycetes in their anthills and the higher than that for F. cunicularia.…”