Possible impacts of the predominant Bacillus bacteria on the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s. l. in its infected ant cadavers.

ABSTRACT: Animal hosts infected and killed by parasitoid fungi become nutrient-rich cadavers for saprophytes. Bacteria adapted to colonization of parasitoid fungi can be selected and can predominate in the cadavers, actions that consequently impact the fitness of the parasitoid fungi. In Taiwan, the zombie fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis sensu lato (Clavicipitaceae: Hypocreales), was found to parasitize eight ant species, with preference for a principal host, Polyrhachis moesta. In this study, ant cadavers grew a fungal stroma that was predominated by Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis. The bacterial diversity in the principal ant host was found to be lower than the bacterial diversity in alternative hosts, a situation that might enhance the impact of B. cereus/thuringiensis on the sympatric fungus.

SUBMITTER: Tu KW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8609033 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature