Symbiont recruitment versus ant-symbiont co-evolution in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis.

摘要: The symbiosis between fungus-farming ants (Attini, Formicidae), their cultivated fungi, garden-infecting Escovopsis pathogens, and Pseudonocardia bacteria on the ant integument has been popularized as an example of ant–Escovopsis–Pseudonocardia co-evolution. Recent research could not verify earlier conclusions regarding antibiotic-secreting, integumental that co-evolve to specifically suppress disease in ancient co-evolutionary arms-race. Rather than long-term association with a single, co-evolving strain, attine accumulate complex, dynamic biofilms gardens. Emerging views are protect primarily against diseases, whereas garden diseases; selectively recruit (‘screen in’) microbes into biofilms; gardens serve diverse functions beyond disease-suppression.