Occurrence of killer yeasts in leaf-cutting ant nests.
Killer activity was screened in 99 yeast strains isolated from the nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens against 6 standard sensitive strains, as well as against each other. Among this yeast community killer activity was widespread since 77 strains (78%) were able to kill or inhibit the growth of at least one standard strain or nest strain. Toxin production was observed in representatives of all the studied genera including Aureobasidium, Rhodotorula, Tremella and Trichosporon, whose killer activity has not yet been described.
Carreiro
S C
SC
Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, UNESP, 13 506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pagnocca
F C
FC
Bacci
M
M
Bueno
O C
OC
Hebling
M J A
MJ
Middelhoven
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010641:Phenotype; D012248:Rhodotorula / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014250:Trichosporon / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009183:Mycotoxins