Bacterial protection of beetle-fungus mutualism.
Host-microbe symbioses play a critical role in the evolution of biological diversity and complexity. In a notably intricate system, southern pine beetles use symbiotic fungi to help overcome host-tree defenses and to provide nutrition for their larvae. We show that this beetle-fungal mutualism is chemically mediated by a bacterially produced polyunsaturated peroxide. The molecule's selective toxicity toward the beetle's fungal antagonist, combined with the prevalence and localization of its bacterial source, indicates an insect-microbe association that is both mutualistic and coevolved. This unexpected finding in a well-studied system indicates that mutualistic associations between insects and antibiotic-producing bacteria are more common than currently recognized and that identifying their small-molecule mediators can provide a powerful search strategy for therapeutically useful antimicrobial compounds.
Scott
Jarrod J
JJ
Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Oh
Dong-Chan
DC
Yuceer
M Cetin
MC
Klepzig
Kier D
KD
Clardy
Jon
J
Currie
Cameron R
CR
D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000364:Agaricus; D000818:Animals; D000898:Antibiosis; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D010545:Peroxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis
D000085:Acetates; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010545:Peroxides; C532356:mycangimycin