title: Symbiotic Streptomycetes provide antibiotic combination prophylaxis for wasp offspring.
abstract: Beewolf digger wasps cultivate specific symbiotic bacteria (Streptomyces spp.) that are incorporated into the larval cocoon for protection against pathogens. We identified the molecular basis of this protective symbiosis in the natural context and demonstrate that the bacteria produce a 'cocktail' of nine antibiotic substances. The complementary action of all symbiont-produced antibiotics confers a potent antimicrobial defense for the wasp larvae that parallels the 'combination prophylaxis' known from human medicine.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Mass Spectrometry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kroiss
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaltenpoth
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Maria-Gabriele
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hertweck
authors.forename: Ravi Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Maddula
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strohm
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Svatos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014863:Wasps / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents