title: Molecular and ultrastructural profiles of the symbionts in Cephalotes ants.
abstract: The molecular and ultrastructural profiles of the symbionts found in the midgut and ileum of Cephalotes atratus, Cephalotes clypeatus, and Cephalotes pusillus were determined using the V3 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene and transmission electron microscopy (T.E.M.). Two samples of C. atratus, three of C. clypeatus, and six of C. pusillus were analyzed. The coefficients of similarity ranged from 80% to 94% for the samples of symbionts from C. clypeatus and C. atratus, despite being collected in geographically distant sites. The variability within symbionts found in the samples of C. pusillus varied from 29% to 55%, in samples geographically close as well as distant. PCR-DGGE was effective for the purpose of this study and can be considered a versatile tool to analyze gut microbiota. Details of the ultrastructural aspect of these bacteria are presented.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes do Instituto de Biologia, SP 13083-970, Brazil. mlbution@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bution
authors.lastname: C Bresil
authors.forename: R H R
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Destéfano
authors.forename: M F de A
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tango
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Paulino
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Solferini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D044822:Biodiversity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D005843:Geography; D006927:Hymenoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D054892:Metagenome; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S