Occurrence of killer yeasts in leaf-cutting ant nests

• Published in: Folia microbiologica Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 259 - 262
• Main Authors: CARREIRO, S. C, PAGNOCCA, F. C, BACCI, M. JR, BUENO, O. C, HEBLING, M. J. A, MIDDELHOVEN, W. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Praha Academia 01-01-2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Ants - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Human mycoses; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immunobiology; Infectious diseases; Killer Factors, Yeast; Laboratorium voor Microbiologie; Leaves; Lymphoid cells: ontogeny, maturation, markers, receptors, circulation and recirculation; Medical sciences; Microbiological Laboratory; Microbiologie; Microbiology; Miscellaneous mycoses; Mycoses; Mycotoxins - analysis; Mycotoxins - isolation & purification; Nests; Phenotype; Rhodotorula; Rhodotorula - isolation & purification; Rhodotorula - metabolism; Species Specificity; Toxins; Trichosporon - isolation & purification; Trichosporon - metabolism; WIMEK; Yeast; Yeasts; Yeasts - classification; Yeasts - isolation & purification; Yeasts - metabolism; Formicidae; Yeast; Insecta; Rhodotorula; Atta sexdens; Aureobasidium; Formicoidea; Standards; Fungi; Toxin; Arthropoda; Fungi Imperfecti; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Aculeata; Thallophyta; Trichosporon
• ISSN: 0015-5632; 1874-9356
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02817648

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.