Bacteria living with ants make molecules that protect their fungus gardens
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Leaf-cutter ants farm a fungus for food. This garden is attacked by parasitic fungi, and bacteria living on the ants' bodies make substances that help keep those invaders in check, a classic example of chemical ecology.
120
bacterial strains isolated (example)
8
active molecules identified (example)
3 anos
of research (example)
How the research was done
Describe the methods in accessible language: sampling, isolating the microbes, co-culture assays and identifying the molecules by mass spectrometry. Tap the images to enlarge them.
Example quote: microbes are extraordinary chemists. Every interaction is a conversation in molecules that we are still learning to translate.
Images from the bench
- 1Isolating ant-associated bacteria
- 2Inhibition assays against parasitic fungi
- 3Chemical identification by mass spectrometry
