 |
|
Beetles get by with a little help from their friends
October 03, 2008Cooperation between insects and bacteria suggests inter-species collaboration may be common in many ecosystems
Humans living in communities often rely on friends to help get what they need and, according to researchers in the lab of Cameron Currie at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, many microbes, plants and animals benefit from 'friendly' associations too.
The Currie team's study, which was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and published in the Oct. 3, 2008, issue of the journal Science, describes the complex relationship between a beetle, two types of tree fungus and a bacterium that aids in their struggle to survive and thrive.
Research in the Currie lab revealed that adult beetles have a specialized compartment in their bodies used to store two other organisms: a slow-growing beneficial fungus that serves as a food source and a bacterium that produces a unique, newly discovered antibiotic. Interestingly, the antibiotic inhibits the growth of a fast-growing competitor fungus but does not affect the slow-growing beneficial fungus.
Before laying eggs in tree bark, adult female beetles spread the slow-growing, beneficial fungus and bacteria around the area where they will deposit the eggs. The antibiotic from the bacteria prevents growth of the fast-growing competitor fungus but does not harm the slow-growing beneficial fungus, which continues to grow and provide a rich source of nutrition for the developing beetle larvae.
"There are perhaps 10 million species of insects on the planet," says Currie, an evolutionary biologist. "So, if insects associate with bacteria like this more generally, then there's potentially a huge number of new places to explore."
NSF Program Officer Lita Proctor agrees, saying this research, which was co-authored by Jon Clardy of Harvard Medical School, has important implications for the ecosystems these species occupy.
"It may be that some organisms evolved symbioses (cooperative relationships) as a strategy to give them an advantage over others when competing for resources," said Proctor. "These cooperative relationships may be much more common than we thought."
In-depth study of these interactions could also lead to identification of new types of antibiotics or other chemicals which may have agricultural or medicinal uses. Thus in the future, we may get by with help from our little friends.
National Science Foundation
Research in the Currie lab revealed that adult beetles have a specialized compartment in their bodies used to store two other organisms: a slow-growing beneficial fungus that serves as a food source and a bacterium that produces a unique, newly discovered antibiotic. Interestingly, the antibiotic inhibits the growth of a fast-growing competitor fungus but does not affect the slow-growing beneficial fungus.
Before laying eggs in tree bark, adult female beetles spread the slow-growing, beneficial fungus and bacteria around the area where they will deposit the eggs. The antibiotic from the bacteria prevents growth of the fast-growing competitor fungus but does not harm the slow-growing beneficial fungus, which continues to grow and provide a rich source of nutrition for the developing beetle larvae.
"There are perhaps 10 million species of insects on the planet," says Currie, an evolutionary biologist. "So, if insects associate with bacteria like this more generally, then there's potentially a huge number of new places to explore."
NSF Program Officer Lita Proctor agrees, saying this research, which was co-authored by Jon Clardy of Harvard Medical School, has important implications for the ecosystems these species occupy.
"It may be that some organisms evolved symbioses (cooperative relationships) as a strategy to give them an advantage over others when competing for resources," said Proctor. "These cooperative relationships may be much more common than we thought."
In-depth study of these interactions could also lead to identification of new types of antibiotics or other chemicals which may have agricultural or medicinal uses. Thus in the future, we may get by with help from our little friends.
National Science Foundation
Fungus Current Events and Fungus News RSSAnti-fungal drug offers great benefits to some with severe asthma
Some patients with severe asthma who also have allergic sensitivity to certain fungi enjoy great improvements in their quality of life and on other measures after taking an antifungal drug, according to new research from The University of Manchester in England.
E. coli engineered to produce important class of antibiotic, anti-cancer drugs
Researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have taken a major step forward in the field of metabolic engineering, successfully using the bacterium Escherichia coli to synthesize a class of natural products known bacterial aromatic polyketides, which include important antibiotic and anticancer drugs.
Brown Chemist Finds Gene That Enables Gray Mold to Kill Plant Cells
Gray mold is a gardener's nightmare. The fungus, also known by its scientific name Botrytis cinerea, is a scourge to more than 200 agricultural and ornamental plant species, including staples such as tomatoes, strawberries, snap and lima beans, cabbage, lettuce and endive, peas, peppers, and potatoes.
Global warming link to amphibian declines in doubt
Evidence that global warming is causing the worldwide declines of amphibians may not be as conclusive as previously thought, according to biologists. The findings, which contradict two widely held views, could help reveal what is killing the frogs and toads and aid in their conservation.
Montana State University researchers find gene that regulates mold's resistance to drugs
Montana State University scientists concerned about lethal mold infections have found a gene that regulates the mold's resistance to drugs.
Forgotten, but not gone: Leprosy still present in the US
Long believed to be a disease of biblical times, leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, continues to be seen in the United States. "Approximately 150 cases are diagnosed each year with 3,000 people in the U.S. currently being treated for leprosy.
New type of fuel found in Patagonia fungus
A team led by a Montana State University professor has found a fungus that produces a new type of diesel fuel, which they say holds great promise.
Topical treatment for cold sores achieves efficacy of oral drugs; represents paradigm shift
Scientists at NanoBio Corporation have demonstrated for the first time in humans that a novel topical treatment for cold sores (herpes labialis), NB-001, speeds healing of lesions as effectively as the leading oral systemic drugs but without safety or toxicity concerns.
New topical approach to treating nail fungus circumvents problems with current therapy
A novel topical therapy for nail fungus, NB-002, has demonstrated a new topical approach to healing nail fungus by penetrating skin pores and diffusing through the skin that surrounds the entire nail plate, according to a study conducted by NanoBio Corporation.
UGA study reveals ecosystem-level consequences of frog extinctions
Streams that once sang with the croaks, chirps and ribbits of dozens of frog species have gone silent. They're victims of a fungus that's decimating amphibian populations worldwide.
More Fungus Current Events and Fungus News Articles
 | Fungus Link, Volume 1 (Volume 1,2nd Series) by Doug Kaufmann |
| Cancer is a Fungus by Dr. T. Simoncini | |
| Fungus Link: An Introduction to Fungal Disease Including the Initial Phase Diet by Doug Kaufmann | |
 | Fungus the Bogeyman (Picture Puffin) by Raymond Briggs Deep down underground, in the dark, dripping tunnels of bogeydom, live the bogeys, a vile collection of slimy, smelly creatures who revel in everything revolting. Fungus is a bogeyman-a particularly foul and fetid specimen. As he goes about his bogey business, the full horrors of bogeydom are revealed. Over 80,000 copies of this fun book have been sold... |
 | Infectious Diabetes: A Cutting-Edge Approach to Stopping One of America's Fastest Growing Epidemics in Its Tracks (Fungus Link Series) by Doug A. Kaufmann Volume 2 in the Fungus Link... |
 | What Makes Bread Rise: A scientific weight loss program for America's families (What Makes Bread Rise - A scientific based weight loss program for America's families, The Fungus Link Series Volume3) Doug Kaufmann and David Holland, M.D. have helped thousands to lose weight permanently. In the process, large numbers of people have also overcome illnesses ranging from asthma to diabetes. Now its your... |
| The Fungus Link Volume 2: Tracking the Cause (Volume 2) by Doug A. Kaufmann, David Holland | |
 | The Fungus Link , Know the Cause! (Volume 3) by Doug A. Kaufmann, M.D. David Holland, R.N. Jami Clark |
 | The War Against Toenail Fungus by Dwight Thomas This title is a humorous memoir by an unbiased medical writer. The author evaluates the newest FDA-approved pharmaceuticals for fungal nail infections, including LAMISIL TABLETS and PENLAC NAIL LACQUER (trademarks). While emphasizing the importance of these drugs, he explains why treatment failure is so frequent with the standard regimens, and he suggests ways in which these products might be... |
 | The Fungus That Ate My School (Scholastic Bookshelf) by Arthur Dorros The kids told their teacher Mr. Harrison that their fungus experiment was getting out of control. He didn't believe them, until it ate their school! After a rainy spring vacation, the kids return to find that the school has been taken over by a humongous fungus. The fungus now presides in the principal's office and is serving a fungus lunch in the cafeteria. Thankfully, Mr. Harrison knows just... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |