Dissertation Research: Exploring Newly Discovered Exploitation of an Ancient Ant-Bacterial Mutualism

共生是两个或两个以上不同物种之间的亲密关系，这种关系是永久的或持久的。相互作用的范围从拮抗（寄生），即一种生物利用另一种生物，到合作（互惠），即所有伙伴都受益。纵观生命史，共生关系的形成导致了生物体复杂性和多样性的增加。真菌与农业的抗微生物共生关系至少是一种四方关系。蚂蚁和它们的真菌品种之间的义务互惠关系是由一种叫做Escovopsis的霉菌寄生的。为了抵御感染，蚂蚁与产生抗生素的细菌合作，抗生素可以抑制蛔虫。这项研究探索了在这种共生关系中新发现的一种微生物，一种黑酵母，它似乎利用了这种抗细菌的共生关系。这项研究旨在确定黑酵母在该系统中的作用，并确定它是否是真菌-农业抗微生物共生关系的第五个成员。本研究将结合多种微生物学、化学、生态学和系统发育技术，结合“真菌选择”和“潜在适应度指标”实验等创新实验设计，揭示这一复杂的抗微生物群落之间的合作与冲突。共生和微生物生态学是生物科学的新兴领域，探索自然系统中新的相互作用和过程对该领域的进一步发展具有重要意义。研究成果将用于教育学生在K-12，本科和研究生水平，并通过威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校作为科学推广工具。国际合作以及在拉丁美洲各博物馆存放标本将进一步促进科学知识的传播。

Symbiosis is an intimate association between two or more different species that is permanent or long lasting. Interactions range from antagonistic (parasitism), where one organism exploits another, to cooperative (mutualism) in which all partners benefit. Throughout the history of life the formation of symbiotic associations has led to increased complexity and diversity in organisms. The fungus-farming ant-microbe symbiosis is, minimally, a quadripartite association. The obligate mutualism between ants and their fungal cultivar is parasitized by a mold called Escovopsis. To defend against infection, the ants cooperate with bacteria that produce antibiotics, which inhibit Escovopsis. This study explores a newly discovered microbe in this symbiosis, a black yeast, that appears to exploit the ant-bacterial mutualism. The research aims to characterize the role of the black yeast within the system, and to determine whether it is a fifth member of the fungus-farming ant-microbe symbiosis. By combining a variety of microbiological, chemical, ecological and phylogenetic techniques, with creative experimental designs such as "fungal choice" and "potential fitness indicator" experiments, this research will shed light on cooperation and conflict among this complex ant-microbe community. Symbiosis and microbial ecology are emerging fields in the biological sciences, and studies exploring novel interactions and processes in natural systems are important to further develop the fields. Research results will be used to educate students at the K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels, and as a scientific outreach tool through UW-Madison. International collaborations, and deposition of specimens at museums in Latin America, will further increase the dissemination of scientific knowledge.