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Low host-pathogen specificity in the leaf-cutting ant-microbe symbiosis.

Stephen J Taerum1, Matías J Cafaro, Ainslie E F Little

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
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Fungus-growing ants face diverse Escovopsis parasites. Despite broad coevolution, leaf-cutter ants experience frequent parasite host-switching, requiring constant defense of their fungal gardens.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Host-parasite dynamics drive coevolutionary processes.
  • Fungus-growing ants engage in complex symbiotic relationships with fungi, including antagonistic interactions with the parasitic microfungus Escovopsis.
  • Previous research indicates congruent evolutionary histories between ants, their fungal cultivars, and Escovopsis at deep phylogenetic levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate host-parasite specificity within the Escovopsis-leaf-cutter ant symbiosis at finer phylogenetic scales.
  • To determine if host-switching occurs between different leaf-cutter ant species and genera.
  • To assess the experimental host range of Escovopsis strains against leaf-cutter cultivars.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Escovopsis isolates from leaf-cutter ant gardens (Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.).
  • Phylogenetic comparison of Escovopsis strains with their associated ant hosts.
  • In vitro experimental assays to test the infectivity of diverse Escovopsis strains on various leaf-cutter cultivars.

Main Results:

  • Molecular phylogeny confirmed broad phylogenetic specificity of Escovopsis but revealed frequent host-switching events within leaf-cutter ants.
  • Escovopsis strains from Acromyrmex and Atta gardens clustered together phylogenetically, with closely related strains infecting both genera.
  • Experimental results demonstrated low host-parasite specificity, as diverse Escovopsis strains could overgrow all tested leaf-cutter cultivars.

Conclusions:

  • The Escovopsis-leaf-cutter ant association exhibits lower specificity at finer phylogenetic levels than previously observed.
  • Leaf-cutter ants must continuously defend their fungal cultivars against a diverse range of Escovopsis garden pathogens due to frequent host-switching.
  • This highlights the dynamic nature of coevolutionary adaptations in specialized symbiotic systems.