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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Microbiota of Attine Ants' Gardens: Visualizing a Microbial Landscape by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: October 4, 2024
Molecular and ultrastructural profiles of the symbionts in Cephalotes ants
M L Bution1, C Bresil, R H R Destéfano
1Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes do Instituto de Biologia, SP 13083-970, Brazil. mlbution@yahoo.com.br
Abstract:
The molecular and ultrastructural profiles of the symbionts found in the midgut and ileum of Cephalotes atratus, Cephalotes clypeatus, and Cephalotes pusillus were determined using the V3 region of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene and transmission electron microscopy (T.E.M.). Two samples of C. atratus, three of C. clypeatus, and six of C. pusillus were analyzed. The coefficients of similarity ranged from 80% to 94% for the samples of symbionts from C. clypeatus and C. atratus, despite being collected in geographically distant sites. The variability within symbionts found in the samples of C. pusillus varied from 29% to 55%, in samples geographically close as well as distant. PCR-DGGE was effective for the purpose of this study and can be considered a versatile tool to analyze gut microbiota. Details of the ultrastructural aspect of these bacteria are presented.
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