Social wasps are a Saccharomyces mating nest

Area of Science:

• * Yeast reproductive ecology
• * Microbial ecology
• * Insect-microbe interactions

Background:

• * The reproductive strategies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are not well understood.
• * Evidence suggests frequent outbreeding in yeasts, but the natural mating environment remains unidentified.
• * Interspecific hybridization and prion transmission hint at complex yeast reproductive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To identify the natural habitat where yeasts mate and recombine.
• * To investigate the role of insect guts in yeast reproduction and diversity.
• * To explore the reproductive ecology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its hybrids.

Main Methods:

• * Analysis of yeast strains found in the intestines of Polistes dominula social wasps.
• * Experimental investigation of mating and sporulation conditions within wasp guts.
• * Assessment of survival strategies for Saccharomyces paradoxus in the insect gut environment.

Main Results:

• * The intestine of social wasps hosts highly outbred Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.
• * A rare Saccharomyces cerevisiae × Saccharomyces paradoxus hybrid was identified in wasp guts.
• * Wasp intestines promote mating between S. cerevisiae strains and between S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus, facilitating sporulation and germination.

Conclusions:

• * The insect gut acts as a unique environmental niche for yeast mating and recombination.
• * This discovery reveals a key factor in maintaining and generating ascomycete diversity.
• * Heterospecific mating in wasp guts is essential for the survival of European S. paradoxus strains.