Zakalyukina Yu.V.1, Alferova V.A.2, Biryukov M.V.1 2023. Probable protective mission of actinomycetes associated with black garden ants, Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.32. No.4: 426–433 [in English].
1 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119991 Russia. E-mail: juline@soil.msu.ru, metrim@gmail.com
2 Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997 Russia. E-mail: alferovava@gmail.com
doi: 10.15298/rusentj.32.4.09
ABSTRACT. A collection of mycelial bacteria of the phylum Actinomycetota was isolated from adult working individuals of the ant Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) selected on the territory of Moscow by plating on nutrient media. It is shown that cultured members of actinomycete communities are confined to the heads of insects, and belong to the genera Nocardia Trevisan, 1889 and Streptomyces Waksman and Henrici, 1943. Among the strains isolated from ants within the same family, producers of antibacterial compounds prevail over antifungal ones. Actinomycetes with antibacterial activity inhibit development of entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis VKPM B-6650 and Paenibacillus alvei VKM B-502, as well as growth of the opportunistic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, representing one of the most important human pathogens worldwide. At the same time, ability of individual strains to restrain the growth of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana VKPM F-1357, Conidiobolus coronatus VKPM F-1359, as well as clinically significant yeast Candida albicans ATCC 14053 was noted. Further studies are required to clarify the localization of possible symbionts and their ability to synthesize antimicrobial metabolites in vivo.
KEY WORDS: ants, Lasius niger, Nocardia, Streptomyces, antibiotics, “protective symbioses”.