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An antifungal polyketide associated with horizontally acquired genes supports symbiont-mediated defense in Lagria villosa beetles.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2018 Jun 26; Vol. 9 (1), pp. 2478. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jun 26. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Microbial symbionts are often a source of chemical novelty and can contribute to host defense against antagonists. However, the ecological relevance of chemical mediators remains unclear for most systems. Lagria beetles live in symbiosis with multiple strains of Burkholderia bacteria that protect their offspring against pathogens. Here, we describe the antifungal polyketide lagriamide, and provide evidence supporting that it is produced by an uncultured symbiont, Burkholderia gladioli Lv-StB, which is dominant in field-collected Lagria villosa. Interestingly, lagriamide is structurally similar to bistramides, defensive compounds found in marine tunicates. We identify a gene cluster that is probably involved in lagriamide biosynthesis, provide evidence for horizontal acquisition of these genes, and show that the naturally occurring symbiont strains on the egg are protective in the soil environment. Our findings highlight the potential of microbial symbionts and horizontal gene transfer as influential sources of ecological innovation.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Antifungal Agents chemistry
Coleoptera metabolism
Ecosystem
Female
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Genes, Bacterial
Multigene Family
Ovum microbiology
Polyketides chemistry
Soil Microbiology
Antifungal Agents metabolism
Burkholderia genetics
Burkholderia metabolism
Coleoptera microbiology
Polyketides metabolism
Symbiosis genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29946103
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04955-6