Solving a long-standing enigma: Myrmicinosporidium durum belongs to Blastocladiomycota, a phylum of primarily aquatic fungi

Michał Gorczak; Gema Trigos-Peral

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2021.107640

Solving a long-standing enigma: Myrmicinosporidium durum belongs to Blastocladiomycota, a phylum of primarily aquatic fungi

J Invertebr Pathol. 2021 Sep:184:107640. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107640. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Authors

Michał Gorczak¹, Gema Trigos-Peral²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw 02-089, Poland; Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, Warsaw 00-478, Poland. Electronic address: michal.gorczak@uw.edu.pl.
² Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Wilcza 64, Warsaw 00-679, Poland. Electronic address: gema_trigos@miiz.waw.pl.

PMID: 34166714
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107640

Abstract

Myrmicinosporidium durumHölldobler (1933) is a widely distributed fungal endoparasite of ants. However, little is known about its biology, ecology, or evolutionary history. Our study investigated the phylogenetics of this entomopathogenic fungus using a molecular approach. Samples of M. durum were obtained from infected Solenopsis fugax workers collected in Warsaw (Poland). Analyses of rDNA markers revealed that M. durum belongs to a phylum of primarily aquatic fungi, Blastocladiomycota. It is currently the only species from this group known to parasitise hymenopterans. Our findings have clarified this fungus' taxonomy and suggest future directions for research into its biology, ecology, and infection dynamics.

Keywords: Ant parasite; Entomopathogenic fungi; Solenopsis fugax; Zoosporic fungi.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Ants / microbiology*
Blastocladiomycota / classification*
DNA, Fungal / analysis
DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
Host-Parasite Interactions
Poland

Substances

DNA, Fungal
DNA, Ribosomal