@article{40f91619cf6546bfbe3af46aa09a0851,
title = "Bacterial transfer from Pristionchus entomophagus nematodes to the invasive ant Myrmica rubra and the potential for colony mortality in coastal Maine",
abstract = "The necromenic nematode Pristionchus entomophagus has been frequently found in nests of the invasive European ant Myrmica rubra in coastal Maine, United States, and may contribute to ant mortality and collapse of colonies by transferring environmental bacteria. Paenibacillus and several other bacterial species were found in the digestive tracts of nematodes harvested from collapsed ant colonies. Serratia marcescens, Serratia nematodiphila, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were collected from the hemolymph of nematode-infected wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae. Virulence against waxworms varied by the site of origin of the nematodes. In adult nematodes, bacteria were highly concentrated in the digestive tract with none observed on the cuticle. In contrast, juveniles had more on the cuticle than in the digestive tract. Host species was the primary factor affecting bacterial community profiles, but Spiroplasma sp. and Serratia marcescens sequences were shared across ants, nematodes, and nematode-exposed G. mellonella larvae.",
keywords = "Entomology, Microbiology, Microbiome",
author = "Ishaq, {Suzanne L.} and Alice Hotopp and Samantha Silverbrand and Dumont, {Jonathan E.} and Amy Michaud and MacRae, {Jean D.} and Stock, {S. Patricia} and Eleanor Groden",
note = "Funding Information: We thank our scientific technicians, Tamara Levistsky, Jennifer Lund, and Elissa Ballman for their invaluable assistance with sampling, laboratory maintenance and experimentation, and oversight of students; the National Park Service at Acadia National Park and Park biologists, David Manski, Bruce Connery, and Judy Hazen-Connery for their permission and assistance with sample acquisitions; Drs. Michelle Goody and the late John Singer for their assistance with fluorescent microscopy; Dr. Frank Drummond for guiding students with the statistical analyses of bioassay data; and Dr. Amanda Klemmer for her assistance with initial visualization of bacterial community data. This project was supported by the University of Maine: Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES), the Honors College, and the Center for Undergraduate Research Fellowships. S.P.S. and E.G. conceived of the original project and performed the molecular and morphological characterization of the nematodes and provided guidance for all subsequent work on this project. E.G. oversaw and directed sample collection and processing, isolations and maintenance of cultures, and infections and bioassays with students and technical staff in her laboratory. J.D.M. and E.G. oversaw infection and DNA extraction for community analysis. J.E.D. performed the culturing, bacterial isolation, and culture identification. A.M. performed virulence bioassays and visualization of labeled bacteria on and in nematodes and assessed transfer during infection, and S.L.I. taught and oversaw DNA data analysis and contributed to writing and reviewing the manuscript. S.S. and A.H. performed data analysis and contributed to writing the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript. The authors declare no competing interests. Funding Information: We thank our scientific technicians, Tamara Levistsky, Jennifer Lund, and Elissa Ballman for their invaluable assistance with sampling, laboratory maintenance and experimentation, and oversight of students; the National Park Service at Acadia National Park and Park biologists, David Manski, Bruce Connery, and Judy Hazen-Connery for their permission and assistance with sample acquisitions; Drs. Michelle Goody and the late John Singer for their assistance with fluorescent microscopy; Dr. Frank Drummond for guiding students with the statistical analyses of bioassay data; and Dr. Amanda Klemmer for her assistance with initial visualization of bacterial community data. This project was supported by the University of Maine : Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES), the Honors College , and the Center for Undergraduate Research Fellowships. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Author(s)",
year = "2021",
month = jun,
day = "25",
doi = "10.1016/j.isci.2021.102663",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "24",
journal = "iScience",
issn = "2589-0042",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
number = "6",
}