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Kok-gan Chan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
Journal of Microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were identified as bacterial symbionts of the ant belonging to family Acetobacteraceae and were distinguished as different strains based on distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15-37°C (optimum, 28-30°C) and in the presence of 0-1.5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0, and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56-94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T of family Acetobacteraceae. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (< 71%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (< 38%) and average amino acid identity (< 67%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteaceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:Abstract In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were distinguished as different strains based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15–37°C (optimum, 28–30°C) and in the presence of 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0 and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56–94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T but were phylogenetically closer to Bombella spp. and Saccharibacterfloricola DSM15669T. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (≤70.7%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (≤39.5%) and average amino acid identity (≤66.u%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina with a plasmid borne sole rrn operon
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong Yin, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:In this study, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 that constitute the core microbiota of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina were isolated from multiple ant colonies and were distinguished as different strains by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. These strains showed similar phenotypic characteristics and were considered a single species by multiple delineation indexes. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and phylogenomic analysis based on 96 core genes placed the strains in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. Compared to Acetobacteraceae type members, these strains demonstrate average nucleotide identity (ANI), in-silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and average amino acid identity (AAI) values lower than proposed species-level cut-off values which indicated that they represent a novel genus of the family. Currently, strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 possess the smallest genomes (1.92-1.95 Mb) with significantly lower gene and protein numbers among family Acetobacteraceae. Intriguingly, the sole rrn operon in their genomes is plasmid-borne instead of chromosomally located. Furthermore, these strains harbour biosynthetic genes for various amino acids, cofactors and vitamins which supported a nutritional symbiotic interaction with the host O. smaragdina. Various phenotypic differences also distinguished the strains from closest relative genera in family Acetobacteraceae. Based on these results, these strains represent a novel species of a novel genus of family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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Microbial Community Composition Reveals Spatial Variation and Distinctive Core Microbiome of the Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina in Malaysia
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an aggressive predator of other arthropods and has been employed as a biological control agent against many insect pests in plantations. Despite playing important roles in pest management, information about the microbiota of O. smaragdina is limited. In this work, a number of O. smaragdina colonies (n = 12) from Malaysia had been studied on their microbiome profile using Illumina 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We characterized the core microbiota associated with these O. smaragdina and investigated variation between colonies from different environments. Across all 12 samples, 97.8% of the sequences were assigned to eight bacterial families and most communities were dominated by families Acetobacteraceae and Lactobacillaceae. Comparison among colonies revealed predominance of Acetobacteraceae in O. smaragdina from forest areas but reduced abundance was observed in colonies from urban areas. In addition, our findings also revealed distinctive community composition in O. smaragdina showing little taxonomic overlap with previously reported ant microbiota. In summary, our work provides information regarding microbiome of O. smaragdina which is essential for establishing healthy colonies. This study also forms the basis for further study on microbiome of O. smaragdina from other regions.
Renkang K. Peng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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macronutrient exchange between the asian weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina and their host plant
Ecosystems, 2016Co-Authors: Christian Pinkalski, Karl-martin Vagn Jensen, Christian Damgaard, Renkang K. PengAbstract:Ant–plant interactions have mainly been considered as a protection mutualism where ants increase plant performance through protection from herbivory. However, host plants may also benefit from nutrients deposited by ants. Nitrogen limits the plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystems and the nutrient exchange between ants and plants may be an important mechanism operating in ant–plant interactions. In this study, we quantified the exchange of macronutrients (carbon and nitrogen) between ants and plants, using the Asian weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina as a model species in a mango agroecosystem. A method was developed with which the amount of nitrogen retrieved to their host trees could be predicted by the trail density of O. smaragdina. Ant nutrient consumption was calculated based on data on O. smaragdina abundance and per capita consumption rates obtained in laboratory colonies. On a yearly basis, the influx of nitrogen to the host tree, originating from captured prey, averaged 14.4 (range 8.0–46.4) kg N ha−1 y−1. The loss of carbon from the host tree due to ant consumption of exudates from nectaries and tended homopterans averaged 278.1 (range 149.3–939.9) kg C ha−1 y−1. O. smaragdina may provide their host plant with a significant source of nitrogen albeit a substantial amount of carbon is consumed from the host plant. This study reveals that the flow of nutrients between ants and plants may play a critical and underestimated role in ant–plant mutualisms.
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non destructive biomass estimation of Oecophylla smaragdina colonies a model species for the ecological impact of ants
Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2015Co-Authors: Christian Pinkalski, Renkang K. Peng, Karl-martin Vagn Jensen, Christian Damgaard, Rene Gislum, Joachim OffenbergAbstract:1. In most ecosystems, ants are a dominant part of the arthropod community. A thorough understanding of their ecological impact, however, has been hampered by limited availability of data on ant abundance. Therefore, we developed a method allowing quick and non-destructive estimates of the biomass of Oecophylla smaragdina colonies in mango plantations. 2. The method was based on assessments of ant nest volume in relation to ant trail density and biomass content in relation to nest volume. The relationships between these variables were modelled using Bayesian latent variable models. The resulting models predicted ant biomass from ant trail activity with a maximum uncertainty of approximately 75% of the predicted value. 3. Five O. smaragdina colonies assessed in a mango plantation, ranged in size from 0.67 to 2.98 kg total ant biomass (fresh wt) and 84.578–376.635 workers for the smallest and largest colony respectively. Correspondingly, the density of ants in the plantation was 254 workers m−2 and a total biomass of 2.0 g ant fresh wt m−2. 4. With this proposed method, estimates of O. smaragdina abundance can be obtained non-destructively with a minimum of workload and it enables the scaling up of physiological experiments on per capita rates. Thus, O. smaragdina can serve as a model species providing information on the impact of ants in tropical ecosystems.
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Using weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina to control two important pests on African mahogany Khaya senegalensis in the Northern Territory of Australia
Australian Forestry, 2013Co-Authors: Renkang K. Peng, Keith A. Christian, Don ReillyAbstract:African mahogany, Khaya senegalensis, is a high-value timber tree species. Pilot plantings showed that the species performed well in the wet–dry tropical areas of northern Australia, but the yellow looper, Gymnoscelis sp., and the bush cricket, Myara yabmanna, caused severe damage to the trees. The weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is an effective bio-control agent of a range of insect pests in tropical tree crops and forest trees. To determine whether the ants control these mahogany pests, field experiments were conducted from April 2006 to January 2009 at two sites near Darwin, Australia. The fraction of the total number of trees damaged per year was 4.2–32.4% by yellow loopers and 0–10.4% by bush crickets on trees with weaver ants, but 25–70.4% by yellow loopers and 25–100% by bush crickets on trees without the ants. The damaged trees with weaver ants were attacked on fewer occasions than damaged trees without the ants. Significantly fewer trees with weaver ants were damaged per monitoring occasion (2...
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Biological control of the fruit-spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens using weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina on African mahoganies in Australia
Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 2012Co-Authors: Renkang K. Peng, Keith A. Christian, Don ReillyAbstract:1 African mahogany Khaya senegalensis is a high-value timber tree. Pilot plantings showed that the fruit-spotting bug Amblypelta lutescens causes severe damage of the tree in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia. The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an efficient biocontrol agent in some horticulture crops. To investigate whether the ants control this pest, field experiments were conducted from April 2006 to January 2009 at two study sites in the Darwin area, Australia. A laboratory experiment was carried out in March 2007 at Berrimah Farm. 2 During the experimental period, in the weaver ant treatments, the overall percentage of trees damaged by the pest was 0–8% at both sites, and the damaged trees were attacked once only. In the treatments without weaver ants, however, the damage level was > 80% at Berrimah Farm and 31–100% at Howard Springs, and the damaged trees were attacked more than once. 3 The mean percentage of trees damaged per monitoring occasion was 0–2.6% in the weaver ant treatments at both sites, whereas, in the treatments without the ants, the damage percentages were 14.2–27.0% at Howard Springs and 28.2–48.6% at Berrimah Farm. 4 Extrafloral nectar of African mahoganies is attractive to weaver ants. Fruit-spotting bugs only damage the tender parts of flushing shoots and growing tips. Weaver ants live on sugar solution and meat, and they frequently harvest extrafloral nectar on growing shoots, on which they catch nymphs of the pest for their meat supply. The aggressive behaviour of the ants also repels the pest away from flushing shoots. 5 The data suggest that weaver ants were effective biocontrol agents of fruit-spotting bugs, and the ants can be used to manage the pest on African mahoganies. 6 The present study demonstrates that the introduced African mahogany comprises another major host of the fruit-spotting bug.
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The effect of weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina on the shoot borer Hypsipyla robusta on African mahoganies in Australia
Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 2011Co-Authors: Renkang K. Peng, Keith A. Christian, Don ReillyAbstract:1 African mahogany Khaya senegalensis is a high-value timber tree species widely grown in central Africa, south-east Asia and northern Australia. Pilot plantings show that the tree grows well in the wet-dry tropical areas of northern Australia, and the shoot borer Hypsipyla robusta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a potential pest of the tree. The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an efficient biocontrol agent in some horticulture crops. To investigate whether the ants control shoot borers, field experiments were conducted at two sites near Darwin, Australia from April 2006 to January 2009. 2 In the weaver ant treatments, the overall percentage of trees damaged by shoot borers was 0–2.7% at Berrimah Farm and 0–4.2% at Howard Springs, and the damaged trees were attacked once only. In the treatments without weaver ants, however, 9.9–52.1% trees were damaged at Berrimah Farm, and 6.3–64.6% at Howard Springs, and the damaged trees were generally attacked more than once. 3 At both sites, significantly fewer trees on each monitoring occasion were damaged in weaver ant treatments than in treatments without weaver ants. 4 The mean percentage of overall flushing shoots damaged by the pest at both sites was significantly lower in weaver ant treatments compared with treatments without weaver ants. 5 Fewer shoots were damaged per damaged tree in weaver ant treatments compared with treatments without weaver ants. 6 The data obtained suggest that weaver ants were effective biological control agents of the shoot borer, and that the ants can be used to manage the pest on African mahogany trees.
Abdullah Tamrin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Formulasi Pakan Buatan Untuk Meningkatkan Penyebaran dan Kemampuan Predasi Semut Rangrang (Oecophylla smaragdina F,) Dalam Mengendalikan Penggerek Buah Kakao (Conopomorpha cramerella Sn.)
2013Co-Authors: Gassa Ahdin, Abdullah TamrinAbstract:????????????Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merakit teknik pengendalian yang sesuai dengan prinsip Pengendalian Hama Terpadu (PHT) yang berwawasan lingkungan melalui manipulasi semut rangrang (Oecophylla smaragdina F.) sebagai agens pengendali hayati terhadap penggerek buah kakao (PBK). Tujuan penelitian untuk melihat pengaruh umpan makanan dari bahan organik dalam bentuk padat/pellet terhadap penyebaran dan kemampuan predasi semut rangrang pada skala terbatas di lapangan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada skala terbatas di 3 kabupaten, Sidrap, Soppeng dan Luwu, Sulawesi Selatan. yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret hingga Desember 2013. Penelitian disusun berdasarkan Rancangan Acak Kelompok yang terdiri dari 4 perlakuan masing-masing diulang sebanyak lima kali. Perlakuan tersebut terdiri dari 1 g pellet gula merah, 1 g pellet udang, 1 g pellet usus ayam, dan kontrol. Masing-masing perlakuan pellet diikat pada buah kakao dengan jarak 4 m dari sumber semut dengan ketinggian dua meter di atas permukaan tanah. Pengamatan pola penyebaran semut dilakukan dengan mengukur jarak jelajah dari pusat pelepasan semut, kemudian dilakukan pemetaan pola penyebaran dan kelimpahan populasi semut. Sedangkan pengamatan kemampuan predasi semut rangrang dilakukan dengan menempatkan larva dan pupa PBK pada permukaan daun serasah, kemudian dihitung jumlah yang dimangsa setiap hari selama 8 jam pengamatan.\ud \ud Kata kunci: Oecophylla smaragdina, Berbagai jenis pakan buatan, Conopomorpha cramerella Sn
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FORMULASI PAKAN BUATAN UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PENYEBARAN DAN KEMAMPUAN PREDASI SEMUT RANGRANG (Oecophylla smaragdina F,) DALAM MENGENDALIKAN PENGGEREK BUAH KAKAO (CONOPOMORPHA CRAMERELLA SN.) Formulation Of Artificial Died To Increase Population Distribution And Aggressive Behavior Of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina F.) To Control Of Cocoa Pod Borer (Conopomorpha Cramerella Sn.)
LP2M, 2013Co-Authors: Gassa Ahdin, Abdullah TamrinAbstract:Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merakit teknik pengendalian yang sesuai dengan prinsip Pengendalian Hama Terpadu (PHT) yang berwawasan lingkungan melalui manipulasi semut rangrang (Oecophylla smaragdina F.) sebagai agens pengendali hayati terhadap penggerek buah kakao (PBK). Tujuan penelitian untuk melihat pengaruh umpan makanan dari bahan organik dalam bentuk padat/pellet terhadap penyebaran dan kemampuan predasi semut rangrang pada skala terbatas di lapangan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada skala terbatas di 3 kabupaten, Sidrap, Soppeng dan Luwu, Sulawesi Selatan. yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret hingga Desember 2013. Penelitian disusun berdasarkan Rancangan Acak Kelompok yang terdiri dari 4 perlakuan masing-masing diulang sebanyak lima kali. Perlakuan tersebut terdiri dari 1 g pellet gula merah, 1 g pellet udang, 1 g pellet usus ayam, dan kontrol. Masing-masing perlakuan pellet diikat pada buah kakao dengan jarak 4 m dari sumber semut dengan ketinggian dua meter di atas permukaan tanah. Pengamatan pola penyebaran semut dilakukan dengan mengukur jarak jelajah dari pusat pelepasan semut, kemudian dilakukan pemetaan pola penyebaran dan kelimpahan populasi semut. Sedangkan pengamatan kemampuan predasi semut rangrang dilakukan dengan menempatkan larva dan pupa PBK pada permukaan daun serasah, kemudian dihitung jumlah yang dimangsa setiap hari selama 8 jam pengamatan
Sze-looi Song - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
Journal of Microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were identified as bacterial symbionts of the ant belonging to family Acetobacteraceae and were distinguished as different strains based on distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15-37°C (optimum, 28-30°C) and in the presence of 0-1.5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0, and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56-94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T of family Acetobacteraceae. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (< 71%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (< 38%) and average amino acid identity (< 67%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteaceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:Abstract In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were distinguished as different strains based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15–37°C (optimum, 28–30°C) and in the presence of 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0 and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56–94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T but were phylogenetically closer to Bombella spp. and Saccharibacterfloricola DSM15669T. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (≤70.7%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (≤39.5%) and average amino acid identity (≤66.u%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina with a plasmid borne sole rrn operon
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong Yin, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:In this study, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 that constitute the core microbiota of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina were isolated from multiple ant colonies and were distinguished as different strains by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. These strains showed similar phenotypic characteristics and were considered a single species by multiple delineation indexes. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and phylogenomic analysis based on 96 core genes placed the strains in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. Compared to Acetobacteraceae type members, these strains demonstrate average nucleotide identity (ANI), in-silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and average amino acid identity (AAI) values lower than proposed species-level cut-off values which indicated that they represent a novel genus of the family. Currently, strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 possess the smallest genomes (1.92-1.95 Mb) with significantly lower gene and protein numbers among family Acetobacteraceae. Intriguingly, the sole rrn operon in their genomes is plasmid-borne instead of chromosomally located. Furthermore, these strains harbour biosynthetic genes for various amino acids, cofactors and vitamins which supported a nutritional symbiotic interaction with the host O. smaragdina. Various phenotypic differences also distinguished the strains from closest relative genera in family Acetobacteraceae. Based on these results, these strains represent a novel species of a novel genus of family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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Microbial Community Composition Reveals Spatial Variation and Distinctive Core Microbiome of the Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina in Malaysia
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an aggressive predator of other arthropods and has been employed as a biological control agent against many insect pests in plantations. Despite playing important roles in pest management, information about the microbiota of O. smaragdina is limited. In this work, a number of O. smaragdina colonies (n = 12) from Malaysia had been studied on their microbiome profile using Illumina 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We characterized the core microbiota associated with these O. smaragdina and investigated variation between colonies from different environments. Across all 12 samples, 97.8% of the sequences were assigned to eight bacterial families and most communities were dominated by families Acetobacteraceae and Lactobacillaceae. Comparison among colonies revealed predominance of Acetobacteraceae in O. smaragdina from forest areas but reduced abundance was observed in colonies from urban areas. In addition, our findings also revealed distinctive community composition in O. smaragdina showing little taxonomic overlap with previously reported ant microbiota. In summary, our work provides information regarding microbiome of O. smaragdina which is essential for establishing healthy colonies. This study also forms the basis for further study on microbiome of O. smaragdina from other regions.
Kah-ooi Chua - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
Journal of Microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were identified as bacterial symbionts of the ant belonging to family Acetobacteraceae and were distinguished as different strains based on distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15-37°C (optimum, 28-30°C) and in the presence of 0-1.5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0, and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56-94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T of family Acetobacteraceae. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (< 71%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (< 38%) and average amino acid identity (< 67%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1, and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteaceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan Chan, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong YinAbstract:Abstract In this study, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 were isolated from different colonies of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina. They were distinguished as different strains based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. Cells of these bacterial strains were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. They were able to grow at 15–37°C (optimum, 28–30°C) and in the presence of 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). Their predominant cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C16:0, C19:0ω8c cyclo, C14:0 and C16:0 2-OH. Strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (94.56–94.63%) with Neokomagataea tanensis NBRC106556T but were phylogenetically closer to Bombella spp. and Saccharibacterfloricola DSM15669T. Both 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and core gene-based phylogenomic analysis placed them in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. These bacterial strains shared higher than species level thresholds in multiple overall genome-relatedness indices which indicated that they belonged to the same species. In addition, they did not belong to any of the current taxa of Acetobacteraceae as they had low pairwise average nucleotide identity (≤70.7%), in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (≤39.5%) and average amino acid identity (≤66.u%) values with all the type members of the family. Based on these results, bacterial strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 represent a novel species of a novel genus in family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen nov sp nov a bacterial symbiont of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina with a plasmid borne sole rrn operon
bioRxiv, 2020Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Wahseng Seetoo, Jiayi Tan, Waifong Yin, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:In this study, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 that constitute the core microbiota of weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina were isolated from multiple ant colonies and were distinguished as different strains by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and distinctive random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprints. These strains showed similar phenotypic characteristics and were considered a single species by multiple delineation indexes. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis and phylogenomic analysis based on 96 core genes placed the strains in a distinct lineage in family Acetobacteraceae. Compared to Acetobacteraceae type members, these strains demonstrate average nucleotide identity (ANI), in-silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and average amino acid identity (AAI) values lower than proposed species-level cut-off values which indicated that they represent a novel genus of the family. Currently, strains Ha5T, Ta1 and Jb2 possess the smallest genomes (1.92-1.95 Mb) with significantly lower gene and protein numbers among family Acetobacteraceae. Intriguingly, the sole rrn operon in their genomes is plasmid-borne instead of chromosomally located. Furthermore, these strains harbour biosynthetic genes for various amino acids, cofactors and vitamins which supported a nutritional symbiotic interaction with the host O. smaragdina. Various phenotypic differences also distinguished the strains from closest relative genera in family Acetobacteraceae. Based on these results, these strains represent a novel species of a novel genus of family Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose the name Oecophyllibacter saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., and strain Ha5T as the type strain.
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Microbial Community Composition Reveals Spatial Variation and Distinctive Core Microbiome of the Weaver Ant Oecophylla smaragdina in Malaysia
Scientific Reports, 2018Co-Authors: Kah-ooi Chua, Sze-looi Song, Hoi-sen Yong, Kok-gan ChanAbstract:The weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is an aggressive predator of other arthropods and has been employed as a biological control agent against many insect pests in plantations. Despite playing important roles in pest management, information about the microbiota of O. smaragdina is limited. In this work, a number of O. smaragdina colonies (n = 12) from Malaysia had been studied on their microbiome profile using Illumina 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We characterized the core microbiota associated with these O. smaragdina and investigated variation between colonies from different environments. Across all 12 samples, 97.8% of the sequences were assigned to eight bacterial families and most communities were dominated by families Acetobacteraceae and Lactobacillaceae. Comparison among colonies revealed predominance of Acetobacteraceae in O. smaragdina from forest areas but reduced abundance was observed in colonies from urban areas. In addition, our findings also revealed distinctive community composition in O. smaragdina showing little taxonomic overlap with previously reported ant microbiota. In summary, our work provides information regarding microbiome of O. smaragdina which is essential for establishing healthy colonies. This study also forms the basis for further study on microbiome of O. smaragdina from other regions.
