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Joachim Offenberg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Weaver Ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Performance in Mango and Cashew Trees Under Different Management Regimens
Sociobiology, 2018Co-Authors: Rosine Wargui, Antonio Sinzogan, Jean-françois Vayssières, Appolinaire Adandonon, Dansou Kossou, Florence M. Anato, Joachim OffenbergAbstract:Weaver Ants are used for biological control of insect pests in plAntation crops. To obtain proper pest control, Ant densities need to be high. Food availability and nesting facilities on host plAnts and management practices may affect Ant performance. In the present study, we tested the effect of two host plAnt species (mango and cashew) and three different management practices (Ants only, Ants fed with sugar and Ants combined with the soft chemical insecticide Spinosad) on Weaver Ant performance. Performance was assessed over a 22 month period, as an index value based on the number of Ant trails per tree and as the number of Ant nests per tree. A total of 216 trees (72 per treatment) were observed in each crop. In all treatments, the Ants performed better in mango compared to cashew. Using the index based performance measure, Ants also performed better in the sugar treatment as compared to the two other treatments, whereas this was not the case in cashew. We conclude that sugar feeding can be used to increase Ant populations in mango. We also found that the treatment with Spinosad in combination with Ants showed performance equal to the treatments with only Ants, suggesting that Spinosad did not negatively affect Ant populations. We therefore conclude that Spinosad is compatible with the use of Weaver Ants in integrated pest management programs.
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the use of light to enhance Weaver Ant oecophylla longinoda latreille hymenoptera formicidae queen catches
Sociobiology, 2017Co-Authors: W. A. Nene, Joachim Offenberg, Gration M. Rwegasira, M MwatawalaAbstract:Production of live Weaver Ant (Oecophylla longinoda and O. smaragdina) colonies is being developed as the Ants provide several ecosystem services in agriculture and as they are used in education and research laboratories. Founding queens needed for colony production can be caught in artificial nests made of live leaves that are curled on trees. In this study we investigated if the catch rate of O. longinoda queens in artificial nests could be improved by attracting queens to trees with a light source (electric torches). We compared catch rates of 50 artificial nests on each of eight citrus trees, four of them with light and four without light. During two mating seasons covering 9 mating flights we caught a total of 178 queens. However, 3.8 times more queens were caught in the trees with light compared to trees without light. We conclude that queen catches can be highly improved by combining artificial nests with an attracting light source.
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control of mango seed weevils sternochetus mangiferae using the african Weaver Ant oecophylla longinoda latreille hymenoptera formicidae
Journal of Applied Entomology, 2016Co-Authors: Nassor Rashid Abdulla, M Mwatawala, Gration M. Rwegasira, Km V Jensen, Joachim OffenbergAbstract:The mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius), is among the major threats to mango production in Tanzania. Sternochetus mangiferae is primarily a quarAntine pest whose presence inside the fruits restricts access to new foreign markets and leads to rejections of fruits destined for export. Management options for the pest have largely been dependent on field sanitation and application of synthetic insecticides with some success. Thus, more sustainable methods are needed to substitute insecticides, as this may also open up opportunities for organic markets. We conducted field experiments for two fruiting seasons in a mango plAntation at Mlandizi, Kibaha district, along the coastal belt of Tanzania to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the predaceous Ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille with foliar insecticidal sprays of Dudumida (70 WDG Imidacloprid) in controlling S. mangiferae. Mango seed weevil infestation was assessed fortnightly based on infestation marks on developing fruits starting eight weeks after fruit set to early ripening phase. Between 50 and 64 fruits were sampled, well labelled in jute bags, secured and transported to the laboratory at Kibaha Biological Control Unit (KBCU) for incubation at room temperature using rearing transparent containers. Two weeks later, the fruits were dissected and inspected for the presence of S. mangiferae developmental stages. Field and laboratory results indicated that fruits from trees that were occupied by O. longinoda and from those treated with insecticide showed significAntly (P < 0.0001) lower incidences and infestation rates by S. mangiferae than from untreated trees. Furthermore, there were no significAnt differences between the insecticide and the Weaver Ant treatments. We conclude that in our experiments, O. longinoda is an efficient biological control agent for a long-term control programme and is comparable to insecticide (Dudumida) in suppressing S. mangiferae and may be used in Tanzanian mango plAntations.
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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, Renkang K. Peng, Christian Damgaard, Joachim OffenbergAbstract: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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Urea in Weaver Ant Feces: QuAntification and Investigation of the Uptake and Translocation of Urea in Coffea arabica
Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 2016Co-Authors: Nanna Hjort Vidkjær, Joachim Offenberg, Karl-martin Vagn Jensen, Bernd Wollenweber, Per Ambus, Inge S. FomsgaardAbstract:Weaver Ants are tropical insects that nest in tree canopies, and for centuries these Ants have been used for pest control in tropical orchards. Trees hosting Weaver Ants might benefit not only from the pest protective properties of these insects but also an additional supply of nutrients from Ant feces deposited on the leaves. In a recent study, we demonstrated that Coffea arabica plAnts hosting Oecophylla smaragdina Weaver Ants under laboratory conditions experienced enhanced nitrogen availability compared with plAnts grown without Ants. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to further investigate the interactions of Weaver Ants with the host plAnts with respect to plAnt nutrition. Here, we report the identification and quAntification of urea, a highly effective foliar nutrient present in the fecal depositions of O. smaragdina. Feces samples obtained from six O. smaragdina colonies were analyzed, and urea concentrations ranging from 1.98 to 31.05 μg/mg Ant feces were detected. Subsequently, we investigated the uptake and translocation of 15N2-urea in amounts corresponding to the estimated urea contribution via feces depositions on single host plAnt leaves under laboratory conditions. The results clearly demonstrated that fecal urea was not only assimilated but also translocated within the plAnt. This evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that the fecal urea of Weaver Ants is a source of nitrogen for the host trees. Thus, Weaver Ant feces likely contribute to an improved nutritional status of Ant-hosting trees in tropical orchards, thereby adding value to the use of Weaver Ants for the biocontrol of insect pests.
William O. H. Hughes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A preliminary study of nest structure and composition of the Weaver Ant Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) delecta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Journal of Natural History, 2015Co-Authors: Christopher Tranter, William O. H. HughesAbstract:Polyrhachis Weaver Ants build their nests from vegetation bound together using silk produced by their larvae. Here we provide a pilot study of the composition and the physical structure of three arboreal silk nests of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) delecta based on examination of three colonies. We found broadly similar nest architecture and size of the nests with each containing six or seven identifiable chambers, and describe the distribution of Ants of different castes and life stages between them. We also note the construction of silk ‘girder’ structures, which spanned larger chambers, and we hypothesize that these provide additional strength to the internal nest structure. This study highlights the importance of more detailed investigation of the internal nest structure and composition in Polyrhachis, and other Weaver Ant species, which will help to develop our understanding of this specialized form of nest construction and nesting habits in a diverse group of Ants.
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Disease resistance in a Weaver Ant, Polyrhachis dives, and the role of Antibiotic-producing glands
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2011Co-Authors: Peter Graystock, William O. H. HughesAbstract:Parasites represent one of the main threats to all organisms and are likely to be particularly significAnt for social animals because of the increased potential for intragroup transmission. Social animals must therefore have effective resistance mechanisms against parasites and one of the most importAnt components of disease resistance in Ants is thought to be the Antibiotic-producing metapleural gland. This gland is ancestral in Ants, but has been lost secondarily in a small number of species. It is unknown whether these evolutionary losses are due to a reduction in parasite pressure or the replacement of the gland’s function with other resistance mechanisms. Here we used the generalist entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium to compare the disease resistance of a species of a Weaver Ant, Polyrhachis dives, which has lost the metapleural gland, with that of the well-studied leaf-cutting Ant Acromyrmex echinatior and two other Ant species, Myrmica ruginodis and Formica fusca, all of which have metapleural glands. The P. dives Weaver Ants had intermediate resistance when kept individually, and similar resistance to A. echinatior leaf-cutting Ants when kept in groups, suggesting that the loss of the metapleural gland has not resulted in Weaver Ants having reduced disease resistance. P. dives Weaver Ants self-groomed at a significAntly higher rate than the other Ants examined and apparently use their venom for resistance, as they had reduced resistance when their venom gland was blocked and the venom was shown in vitro to prevent the germination of fungal spores. Unexpectedly, the leaf-cutting Ant A. echinatior also had reduced resistance to Metarhizium when its venom gland was blocked. It therefore appears that the evolutionary loss of the metapleural gland does not result in reduced disease resistance in P. dives Weaver Ants, and that this at least in part may be due to the Ants having Antimicrobial venom and high self-grooming rates. The results therefore emphasise the importance of multiple, complementary mechanisms in the disease resistance of Ant societies.
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.
Sineenat Siri - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Composite Electrospun Scaffold Derived from RecombinAnt Fibroin of Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) as Cell-Substratum
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2017Co-Authors: Arunrat Khamhaengpol, Sineenat SiriAbstract:Unlike silkworm ( Bombyx mori ) fibroin (SF), Weaver Ant ( Oecophylla smaragdina ) fibroin (WAF) is much less studied. Due to differences in amino acid composition and protein structure, this work aimed to produce the recombinAnt WAF protein, designated as WAF1, and investigated on its potential application as a biomaterial for producing a cell-substratum. The composite electrospun scaffolds derived from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), WAF1, and extracted SF were produced by electrospinning. SEM images revealed non-woven and smooth fibers of PVA, PVA-WAF1, and PVA-SF scaffolds with the average diameters of 204.1 ± 59.9, 206.5 ± 71.5, and 238.4 ± 77.9 nm, respectively. ATR-FTIR spectra indicated characteristic absorption peaks related to the chemical structure of PVA and protein. The PVA-WAF1 scaffold demonstrated a higher water uptake, a slightly higher rate of degradation, and a similar low cytotoxicity as compared with the PVA-SF scaffold. Although the adhesion and proliferation of cells on the PVA-WAF1 scaffold were lower than those on the PVA-SF scaffold, it showed significAntly greater values of adhering and proliferating cells than the PVA scaffold. The results of this work suggested that WAF1 could be used as a biomaterial for producing a cell-substratum that supports cell adhesion and growth.
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Composite Electrospun Scaffold Derived from RecombinAnt Fibroin of Weaver Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) as Cell-Substratum
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2017Co-Authors: Arunrat Khamhaengpol, Sineenat SiriAbstract:Unlike silkworm ( Bombyx mori ) fibroin (SF), Weaver Ant ( Oecophylla smaragdina ) fibroin (WAF) is much less studied. Due to differences in amino acid composition and protein structure, this work aimed to produce the recombinAnt WAF protein, designated as WAF1, and investigated on its potential application as a biomaterial for producing a cell-substratum. The composite electrospun scaffolds derived from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), WAF1, and extracted SF were produced by electrospinning. SEM images revealed non-woven and smooth fibers of PVA, PVA-WAF1, and PVA-SF scaffolds with the average diameters of 204.1 ± 59.9, 206.5 ± 71.5, and 238.4 ± 77.9 nm, respectively. ATR-FTIR spectra indicated characteristic absorption peaks related to the chemical structure of PVA and protein. The PVA-WAF1 scaffold demonstrated a higher water uptake, a slightly higher rate of degradation, and a similar low cytotoxicity as compared with the PVA-SF scaffold. Although the adhesion and proliferation of cells on the PVA-WAF1 scaffold were lower than those on the PVA-SF scaffold, it showed significAntly greater values of adhering and proliferating cells than the PVA scaffold. The results of this work suggested that WAF1 could be used as a biomaterial for producing a cell-substratum that supports cell adhesion and growth.
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Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using tissue extract of Weaver Ant larvae
Materials Letters, 2017Co-Authors: Arunrat Khamhaengpol, Sineenat SiriAbstract:Abstract Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has gained widespread interest as the alternative method to use natural, non-toxic substances to facilitate the formation of AgNPs. This work reported on the alternative source of reducing and stabilizing agents from tissue extract of Weaver Ant ( Oecophylla smaragdina ) larvae. The formation of AgNPs in the reaction containing silver nitrate, the tissue extract, and glucose at 60 °C was indicated by the surface plasmon resonance at 428 nm. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed spherical AgNPs with the average diameter of 67.4 nm. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited potent Antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with the minimum bactericidal concentrations equally at 16 μg/mL.
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Fluorescent light mediated a green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the protein extract of Weaver Ant larvae.
Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B Biology, 2016Co-Authors: Arunrat Khamhaengpol, Sineenat SiriAbstract:Abstract Alternative to crude plAnt extracts, a crude protein extract derived from animal cells is one of the potential sources of biomolecules for mediating a reduction of silver ions and a formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) under a mild condition, which very few works have been reported. This work demonstrated a use of the protein extract of Weaver Ant larvae as a bio-facilitator for a simple, green synthesis of AgNPs under fluorescent light at room temperature. The protein extract of Weaver Ant larvae exhibited the reducing and AntioxidAnt activities, which assisted a formation of AgNPs in the reaction containing only silver nitrate under light exposure. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed the dispersed, spherical AgNPs with an average size of 7.87 ± 2.54 nm. The maximum surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the synthesized AgNPs was at 435 nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray analysis revealed that silver was a major element of the particles. The identity of AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern, selected area electron diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy analyses, which demonstrated the planes of face centered cubic silver. The synthesized AgNPs showed Antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values equally at 250 μg/ml, suggesting their potential application as an effective Antibacterial agent.
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alternative biomaterials natural non woven fibroin based silk nanofibers of Weaver Ants oecophylla smaragdina
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2010Co-Authors: Sineenat Siri, Santi MaensiriAbstract:Silks of silkworms and spiders have been widely studied as biomaterials, however, none has been reported on silks produced by Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). This study is the first to report on some properties of natural silk fibers of Weaver Ants and their potential application as a cell matrix. Weaver Ant fibrous mat contained non-woven mesh of fibers with diameters ranging from 266 to 3056 nm. The average diameter of fibers was 766+/-326 nm. The thickness, mass, and apparent density of the fibrous mats were 39.0+/-9.8 microm, 0.8+/-0.1 mg/cm2, and 0.22+/-0.03 g/cm3, respectively. Freshly made fibrous mats by Weaver Ants were highly hydrophilic as determined by water contact angle analysis, whereas older ones were quite hydrophobic. TG-DTA analysis revealed a major weight loss peak from 260 up to about 330 degrees C, similar to the decomposition peak of Bombyx mori fibroin. FT-IR spectrum showed amide I, amide II, amide III, C-H and C-O peaks, which were attributed to random coil and beta-sheet conformation in the protein structure of the Weaver Ant fibers. The fibrous mat was slight toxic to the fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells (37.8% cell death), probably due to some toxic particles deposited on the fibers. Nevertheless, Weaver Ant fibrous mat served as a good matrix for cell adhesion. Results of this work provided evidence for the properties and a potential application of natural Weaver Ant fibers as an alternative, natural, fibroin-based matrix.
Odair Correa Bueno - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Transovarian Transmission of Blochmannia and Wolbachia Endosymbionts in the Neotropical Weaver Ant Camponotus textor (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Current Microbiology, 2018Co-Authors: Manuela O. F. Ramalho, Alexsandro Santana Vieira, Mayara Cristina Pereira, Corrie Saux Moreau, Odair Correa BuenoAbstract:Camponotus is a hyper-diverse Ant genus that is associated with the obligate endosymbiont Blochmannia, and often also with Wolbachia, but morphological studies on the location of these bacteria in the queen’s ovaries during oogenesis remain limited. In the present study, we used the Neotropical Weaver Ant Camponotus textor to characterize the ovary using histology (HE) techniques, and to document the location of Blochmannia and Wolbachia during oogenesis through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This is the first morphological report of these two bacteria in the same host with polytrophic meroistic ovaries and reveals that Blochmannia is found inside late-stage oocytes and Wolbachia is associated with the nuclei of the nurse cells. Our results provide insights into the developmental sequence of when these bacteria reach the egg, with Blochmannia establishing itself in the egg first, and Wolbachia only reaching the egg shortly before completing egg development. Studies such as this provide understanding about the mechanisms and timing of the establishment of these endosymbionts in the host.
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Molecular Profile of the Brazilian Weaver Ant Camponotus textor Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
Neotropical Entomology, 2016Co-Authors: Manuela O. F. Ramalho, C Martins, L M R Silva, V G Martins, Odair Correa BuenoAbstract:Camponotus textor Forel is, to date, the only Weaver Ant recorded from Brazil, and all existing studies on the species are restricted to describing its weaving and nesting behaviors. The aim of this work is to establish the molecular profile of the species. We sampled eight different colonies by sequencing mitochondrial genes (COI, transfer DNA (tRNA), and an intergenic spacer) and the nuclear gene 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA). We then assessed haplotype diversity and also analyzed distribution patterns of this species based on the correlation between genetic and geographic distances. Our results provide an additional tool for species identification by identifying new regions that can be used as molecular markers for barcoding (such as the intergenic spacer (IGS) and tRNA-Leu). In addition, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that C. textor has features that could be associated with deep population divergences. We identified a wide range of mitotypes and three distinct groups, suggesting a possible reduction of gene flow between colonies.
