Fungi and insects as models of extraordinary symbiosis

Abstract

Symbiosis among microorganisms represents an interesting relationship that takes different shapes. Obligatory, facultative, and endosymbiotic relationships have all been reported between different microorganisms. Whether it is mutualism, commensalism, amensalism, or parasitism, understanding every association is of great importance to science and humanity. Knowing how these creatures benefit from each other may be useful for biocontrol purposes, or even for discovery of novel metabolites that result from these associations, and which may not be produced by the individual species. In this review, five examples of symbiosis were presented, including among the Laboulbeniales; Septobasidium; Ambrosia Fungi and Beetles; Leaf-cutter ants and their fungus gardens; and finally, termites and Termitomyces. Moreover, the benefits each partner is getting were highlighted, and uniqueness in every form of those symbiosis models was simply described.