Ants manage polyol production to fight fungal antagonists

Abstract

Microbial communities are critical elements of biodiversity modulating life on Earth. Insects interact intensely with microorganisms to obtain nutrients. They also suffer from diseases caused by microbial infections. The present study is an example of how the different actors of a microbial community interact with each other and their insect hosts. We found that polyols produced by microbes that digest plant matter affect nutrition and facilitate infections in leafcutter ants. This knowledge is crucial for understanding ant-microbe interaction and controlling agricultural pest leafcutter ants.