STUDY ORGANISMS:

Rickia_wasmannii_F0432_PS6536

Myrmica scabrinodis (infected)

 

12267002905_5b7252cab0_o

Rickia wasmannii

 

R. wasmannii on M. scabrinodis

 

Rickia lenoirii

 

Laboulbenia camponoti (3)

Laboulbenia camponoti

 

Laboulbenia formicarum

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SUPPORTED BY:

FP7

 

LogoMarieCurie

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INSTITUTE:

UD

 

 

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fejlec

 

 

 

TOPIC           NEWS           PUBLICATIONS

 

 

Topic

 

Evolutionary processes between parasites and their hosts are important forces for shaping biodiversity on Earth.

 

The obligate ectoparasitic Laboulbeniales fungi are associated with arthropods. Only some ant species are known as hosts, and of only six species of these fungi. Of these six species, only Rickia wasmannii and Laboulbenia camponoti were known from Europe, until recent records of the exotic L. formicarum and the description of R. lenoirii. These fungi are understudied in Europe and the few references (see this review) about them are mostly records from new regions. Publications about the physiological and behavioural effect of these fungi on their ant hosts are not available but we hypothesise strong evolutionary effects on the ants and vice versa. Based on the relatively easy laboratory culturing of ant colonies and the large proportion of infected individuals within infected ant nests, ants are excellent model organisms to study the interaction of Laboulbeniales fungi with their hosts. Such research can potentially help to understand the adaptation mechanisms of other parasite populations to their hosts.

 

Our aim is to provide hitherto missing basic knowledge about the ant-Laboulbeniales system, and to foster deeper study of this interaction. Our main study organisms (see left) are R. wasmannii and its Myrmica scabrinodis host ant and we also have some research on L. camponoti and on its Camponotus aethisops host ant, R. lenoirii on its Messor structor host ant and also on L. formicarum and on its Lasius neglectus host ant.

 

The MYRMecological Team of the University of Debrecen carries out laboratorial and field research on ants and their (social)parasites, mainly at the Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology. The four-year-long “AntLab” Marie Curie CIG project led by A. Tartally and managed by this team started in January 2013.

 

 

News    ↑

 

  1. 16 November 2016: A paper is published about the presence of Rickia wasmannii on myrmecophilous arthropods. (see)
  2. 26 October 2016: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  3. 30 September 2016: : A Tartally., A.Á. Somogyi & F. Báthori presented the results of the “AntLab” project at the “Researchers' Night” (University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  4. 26 September 2016: A paper is published about the first Central European record of the fungus Prolixandromyces triandrus. (see)
  5. 7 December 2016: Two lectures about the result of the “AntLab” project for the public of the Hungarian biological society and to the Hungarian entomological society (both societies include several amateur members)
  6. 16 July 2016: A paper is published about the antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles on Rickia wasmannii. (see)
  7. 31 May 2016: A paper is published about the histopathology of Laboulbeniales on ants. (see)
  8. 18 May 2016: A paper is accepted about the first Central European record of the fungus Prolixandromyces triandrus, a parasite of Veliid Bugs. (see)
  9. 17 May 2016: A paper is accepted about the antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles on Rickia wasmannii. (see)
  10. 10 May 2016: A poster has been presented at the “Ants 2016” [(Ant interactions with fungi, microbes, other insects, and plants. Insights from integrative approaches.), Munich, 5-7 May 2016.] (see)
  11. 15 March 2016: A paper is accepted about the histopathology of Laboulbeniales on ants. (see)
  12. 31 December 2015: Paper is published about that Rickia lenoirii is a new fungus species for the Carpathian-Basin. (see)
  13. 23 December 2015: Paper is accepted about that Rickia lenoirii is a new fungus species for the Carpathian-Basin. (see)
  14. 4 November 2015: Paper is published about techniques for extraction and PCR amplification of DNA from Laboulbeniales fungi (see)
  15. 29 October 2015: Paper is accepted about techniques for extraction and PCR amplification of DNA from Laboulbeniales fungi (see)
  16. 20 October 2015: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  17. 28 July 2015: The “6th Central European workshop in myrmecology”, partly supported by the “AntLab” project, was held in Debrecen (Hungary) between 24th-27th July 2014. The results of the “AntLab” project were disseminated in three lectures. (see)
  18. 1 February 2015: The “6th Central European workshop in myrmecology” will be partly supported by the “AntLab” project (see)
  19. 29 January 2015: Blog post about that Laboulbenia camponoti is a new fungus species for the Carpathian-Basin. (see)
  20. 13 January 2015: Paper is accepted about that Rickia wasmannii increases the need for water in Myrmica scabrinodis. (see)
  21. 6 January 2015: Journal interview with A. Tartally in “Élet és Tudomány” ("Life and Science", a popular Hungarian journal). (see)
  22. 17 December 2014: A lecture of A. Tartally on our results about the “AntLab” project in “Researcher's café” (“Science & Communication – Development of Science Dissemination Activities of the University of Debrecen”, this program is supported by TÁMOP-4.2.3-12/1/Konv-2012-0060 where English lectures are kept especially for foreign students)
  23. 12 December 2014: Paper is accepted that we have not found Laboulbenia formicarum on any of the 4706 Lasius neglectus workers collected from 20 Hungarian supercolonies. (see)
  24. 30 October 2014: Radio interview A. Tartally and F. Báthori on our results about the “AntLab” project on “FM90 Campus Rádió” (Debrecen, Hungary). (listen)
  25. 22 October 2014: Paper is published about that Laboulbenia camponoti is a new fungus species for the Carpathian-Basin. (see)
  26. 26 September 2014: A. Tartally, A.Á. Somogyi & F. Báthori presented the results of the “AntLab” project at the “Researchers' Night” (University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  27. 17 August 2014: The “First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi” supported by the “AntLab” project was held in Szögliget (Hungary) between 14th-17th August 2014. The workshop joined to the “5. Kárpát-medencei Mürmekológiai Szimpózium” (5th Pannonian Myrmecological Symposium) welcomed 19 myrmecologists from Romania and Hungary. The results of the “AntLab” project were disseminated in seven lectures. (see)
  28. 20 July 2014: Six posters have been presented at the “International Union for the Study of Social Insects” (IUSSI 2014, Cairns, Australia). (see)
  29. 20 July 2014: One posters have been presented at the “European Conference on Behavioural Biology” (Prague, Czech Republic). (see)
  30. 10 February 2014: Two posters have been presented at the “Evolutionary Significance of Consistent Behavioural Variation” (Debrecen, Hungary). (see)
  31. 31 January 2014: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  32. 2 December 2013: Two poster have been presented at the “Magyar Etológiai Társaság XV. Kongresszusa” (15th Congress of the Hungarian Ethological Society, Budapest, Hungary). (see)
  33. 10 September 2013: One poster have been presented at the “5th Central European Workshop of Myrmecology” (Innsbruck, Austria). (see)

 

 

Publications    ↑

 

Papers           Posters           Lectures           Outreach Activities

 

Papers:

  1. Pfliegler, W.P., Báthori, F., Haelewaters, D. & Tartally, A. (2016): Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (III): myrmecophilous arthropods as alternative hosts of Rickia wasmannii. – Parasite, 23: 50. (see)
  2. Pfliegler, W.P., Fekete, J., Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2016): First Central European record of the fungus Prolixandromyces triandrus Santam. (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales), a parasite of Veliid bugs (Heteroptera: Veliidae), with notes on its biology and DNA-barcoding. – Aquatic Insects, 37(3): 215–223. (see)
  3. Pfliegler, W.P., Tálas, L., Báthori, F., Tartally, A., Pócsi, I. & Szemán-Nagy, G. (2016): Antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles on Rickia wasmannii Cavara (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) infecting Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander (Formicidae) ants. – Sociobiology, 63(2): 851-854. (see)
  4. Tragust, S., Tartally, A., Espadaler, X. & Billen, J. (2016): Histopathology of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales): ectoparasitic fungi on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – Myrmecological News, 23: 81–89. (see)
  5. Báthori, F., Pfliegler, W.P. & Tartally, A. (2015): First records of the recently described ectoparasitic Rickia lenoirii Santam. (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) in the Carpathian Basin. – Sociobiology, 62: 620-622. (see)
  6. Haelewaters, D., Gorczak, M., Pfliegler, W.P., Tartally, A., Tischer, M., Wrzosek, M. & Pfister, D.H. (2015): Bringing Laboulbeniales into the 21st century: enhanced techniques for extraction and PCR amplification of DNA from minute ectoparasitic fungi. – IMA Fungus, 6(2): 363–372. (see)
  7. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2015): Rickia wasmannii increases the need for water in Myrmica scabrinodis (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales; Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 126: 78-82. (see)
  8. Tartally, A. & Báthori, F. (2015): Does Laboulbenia formicarum (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) fungus infect the invasive garden ant, Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Hungary? – e-Acta Naturalia Pannonica, 8: 117-123. (see)
  9. Báthori, F., Pfliegler, W.P. & Tartally, A. (2014): First records of the myrmecophilous fungus Laboulbenia camponoti Batra (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) from Austria and Romania. – Sociobiology, 61: 338-340. (see)
  10. Tartally, A., Szűcs, B. & Ebsen, J.R. (2007): The first records of Rickia wasmannii Cavara, 1899, a myrmecophilous fungus, and its Myrmica Latreille, 1804 host ants in Hungary and Romania (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales; Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – Myrmecological News, 10: 123 (published lecture Abstract) (see) (About this topic but before the starting of the “AntLab” project)

 

Lectures:

  1. Báthori, F., Pfliegler, W.P. & Tartally, A. (2015): Occurrence of ant parasitic Laboulbeniales fungi in the Carpathian Basin. – 6th Central European workshop in myrmecology, Debrecen (Hungary), 24-27 July 2015
  2. Pfliegler, W.P., Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2015): Molecular genetic investigations of the enigmatic Rickia wasmannii (Laboulbeniales), a fungal parasite of ants. – 6th Central European workshop in myrmecology, Debrecen (Hungary), 24-27 July 2015
  3. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014): Effect of Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) on the aggression and braveness of Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  4. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014): Rickia wasmannii Cavara, 1899 (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) increases the need for water in Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander 1846 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  5. Báthori, F., Pfliegler, P.W. & Tartally, A. (2014): First records of the myrmecophilous fungus Laboulbenia camponoti Batra (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) from Austria and Romania. – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  6. Czibere, J., Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2014): Effect of Rickia wasmanni fungus on the microhabitat preference of Myrmica scabrinodis. – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  7. Márku, V., Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2014): Effect of Rickia wasmanni fungus on the survival of Myrmica scabrinodis under water. – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  8. Tartally, A., Tragust, S., Espadaler, X. & Billen, J. (2014): Attachment of Laboulbeniales fungi on their ant hosts: ultrastructural study. – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  9. Vona, N., Tartally, A. & Kiss-Szikszai, A. (2014): Rickia wasmannii Cavara, 1899 effects the hydrocarbon profile of Myrmica scabrinodis Nylander, 1846. – First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi, Szögliget (Hungary), 14-17 August 2014
  10. Tartally, A. & Szűcs, B. (2007): First records of Rickia wasmannii, a myrmecophilous fungus, and its Myrmica host ants in Hungary and Romania (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales; Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – 2nd Central European workshop of myrmecology - Szeged, Hungary, 17-19th May 2007, p. 51. (About this topic but before the starting of the “AntLab” project)

 

Posters:

  1. Tartally, A., Somogyi, A.Á. & Báthori, F. (2016) Survival of Maculinea alcon caterpillars in artificial Myrmica scabrinodis colonies infected vs. uninfected with Rickia wasmannii fungus. – Ants 2016 (Ant interactions with fungi, microbes, other insects, and plants. Insights from integrative approaches.), Munich, 5-7 May 2016
  2. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014) Effect of Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) on the aggression and braveness of Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – The European Conference on Behavioural Biology, Prague, 17-20 July 2014
  3. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014) Withdrawn resources: Rickia wasmannii shortens the lifespan of Myrmica scabrinodis. – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  4. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014) Behavioural effect of Rickia wasmannii (Laboulbeniales) on Myrmica scabrinodis workers. – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  5. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2014): Behavioural effect of Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) on Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – The evolutionary significance of consistent behavioral variation, Debrecen, Hungary 7th-8th February 2014
  6. Csata, E. Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2014) Does the infestation of Myrmica scabrinodis by Rickia wasmannii cause behaviour changes in water consumption? – The evolutionary significance of consistent behavioral variation, Debrecen, Hungary 7th-8th February 2014
  7. Csata, E. Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2014) Rickia wasmannii (Laboulbeniales) influences the water consumption of Myrmica scabrinodis. – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  8. Tálas, L., Tánczos, B., Tartally, A. & Nagy, G. (2014) Antifungal effect of silver nanoparticles on Rickia wasmannii infected ants. – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  9. Tánczos, B., Tálas, L., Nagy, G. & Tartally, A. (2014) Coverage of Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycota: Laboulbeniales) on Myrmica scabrinodis (Formicidae) . – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  10. Tartally, A., Tragust, S., Espadaler, X. & Billen, J. (2014) Attachment of Laboulbeniales fungi on their ant hosts: ultrastructural study. – International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI 2014), Cairns (Australia) 13- 18 July 2014
  11. Báthori, F., Csata, E. & Tartally, A. (2013) A Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniaceae) gombafaj hatásának vizsgálata a Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) hangyafaj viselkedésére. – A Magyar Etológiai Társaság XV. Kongresszusa, Budapest, 2013. november 29-december 1, p. 41
  12. Csata E., Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2013) A Rickia wasmannii gombafajjal fertozött Myrmica scabrinodis hangyafaj egyedeinek vízigény vizsgálata – A Magyar Etológiai Társaság XV. Kongresszusa, Budapest, 2013. november 29-december 1, p. 42
  13. Báthori, F. & Tartally, A. (2013): Behavioural effect of Rickia wassmannii (Ascomycetes: Laboulbeniales) on Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). – 5th Central European Workshop of Myrmecology 5-8 September 2013 Innsbruck, Austria, p. 67
  14. Szűcs, B. & Tartally, A. (2007): Első adatok egy myrmekofil gombafaj (Rickia wasmanni) kárpát-medencei előfordulásáról és az ottani hangyagazdáiról. – 3. Szünzoológiai Szimpózium, Budapest (About this topic but before the starting of the “AntLab” project)

 

Organised workshops:

  1. 24- 27 July 2015: The “6th Central European Workshop of Myrmecology”, supported partly by the “AntLab” project, was held in Debrecen (Hungary) between 24- 27 July 2015. The workshop welcomed 41 myrmecologists from several countries. The results of the “AntLab” project were disseminated in a separated section (see above).
  2. 14-17 August 2014: The “First workshop on interactions between ANTs and LABoulbeniales fungi”, supported by the “AntLab” project, was held in Szögliget (Hungary) between 14th-17th August 2014. The workshop, combined with the “5. MÜSZI” (5th Pannonian Myrmecological Symposium) welcomed 19 myrmecologists from Romania and Hungary. The results of the “AntLab” project were disseminated in oral presentations (see above).

 

Outreach Activities:

  1. Up-to-date: News on the webpage of the “AntLab” project: http://web.unideb.hu/tartally/AntLab.htm
  2. Up-to-date: News on the Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvoZooDeb
  3. Up-to-date: News on the Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvoZooDeb/
  4. 7 December 2016: Two lectures about the result of the “AntLab” project for the public of the Hungarian biological society and to the Hungarian entomological society (both societies include several amateur members)
  5. 30 September 2016: : A Tartally., A.Á. Somogyi & F. Báthori presented the results of the “AntLab” project at the “Researchers' Night” (University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  6. 26 October 2016: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  7. 20 October 2015: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  8. 29 January 2015: Blog post about that Laboulbenia camponoti is a new fungus species for the Carpathian-Basin. (see)
  9. 6 January 2015: Journal interview with A. Tartally in “Élet és Tudomány” ("Life and Science", a popular Hungarian journal). (see)
  10. 17 December 2014: A lecture of A. Tartally on our results about the “AntLab” project in “Researcher's café” (“Science & Communication – Development of Science Dissemination Activities of the University of Debrecen”, this program is supported by TÁMOP-4.2.3-12/1/Konv-2012-0060 where English lectures are kept especially for foreign students)
  11. 26 September 2014: A Tartally., A.Á. Somogyi & F. Báthori presented the results of the “AntLab” project at the “Researchers' Night” (University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  12. 30 October 2014: A radio interview with A. Tartally and F. Báthori on our results about the “AntLab” project on “FM90 Campus Rádió” (the radio of the University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary). (listen)
  13. 31 January 2014: A. Tartally presented the available conference posters about the “AntLab” project (see) at the “TTK Karnevál” (a popular dissemination of the work on the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)

 

 

 

Other publications of the MYRMecological Team

 

 

Up-to-date list of ant-Laboulbeniales papers

 

 

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Edited by A. Tartally

All photos by W.P. Pfliegler

Last modified: 18 January 2017