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Symbiotic association between hoopoes and antibiotic‐producing bacteria that live in their uropygial gland
Author(s) -
Soler J. J.,
MartínVivaldi M.,
RuizRodríguez M.,
Valdivia E.,
MartínPlatero A. M.,
MartínezBueno M.,
PeraltaSánchez J. M.,
Méndez M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01448.x
Subject(s) - biology , antimicrobial , symbiotic bacteria , bacteria , sturnus , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogenic bacteria , zoology , symbiosis , genetics
Summary1 It has been recently showed that one bacterial strain isolated from the uropygial gland of a nestling hoopoe Upupa epops produced antimicrobial peptides active against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria might thus mediate antimicrobial properties of the uropygial secretions as a consequence of the symbiotic association with hoopoes. 2 We study antimicrobial properties of white (from males and non‐breeding females) and brown (from nestlings and breeding females) uropygial gland secretions of hoopoes Upupa epops , as well as the association with the presence of bacteria living inside their uropygial gland. 3 We found that brown, but not white secretions contained bacteria and showed antimicrobial activity against the feather degrading bacterium Bacillus licheniformis . The antagonistic activity of bacterial colonies was mediated by antimicrobial peptides because protease inhibited antimicrobial properties. 4 All except one identified bacterium in aerobic cultures were of the genus Enterococcus , and the microscopic study of uropygial secretions and glands confirmed a high density of bacteria within the gland. 5 Furthermore, we studied potential benefits of antimicrobial peptides produced by symbiotic bacteria of hoopoes by adding protease to incubating nests. 6 The experiment increased bacterial growth and hatching failures in hoopoes but not in spotless starlings Sturnus unicolor , a species that does not harbour bacteria in its uropygial gland. 7 Thus, microbiological, anatomical and ecological results suggest a tight symbiotic interaction between bacteria that produce antibiotic substances and the hoopoes.