Data from: Azteca ants maintain unique microbiomes across functionally distinct nest chambers

The microbiome of built structures has considerable influence over an
inhabitant’s well-being, yet the vast majority of research has focused on
human-built structures. Ants are well-known architects, capable of
constructing elaborate dwellings, the microbiome of which is
underexplored. Here, we explore the bacterial and fungal microbiomes in
functionally distinct chambers within and outside the nests of Azteca
alfari ants in Cecropia peltata trees. We predicted that A. alfari
colonies 1) maintain distinct microbiomes within their nests compared to
the surrounding environment, 2) maintain distinct microbiomes among nest
chambers used for different functions, and 3) limit both ant and plant
pathogens inside their nests. In support of these predictions, we found
that internal and external nest sampling locations had distinct microbial
communities, and A. alfari maintained lower bacterial richness in their
“nurseries.” While putative animal pathogens were suppressed in chambers
that ants actively inhabited, putative plant pathogens were not, which
does not support our hypothesis that A. alfari defends its host trees
against microbial antagonists. Our results show that ants influence
microbial communities inside their nests similar to studies on human
homes. Unlike humans, ants limit the bacteria in their nurseries and
potentially prevent the buildup of insect-infecting pathogens. These
results highlight the importance of documenting how indoor microbiomes
differ among species, which might improve our understanding of how to
promote indoor health in human dwellings.

人工建造结构的微生物组（microbiome）对居住者的健康福祉有着显著影响，但目前绝大多数相关研究均聚焦于人类建造的构筑物。蚂蚁作为知名的筑巢建筑师，能够构筑结构精巧的栖息巢穴，但其相关微生物组的研究仍有待深入挖掘。本研究针对栖息于盾状号角树（Cecropia peltata）上的阿尔法里举腹蚁（Azteca alfari）巢穴内外不同功能的蚁巢腔室，对其细菌与真菌微生物组展开探究。我们提出三项研究预测：其一，蚁巢内部的微生物组与周边环境存在显著差异；其二，不同功能的蚁巢腔室之间，其微生物组组成亦有所区别；其三，蚁巢内部可抑制蚂蚁及植物病原菌的滋生。

研究结果验证了上述预测：蚁巢内外采样点的微生物群落结构存在显著差异，且阿尔法里举腹蚁的"育婴室"腔室中细菌丰富度更低。尽管蚂蚁主动栖息的腔室内，推定的动物病原菌受到了抑制，但推定的植物病原菌并未得到有效控制，这一结果并不支持"阿尔法里举腹蚁可保护其宿主号角树免受微生物致病拮抗菌侵害"的假说。我们的研究结果表明，蚂蚁对蚁巢内部微生物群落的调控作用，与此前针对人类住宅的相关研究结论一致。与人类不同的是，蚂蚁会降低其育婴室内的细菌丰度，并有望阻断昆虫致病病原菌的积累。本研究结果凸显了记录不同物种"室内"微生物组差异的重要性，这或有助于深化我们对如何优化人类居住空间室内健康水平的认知。