Background Animals frequently encounter a variety of harmful fungi in the wild, but their ability to develop sophisticated anti-fungal strategies allows them to flourish across the globe. Extensive studies have highlighted significant involvement of indigenous microbial communities in host health, but the daunting complexity of microflora has hampered our understanding of the intricate relationships among them. In this work, we sought to develop a bacterium-fungus-Drosophila model that offered a model to systematically evaluate the anti-fungal effects of commensal bacteria. Results We isolated a pathogenic fungal strain, Diaporthe FY, that was detrimental to the survival and development of Drosophila upon infection. Using Drosophila as a model system, Drosophila-associated Lactobacillus plantarum functioned as a probiotics, and protected flies from mortality induced by Diaporthe FY. Our results shown that L. plantarum hindered the growth of Diaporthe FY in vitro, and decreased the mortality rate of Diaporthe FY-infected flies in vivo, therefore consequently mitigating the toxicity of Diaporthe FY to hosts. In addition, L. plantarum overrode the avoidance of oviposition on Diaporthe FY-associated substrates. Conclusions Diaporthe FY was identified as a potential pathogen to Drosophila. Commensal L. plantarum mitigated the pathogenic fungi-induced susceptibility in Drosophila, providing an insight into the natural interplays between commensal and pathogenic microbial communities that contribute to animal health and pathogenesis.

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On 17 Dec, 2019
On 13 Dec, 2019
On 11 Dec, 2019
On 11 Dec, 2019
On 05 Dec, 2019
On 25 Nov, 2019
On 24 Nov, 2019
On 24 Nov, 2019
On 21 Nov, 2019
Invitations sent on 04 Nov, 2019
On 04 Sep, 2019
On 03 Sep, 2019
On 03 Sep, 2019
Posted 15 Aug, 2019
On 08 Aug, 2019
On 08 Aug, 2019
On 01 Jul, 2019
On 30 Jun, 2019
On 30 Jun, 2019
On 17 Dec, 2019
On 13 Dec, 2019
On 11 Dec, 2019
On 11 Dec, 2019
On 05 Dec, 2019
On 25 Nov, 2019
On 24 Nov, 2019
On 24 Nov, 2019
On 21 Nov, 2019
Invitations sent on 04 Nov, 2019
On 04 Sep, 2019
On 03 Sep, 2019
On 03 Sep, 2019
Posted 15 Aug, 2019
On 08 Aug, 2019
On 08 Aug, 2019
On 01 Jul, 2019
On 30 Jun, 2019
On 30 Jun, 2019
Background Animals frequently encounter a variety of harmful fungi in the wild, but their ability to develop sophisticated anti-fungal strategies allows them to flourish across the globe. Extensive studies have highlighted significant involvement of indigenous microbial communities in host health, but the daunting complexity of microflora has hampered our understanding of the intricate relationships among them. In this work, we sought to develop a bacterium-fungus-Drosophila model that offered a model to systematically evaluate the anti-fungal effects of commensal bacteria. Results We isolated a pathogenic fungal strain, Diaporthe FY, that was detrimental to the survival and development of Drosophila upon infection. Using Drosophila as a model system, Drosophila-associated Lactobacillus plantarum functioned as a probiotics, and protected flies from mortality induced by Diaporthe FY. Our results shown that L. plantarum hindered the growth of Diaporthe FY in vitro, and decreased the mortality rate of Diaporthe FY-infected flies in vivo, therefore consequently mitigating the toxicity of Diaporthe FY to hosts. In addition, L. plantarum overrode the avoidance of oviposition on Diaporthe FY-associated substrates. Conclusions Diaporthe FY was identified as a potential pathogen to Drosophila. Commensal L. plantarum mitigated the pathogenic fungi-induced susceptibility in Drosophila, providing an insight into the natural interplays between commensal and pathogenic microbial communities that contribute to animal health and pathogenesis.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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