VARSIMCALAOS

Mutualisms with bacteria have a profound influence on the evolution of animals. In some systems, bacteria protect their animal hosts against pathogens thanks to their ability to produce antimicrobial substances. In previous studies we have found that a wild bird, the hoopoe (Upupa epops), hosts in its uropygial gland a bacterial community including antimicrobial producers. The symbionts that have demonstrated a greater influence on the success of the bird are enterococci, which are known by their production of bacteriocins (small antimicrobial peptides) with a wide activity spectrum. Given the wide geographical distribution of the bird and the existence of several subspecies, it is possible that in these different evolutionary lines, different bacterial strains have been selected by their antimicrobial potential, adjusted to different ecological conditions in their particular geographical range. This proposal aims to characterize geographic variation in the symbiotic bacteria communities associated to the uropygial gland of hoopoes and hornbills, as well as their antimicrobial capacities. We expect to find an association between such antimicrobial potential and the selective pressure exerted by different kinds of pathogens (bacteria, ecto-parasites and blood parasites), thus demonstrating co-evolution between birds and antimicrobial producing bacteria both at intra- and inter-subspecific levels. The approach could also let the discovering of new natural antimicrobials.