from Desert Specialist Fungus-Growing Ants Suppresses Contaminant Fungi Using the Antibiotic ECO-0501.

Symbiotic help fungus-growing ants suppress fungal pathogens through the production of antifungal compounds. ants of the southwest desert of the United States inhabit a unique niche far from the tropical rainforests in which most fungus-growing ant species are found. These ants may not encounter the specialist fungal pathogen known to threaten colonies of other fungus-growing ants.