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[Preprint]. 2023 Jul 25:2023.07.14.549088. [Version 4] doi: 10.1101/2023.07.14.549088

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Distinct roles of bacteria and fungi in male and female fecundity. A. Feeding scheme to test the role of bacteria and fungi in oogenesis. Newly eclosed flies are fed antibacterial (AB), antifungal (AF), or AB+AF treatments for 21 days, mated for 2 days (M), then maintained on control food for oviposition assays.

B. AB treatment of virgin females causes a slight decrease in the number of mature Stage 13/14 eggs compared to control flies. Females treated with AF or AB+AF produce significantly fewer eggs compared to the respective control. Treatment with AB+AF suppressed oogenesis to a greater extent than either drug alone. Lines indicate median. The p values were determined by a general linear model with a Poisson regression. Samples sizes are indicated beneath each treatment.

C. Representative images of ovaries from flies fed on control oil food (top) or captan-supplemented food (bottom).

D. Mating combinations used to test the role of bacteria and fungi in male and female fecundity. One male and one female from control, antibacterial (AB), antifungal (AF), or AB+AF treatments are placed in each courtship chamber. Flies are monitored for 48 h.

E. AB treatment of females, males, or both sexes led to reduced fecundity. Significantly fewer AF-treated females oviposited but AF treatment had no substantial impact on male fecundity (p=0.53). Concurrent suppression of both bacteria and fungi significantly reduced male and female fecundity. Samples sizes are indicated above bars. The p values were determined by a two-tailed Fisher exact probability test.

F. Reducing gut bacteria levels in females or males alone did not substantially change the number of eggs laid (n=21; p=0.14). However, AB female/male dyads exhibit an additive loss of fecundity (n=30; p<.0001). Fungal suppression in females but not males significantly inhibited the number of eggs laid (n=38–39; AF females: p<0.0001). Fungal suppression in both males and females inhibits fecundity (n=43; p<0.0001)). Inhibition of both bacteria and fungi results in the loss of fecundity in both females and males compared to controls (n=20; AB+AF males: p=0.0002; AB+AF females and AB+AF dyads: p<0.0001). Lines indicate median. The p-values were determined by a Kruskall-Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparisons test.