Fig. 7.

Accumulation of virulence factor 2 in Acromyrmex ants during nest infection by Escovopsis. Levels of 2 detected in leafcutter worker ants (±s.e.m.) reach biologically relevant concentrations during nest infection by Escovopsis as follows: Acromyrmex echinatior ants fed a 5% glucose solution (control), ants fed a 5% glucose solution containing 0.1 mM 2, and ants from nests artificially infected with Escovopsis strains D or E, as indicated, and Atta colombica ants from a nest with a natural outbreak of Escovopsis (strain unknown). Lines denote significant differences between groups, as confirmed by Dunn’s multiple comparison tests with adjusted P values