@article{lucas_madden_penick_epps_marting_stevens_fergus_dunn_meineke_2019, title={Azteca ants maintain unique microbiomes across functionally distinct nest chambers}, volume={286}, ISSN={["1471-2954"]}, DOI={10.1098/rspb.2019.1026}, abstractNote={
            The microbiome of built structures has considerable influence over an inhabitant's well-being, yet the vast majority of research has focused on human-built structures. Ants are well-known architects, capable of constructing elaborate dwellings, the microbiome of which is underexplored. Here, we explore the bacterial and fungal microbiomes in functionally distinct chambers within and outside the nests of
            Azteca alfari
            ants in
            Cecropia peltata
            trees. We predicted that
            A. alfari
            colonies (1) maintain distinct microbiomes within their nests compared to the surrounding environment, (2) maintain distinct microbiomes among nest chambers used for different functions, and (3) limit both ant and plant pathogens inside their nests. In support of these predictions, we found that internal and external nest sampling locations had distinct microbial communities, and
            A. alfari
            maintained lower bacterial richness in their ‘nurseries’. While putative animal pathogens were suppressed in chambers that ants actively inhabited, putative plant pathogens were not, which does not support our hypothesis that
            A. alfari
            defends its host trees against microbial antagonists. Our results show that ants influence microbial communities inside their nests similar to studies of human homes. Unlike humans, ants limit the bacteria in their nurseries and potentially prevent the build-up of insect-infecting pathogens. These results highlight the importance of documenting how indoor microbiomes differ among species, which might improve our understanding of how to promote indoor health in human dwellings.
          }, number={1908}, journal={PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES}, author={Lucas, Jane M. and Madden, Anne A. and Penick, Clint A. and Epps, Mary Jane and Marting, Peter R. and Stevens, Julia L. and Fergus, Daniel J. and Dunn, Robert R. and Meineke, Emily K.}, year={2019}, month={Jul} }
 @article{palopoli_fergus_minot_pei_simison_fernandez-silva_thoemmes_dunn_trautwein_2015, title={Global divergence of the human follicle mite Demodex folliculorum: Persistent associations between host ancestry and mite lineages}, volume={112}, ISSN={["0027-8424"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84952683497&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.1512609112}, abstractNote={Significance}, number={52}, journal={PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA}, author={Palopoli, Michael F. and Fergus, Daniel J. and Minot, Samuel and Pei, Dorothy T. and Simison, W. Brian and Fernandez-Silva, Iria and Thoemmes, Megan S. and Dunn, Robert R. and Trautwein, Michelle}, year={2015}, month={Dec}, pages={15958–15963} }
 @article{thoemmes_fergus_urban_trautwein_dunn_2014, title={Ubiquity and Diversity of Human-Associated Demodex Mites}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84925470906&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0106265}, abstractNote={Demodex mites are a group of hair follicle and sebaceous gland-dwelling species. The species of these mites found on humans are arguably the animals with which we have the most intimate interactions. Yet, their prevalence and diversity have been poorly explored. Here we use a new molecular method to assess the occurrence of Demodex mites on humans. In addition, we use the 18S rRNA gene (18S rDNA) to assess the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Demodex lineages. Within our samples, 100% of people over 18 years of age appear to host at least one Demodex species, suggesting that Demodex mites may be universal associates of adult humans. A phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA reveals intraspecific structure within one of the two named human-associated Demodex species, D. brevis. The D. brevis clade is geographically structured, suggesting that new lineages are likely to be discovered as humans from additional geographic regions are sampled.}, number={8}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Thoemmes, Megan S. and Fergus, Daniel J. and Urban, Julie and Trautwein, Michelle and Dunn, Robert R.}, year={2014}, month={Aug} }