Occurrence of killer yeasts in leaf-cutting ant nests

Killer activity was screened in 99 yeast strains isolated from the nests of the leaf-cutting antAtta sexdens against 6 standard sensitive strains, as well as against each other. Among this yeast community killer activity was widespread since 77, strains (78%) were able to kill or inhibit the growth of at least one standard strain or nest strain. Toxin production was observed in representatives of all the studied genera includingAureobasidium, Rhodotorula, Tremella andTrichosporon, whose killer activity has not yet been described.