Abstract

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CYTOCOMPATIBILITY OF WEAVER ANT NEST FIBRE MATS

P. Satya Madhuri, S. Himaja and Dr. K. Shreenivasulu*

ABSTRACT

Weaver ants are renowned for their nest construction strategies, of which adhering in-place leaves stands as an exceptional natural episode. This deposition appears as a mat to naked eye integrally having a fibre network. The mat is expected to be a polymeric glycoprotein from certain biochemical preliminary confirmations. Literature suggests a destined antimicrobial activity for glycoproteins, antibacterial, in particular. A comparative study has hence been taken up on the behaviour of gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium thermocellum) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria associated with its presence in culture media. Availability of fibre mat samples from weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) nests found on three different trees (Citofortunella microcarpa, Couroupita guianensis and Artocarpus heterophyllus) fostered comparative assessment of bacterial behavior as consequences of corresponding influence. Enzymatically digested mat enhanced the growth of all the bacterial strains as expected owing to the presence of cellulose initially. Its effect on mammalian cell lines has also been studied to levitate skeptical issues on employing it in medical applications. Suitable statistical methods are employed to present the results predicting growth inhibition and enhancement in discrete cases.

Keywords: Fibre mat, Weaver ants, Biopolymer, Cytocompatibility.