A mycetome is a specialized organ in a variety of animal species which houses that animal's

symbionts Symbiosis (from Greek , , "living together", from , , "together", and , bíōsis, "living") is any type of a close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms, be it mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasit ...

, isolating them from the animal's natural cellular defense mechanisms and allowing sustained controlled symbiotic growth. In several species, such as

bed bugs Bed bugs are insects from the genus ''Cimex'' that feed on blood, usually at night. Their bites can result in a number of health impacts including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. Bed bug bites may lead to skin changes ...

and certain families of

leech Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...

, these symbionts are attached to the gut and aid in the production of

vitamin B B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism and synthesis of red blood cells. Though these vitamins share similar names (B1, B2, B3, etc.), they are chemically distinct compounds that often co ...

from ingested meals of blood. In insects, the organisms that inhabit these structures are either bacteria or yeasts. In bed bugs, it has been found that heat stress can cause damage to the mycetome, preventing the symbionts from being successfully passed from the adult female to her eggs at the time of

oogenesis Oogenesis, ovogenesis, or oögenesis is the differentiation of the ovum (egg cell) into a cell competent to further develop when fertilized. It is developed from the primary oocyte by maturation. Oogenesis is initiated in the embryonic stage. O ...

, causing the resulting nymphs to develop abnormally or to die prematurely.

References

{{reflist Insect biology Symbiosis Animal anatomy