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Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society

Author

Listed:
  • Erik. T. Frank

    (University of Lausanne
    University of Würzburg)

  • Lucie Kesner

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Joanito Liberti

    (University of Lausanne
    University of Lausanne)

  • Quentin Helleu

    (University of Lausanne
    Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS UMR 7196, INSERM U1154)

  • Adria C. LeBoeuf

    (University of Fribourg)

  • Andrei Dascalu

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Douglas B. Sponsler

    (University of Würzburg)

  • Fumika Azuma

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Evan P. Economo

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
    Harvard University)

  • Patrice Waridel

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Philipp Engel

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Thomas Schmitt

    (University of Würzburg)

  • Laurent Keller

    (University of Lausanne)

Abstract

Infected wounds pose a major mortality risk in animals. Injuries are common in the ant Megaponera analis, which raids pugnacious prey. Here we show that M. analis can determine when wounds are infected and treat them accordingly. By applying a variety of antimicrobial compounds and proteins secreted from the metapleural gland to infected wounds, workers reduce the mortality of infected individuals by 90%. Chemical analyses showed that wound infection is associated with specific changes in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile, thereby likely allowing nestmates to diagnose the infection state of injured individuals and apply the appropriate antimicrobial treatment. This study demonstrates that M. analis ant societies use antimicrobial compounds produced in the metapleural glands to treat infected wounds and reduce nestmate mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik. T. Frank & Lucie Kesner & Joanito Liberti & Quentin Helleu & Adria C. LeBoeuf & Andrei Dascalu & Douglas B. Sponsler & Fumika Azuma & Evan P. Economo & Patrice Waridel & Philipp Engel & Thomas S, 2023. "Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-43885-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43885-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Björn Schwanhäusser & Dorothea Busse & Na Li & Gunnar Dittmar & Johannes Schuchhardt & Jana Wolf & Wei Chen & Matthias Selbach, 2011. "Global quantification of mammalian gene expression control," Nature, Nature, vol. 473(7347), pages 337-342, May.
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