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Pathogen-specific social immunity is associated with erosion of individual immune function in an ant

Author

Listed:
  • Florent Masson

    (University of Bristol)

  • Rachael Louise Brown

    (University of Bristol)

  • Joel Vizueta

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Thea Irvine

    (University of Bristol)

  • Zijun Xiong

    (BGI Research)

  • Jonathan Romiguier

    (University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD)

  • Nathalie Stroeymeyt

    (University of Bristol)

Abstract

Contagious diseases are a major threat to societies in which individuals live in close contact. Social insects have evolved collective defense behaviors, such as social care or isolation of infected workers, that prevent outbreaks of pathogens. It has thus been suggested that individual immunity is reduced in species with such ‘social immunity’. However, this hypothesis has not been tested functionally. Here, we characterize the immune response of the ant Lasius niger using a combination of genomic analysis, experimental infections, gene expression quantification, behavioural observations and pathogen quantifications. We uncover a striking specialization of immune responses towards different pathogens. Systemic individual immunity is effective against opportunistic bacterial infections, which are not covered by social immunity, but is not elicited upon fungal infections, which are effectively controlled by social immunity. This specialization suggests that immune layers have evolved complementary functions predicted to ensure the most cost-effective response against a wide range of pathogens.

Suggested Citation

  • Florent Masson & Rachael Louise Brown & Joel Vizueta & Thea Irvine & Zijun Xiong & Jonathan Romiguier & Nathalie Stroeymeyt, 2024. "Pathogen-specific social immunity is associated with erosion of individual immune function in an ant," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53527-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53527-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tatiana Michel & Jean-Marc Reichhart & Jules A. Hoffmann & Julien Royet, 2001. "Drosophila Toll is activated by Gram-positive bacteria through a circulating peptidoglycan recognition protein," Nature, Nature, vol. 414(6865), pages 756-759, December.
    2. S.C. Cotter & R.M. Kilner, 2010. "Personal immunity versus social immunity," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 21(4), pages 663-668.
    3. 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.
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