Genetic, Individual, and Group Facilitation of Disease Resistance in Insect Societies

Wilson-Rich, Noah; Spivak, Marla; Fefferman, Nina H.; Starks, Philip T.

doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.53.103106.093301

Cited by 348 publications

(342 citation statements)

References 122 publications

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“…The most significant context for all these behaviours is presumably the prevention of disease transmission by infected brood and adult bees. The removal of infected bees can only be interpreted as an adaptation at colony level, since pathogens can quickly spread through and devastate a colony once they are established (Schmid-Hempel, 1998;Wilson-Rich et al, 2009). Hygienic bees can be considered as elements of the social immunity system of the beehive, thus strengthening the view of a colony as an integrated superorganism or an actual organism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, sociality provides protection from parasites at the colony level as well as collective behavioural defence achieved by all the group members cooperating together, avoiding or eliminating parasitic infections Ugelvig and Cremer, 2007;Wilson-Rich et al, 2009) and reducing the parasite load (Rosengaus et al, 1998;Hughes et al, 2002;Traniello et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for antiseptic behaviour towards sick adult bees in honey bee colonies

Baracchi

Fadda

Turillazzi

2012

Journal of Insect Physiology

102

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a b s t r a c tSocial life is generally associated with an increased risk of disease transmission, but at the same time it allows behavioural defence at both the individual and collective level. Bees infected with deformed-wing virus were introduced into observation hives; through behavioural observations and chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons from healthy and infected bees, we offer the first evidence that honeybee colonies can detect and remove infected adult bees, probably by recognising the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of sick individuals. We also found that health-compromised colonies were less efficient at defending themselves against infected bees, thus facing an ever increasing risk of epidemics. This work reveals a new antiseptic behaviour that can only be interpreted as an adaptation at colony level and one which should be considered an element of the social immunity system of the beehive, re-enforcing the view of a colony as an integrated organism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for antiseptic behaviour towards sick adult bees in honey bee colonies

Baracchi

Fadda

Turillazzi

2012

Journal of Insect Physiology

102

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“…Venom glands of various ants, wasps and bees produce several compounds with antimicrobial activity (Park et al, 1995;Orivel et al, 2001;Storey et al, 1991;Turillazzi, 2006) representing one of the most important source of antimicrobial substances in social Hymenoptera (Kuhn-Nentwig, 2003). In some cases, the use of venom is beyond the classical stereotype of defence against predators and can be considered as a component of the social immunity (Cremer et al, 2007;Wilson-Rich et al, 2009;Baracchi et al, 2011). For example, Obin and Vander Meer (1985) demonstrated that the fire ant Solenopsis invicta dispenses small quantities of venom on the brood surface, presumably as an antimicrobic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From individual to collective immunity: The role of the venom as antimicrobial agent in the Stenogastrinae wasp societies

Baracchi

Mazza

Turillazzi

2012

Journal of Insect Physiology

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a b s t r a c tSociality is associated with an increased risk of disease transmission and one of the first defense of the insect colonies is represented by antimicrobial secretions. In many eusocial hymenopteran species venom glands represent one of the most important source of antimicrobial substances. It is known that in highly eusocial species the venom is spread on both the cuticle of insects and the comb, thus becoming a component of the so called ''social immunity''. So far, it is never been ascertained whether this phenomenon is also present in more primitively eusocial and incipiently eusocial groups. Using incipiently eusocial hover wasps as model, we demonstrate that venom is present on insect cuticles and that it strongly acts against microorganisms. By contrast, the nest, regardless of materials, does not represent a ''medium'' where the venom is deposited by wasps in order to act as a social antiseptic weapon. Our findings discussed in an evolutionary perspective indicate that a certain degree of sociality or a sufficient number of individuals in an insect society are thresholds to be reached for the rise of complex and efficient forms of collective and social immunity as mechanisms of resistance to diseases.

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“…First, social immunity is an effective mechanism to prevent disease outbreaks in host societies. This is not surprising given the sophisticated collective behaviours described in empirical studies of social insects (reviewed by Cremer et al (2007); Evans and Spivak (2010); Wilson-Rich et al (2009)). However, social immunity is contained in our parameter ζ, which also includes individual immunity and the dilution of pathogens due to physical contact between individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%