Heritability of immune function in the caterpillar Spodoptera littoralis

Cotter, Sheena C.; Wilson, Kenneth

doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800031

Cited by 81 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Genetic variation for resistance to parasites has been found in many nonsocial organ-isms (Ebert et al 1998;Carius et al 2001;Little and Ebert 1999Kover and Schaal 2002), and has recently been demonstrated in bumblebees and honeybees (Baer and Schmid-Hempel 2003;Palmer and Oldroyd 2003). Although the mechanism in these latter cases is not yet known, the cellular immune response in insects can vary between genotypes (Carlton et al 1992;Cotter and Wilson 2002). This is thought to contribute to the well-established differences in immune response between bumblebee colonies (König and Schmid-Hempel 1995;Allander and Schmid-Hempel 2000;Mallon et al 2003).…”

Section: Acromyrmex and Pogonomyrmex])mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

Hughes

Boomsma

2004

Evol

112

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Abstract.•Multiple mating by females (polyandry) remains hard to explain because, while it has substantial costs, clear benefits have remained elusive. The problem is acute in the social insects because polyandry is probably particularly costly for females and most material benefits of the behavior are unlikely to apply. It has been suggested that a fitness benefit may arise from the more genetically diverse worker force that a polyandrous queen will produce. One leading hypothesis is that the increased genetic diversity of workers will improve a colony's resistance to disease. We investigated this hypothesis using a polyandrous leaf-cutting ant and a virulent fungal parasite as our model system. At high doses of the parasite most patrilines within colonies were similarly susceptible, but a few showed greater resistance. At a low dose of the parasite there was more variation between patrilines in their resistance to the parasite. Such genetic variation is a key prerequisite for polyandry to result in increased disease resistance of colonies. The relatedness of two hosts did not appear to affect the transmission of the parasite between them, but this was most likely because the parasite tested was a virulent generalist that is adapted to transmit between distantly related hosts. The resistance to the parasite was compared between small groups of ants of either high or low genetic diversity. No difference was found at high doses of the parasite, but a significant improvement in resistance in high genetic diversity groups was found at a low dose of the parasite. That there is genetic variation for disease resistance means that there is the potential for polyandry to produce more disease-resistant colonies. That this genetic variation can improve the resistance of groups even under the limited conditions tested suggests that polyandry may indeed produce colonies with improved resistance to disease.

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Section: Acromyrmex and Pogonomyrmex])mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

Hughes

Boomsma

2004

Evol

112

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“…Genetic variation for resistance to parasites has been found in many nonsocial organ-isms (Ebert et al 1998;Carius et al 2001;Little and Ebert 1999Kover and Schaal 2002), and has recently been demonstrated in bumblebees and honeybees (Baer and Schmid-Hempel 2003;Palmer and Oldroyd 2003). Although the mechanism in these latter cases is not yet known, the cellular immune response in insects can vary between genotypes (Carlton et al 1992;Cotter and Wilson 2002). This is thought to contribute to the well-established differences in immune response between bumblebee colonies (Kö nig and Schmid-Hempel 1995; Allander and Schmid-Hempel 2000; Mallon et al 2003).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

2004

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Abstract. Multiple mating by females (polyandry) remains hard to explain because, while it has substantial costs, clear benefits have remained elusive. The problem is acute in the social insects because polyandry is probably particularly costly for females and most material benefits of the behavior are unlikely to apply. It has been suggested that a fitness benefit may arise from the more genetically diverse worker force that a polyandrous queen will produce. One leading hypothesis is that the increased genetic diversity of workers will improve a colony's resistance to disease. We investigated this hypothesis using a polyandrous leaf-cutting ant and a virulent fungal parasite as our model system. At high doses of the parasite most patrilines within colonies were similarly susceptible, but a few showed greater resistance. At a low dose of the parasite there was more variation between patrilines in their resistance to the parasite. Such genetic variation is a key prerequisite for polyandry to result in increased disease resistance of colonies. The relatedness of two hosts did not appear to affect the transmission of the parasite between them, but this was most likely because the parasite tested was a virulent generalist that is adapted to transmit between distantly related hosts. The resistance to the parasite was compared between small groups of ants of either high or low genetic diversity. No difference was found at high doses of the parasite, but a significant improvement in resistance in high genetic diversity groups was found at a low dose of the parasite. That there is genetic variation for disease resistance means that there is the potential for polyandry to produce more disease-resistant colonies. That this genetic variation can improve the resistance of groups even under the limited conditions tested suggests that polyandry may indeed produce colonies with improved resistance to disease.

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“…There is evidence that PO shows genetic variation in a variety of insects (see Fellowes et al 1998;Kraaijeveld & Godfray 1997;Ryder & Siva-Jothy 2001;Cotter & Wilson 2002). The abundance of empirical evidence demonstrating genetic variation for PO levels makes a good case for at least a partial genetic basis for variation in PO levels between populations of Japanese beetles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ability to effectively encapsulate an invader is principally determined by the activation of the enzyme phenoloxidase (PO), which catalyses the first step in melanin synthesis. Empirical evidence has linked levels of PO production with resistance to parasites (see Barnes & Siva-Jothy 2000;Gillespie et al 2000;Cotter & Wilson 2002). Such evidence linking PO levels to parasite defence mechanisms predicts that levels of PO should positively correlate with parasite defence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographical variation and sexual dimorphism of phenoloxidase levels in Japanese beetles ( Popillia japonica )

Tucker

Stevens²

2003

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Phenoloxidase (PO) production can be used as an indicator of pathogen defence in insects. The geographical mosaic of coevolution implies that traits associated with pathogen defence will vary across a geographical range. Bateman's principle implies that the benefit of increased defence levels is greater for females than males. To test both of these hypotheses, we sampled four populations of Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica, across Vermont: two were from locations using biological pest control, and two locations did not use biocontrol. We quantified defence levels (PO) and parasite resistance in males and females from each population. Populations from areas with biocontrol exhibited greater PO production, females produced more PO, populations with higher levels of PO suffered less mortality from pathogen exposure, and PO levels positively correlate with increased mortality in the absence of parasitism. Results support the geographical mosaic of coevolution and the implications of Bateman's principle.

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Heritability of immune function in the caterpillar Spodoptera littoralis

Cited by 81 publications

References 26 publications

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance in Leaf-Cutting Ant Societies

Geographical variation and sexual dimorphism of phenoloxidase levels in Japanese beetles ( Popillia japonica )

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