Life cycle, host range and temporal variation of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis/Hirsutella formicarum on Formicine ants

Mongkolsamrit, Suchada; Kobmoo, Noppol; Tasanathai, Kanoksri; Khonsanit, Artit; Noisripoom, Wasana; Srikitikulchai, Prasert; Somnuk, Rathasart; Luangsa-ard, Janet Jennifer

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2012.08.007

Cited by 35 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, in some cases, records came from more detailed studies (e.g., Mongkolsamrit et al. ; Loreto et al. ), so we were able to estimate the abundance for those specific areas.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Mongkolsamrit et al. ). Although leaf biting predominates in the tropics, we know of two exceptions; one in Costa Rica (online record, Dataset ) and another in Thailand (Kobmoo et al.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the average duration of the cadavers attached to the leaves in tropical environment is approximately five months and where it has been tested, the leaves remain for longer than the development of the fungus (Mongkolsamrit et al. ). Thus, tropical leaf permanence is not a constraint for the development of the fungus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the tropics, the manipulation happens throughout the year (Mongkolsamrit et al. ; Loreto et al. ) and parasite development is completed in a few months after it kills the host (Mongkolsamrit et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

et al. 2018

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Environmental conditions exert strong selection on animal behavior. We tested the hypothesis that the altered behavior of hosts due to parasitic manipulation is also subject to selection imposed by changes in environmental conditions over time. Our model system is ants manipulated by parasitic fungi to bite onto vegetation. We analyzed the correlation between forest type (tropical vs. temperate) and the substrate where the host bites (biting substrate: leaf vs. twigs), the time required for the fungi to reach reproductive maturity, and the phylogenetic relationship among specimens from tropical and temperate forests from different parts of the globe. We show that fungal development in temperate forests is longer than the period of time leaves are present and the ants are manipulated to bite twigs. When biting twigs, 90% of the dead ants we examined had their legs wrapped around twigs, which appears to provide better attachment to the plant. Ancestral state character reconstruction suggests that leaf biting is the ancestral trait and that twig biting is a convergent trait in temperate regions of the globe. These three lines of evidence suggest that changes in environmental conditions have shaped the manipulative behavior of the host by its parasite.

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“…However, in some cases, records came from more detailed studies (e.g., Mongkolsamrit et al. ; Loreto et al. ), so we were able to estimate the abundance for those specific areas.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…; Mongkolsamrit et al. ). Although leaf biting predominates in the tropics, we know of two exceptions; one in Costa Rica (online record, Dataset ) and another in Thailand (Kobmoo et al.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

et al. 2018

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“…Interestingly, a phenotypically similar "zombie-like" behavior can also be elicited by fungal parasites such as Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. This entomopathogenic fungus infects Camponotus ants, which first search for abiotic conditions that are favorable for the fungus and then bite into a major leaf vein and remain there until their eventual death, allowing the fungus to form its fruiting body (Mongkolsamrit et al, 2012). Thus, taxonomically unrelated parasites can trigger the same biting behavior of an ant and its paralyzation in an atypical location (Libersat et al, 2009).…”

Section: Zombie Ants Fearless Rats and Other Prominent Cases Of Manmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Manipulation by Parasites: Cases, Patterns, and Remaining Doubts

Heil

2016

Front. Ecol. Evol.

106

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Parasites must overcome host immunity and change hosts for dispersal. Therefore, seemingly odd behaviors of parasitized animals, like those exhibited by "Zombie ants" or the "fatal attraction" of mammals to their predators, have been explained as the extended phenotype of parasites that manipulate their hosts for transmission enhancement. Manipulation has evolved in all major phylogenetic lineages of parasites but is not ubiquitous. In fact, the real frequency and relevance of manipulation is still matter of debate. Here, I highlight some of the most pertinent questions that arise if we aim at a broader understanding of the ecological relevance and evolutionary trajectory of manipulating parasites. Why are more parasites with a trophic mode of transmission manipulating their host than horizontally transmitted parasites? Why are the causal agents of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) so rarely reported to manipulate their host? Why do parasites of animals usually manipulate their intermediate host, whereas many pathogens of plants manipulate their final host and then cause a "fatal attraction" of herbivores to the already infected plant? How can we distinguish manipulation effects from adaptive host responses to parasitization? Does manipulation cause a cost to certain parasites that can select against the evolution of manipulation? More emphasis should be put on direct comparisons among parasites of animals, plants, and humans. Manipulation for transmission enhancement should be studied in concert with manipulation for host immunity suppression, the molecular mechanisms that control the manipulation effect need to be deciphered, and we should test for alternative explanations for the observed phenotypic changes. Finally, we should quantify transmission rates and net fitness for manipulating and non-manipulating parasites, in ecologically realistic setups, to identify the forces that select against the evolution of manipulation. Ultimately, parasite net fitness represents the relevant outcome of any manipulation effect.Keywords: immunity, malaria, partner manipulation, pathogen, plant-enemy interaction, STDs, toxoplasmosis "FATAL ATTRACTION" AND MANIPULATING PARASITES Parasites represent a ubiquitous aspect in the life of multicellular organisms (Wood and Johnson, 2015) and most, if not all, of us have experienced how strongly an infection can interfere with our normal activities and well-being. Therefore, it might not appear to be too surprising when parasitized hosts exhibit behavioral alterations (see Glossary) as compared to healthy conspecifics.

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With the dead under the mat: the zombie ant extended phenotype under a new perspective

Andriolli,

Cardoso Neto,

de Morais

et al. 2024

Sci Nat

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Life cycle, host range and temporal variation of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis/Hirsutella formicarum on Formicine ants

Cited by 35 publications

References 17 publications

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

Evidence for convergent evolution of host parasitic manipulation in response to environmental conditions

Host Manipulation by Parasites: Cases, Patterns, and Remaining Doubts

With the dead under the mat: the zombie ant extended phenotype under a new perspective

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