Venom as a Component of External Immune Defense in Hymenoptera

Abstract

An intriguing feature of most hymenopteran venoms is that they display broad antimicrobial activity. In particular, the venoms of social Hymenoptera (ants, wasps, and bees) represent the most conspicuous source of antimicrobial secretions. In solitary and parasitic species, venom is used to immobilize or kill prey and to preserve them as stored food for their immature brood. In social species, venom is frequently also externalized both onto the cuticle and the nest surface. This indicates that venom use in Hymenoptera is not just restricted to hunting activities or to deter predators, but is also actively used as an externalized defensive agent, providing a first chemical barrier against microorganisms present in the environment. This chapter will discuss the importance and biological significance of venom as part of an external immune defense in Hymenoptera with special emphasis on social species. In addition ecological and environmental factors constraining the use of venom as external immune defense will be highlighted.

External immunity in ant societies: sociality and colony size do not predict investment in antimicrobials

“…Ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae lack a stinging apparatus, but they produce defensive compounds in the pygidial gland that could also have antimicrobial properties [37,38]. Ant venoms, which can contain peptides and alkaloids, may be used as antimicrobials in those species that have a stinger [24,39], though not all. The ant in our study with the most potent venom against vertebrates, Pogonomyrmex badius [40], showed little antimicrobial activity.…”

“…ants from the genera Camponotus, Polyrhachis and Oecophylla [23]), several of these same ant lineages appear to have evolved the ability to produce antimicrobial compounds via other glands. In particular, the venom gland has been identified as a source of compounds that are effective against entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria [24,25]. Identification of antimicrobial compounds from a handful of well-studied ant species has provided further support for the assertion that ants rely on antimicrobial secretions for pathogen defence.…”

Proteo-Transcriptomic Characterization of the Venom from the Endoparasitoid Wasp Pimpla turionellae with Aspects on Its Biology and Evolution

“…The identified protein families could be classified into three major groups: Enzymes, cysteine-rich peptides/proteins, and others ( Figure 3). Among the identified enzymes in the P. turionellae venom, carboxylesterase constitutes the most diverse protein family with 22 transcripts, followed by laccase (14), phenoloxidase (12), S1A superfamily trypsin domain (9), glycoside hydrolase family 1 (4), metallopeptidase M12B (4) and venom acid phosphatase (1) ( Figure 3A).…”

“…Nonetheless, more than 75% of known hymenopteran species are non-aculeate, i.e., are parasitoid wasps (parasitoids) that still utilize the ovipositor in its original function to lay eggs and "weaponize" it in a dual function to inject venom into host species they parasitize [8][9][10][11]. In stark contrast to aculeate venom, which is streamlined for defense to immobilize or to kill their prey [7,[12][13][14], venom of parasitoids mainly alters the physiology and behavior of the host to keep it alive while feeding the offspring [15][16][17][18][19]. Despite this interesting biology, only a few parasitoid venom systems were studied in more detail.…”

Wasp Venom Biochemical Components and Their Potential in Biological Applications and Nanotechnological Interventions

“…It is important to investigate the components of venom to learn how the underlying defensive mechanisms have evolved since evidence suggests that the wasp venom can differ internally and interspecifically from other types of venom. Isolation and characterization of the venom components are essential steps in understanding the envenoming process [ 25 ].…”