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The Mechanisms of Social Immunity Against Fungal Infections in Eusocial Insects
Long Liu1,2, Xing-Ying Zhao3, Qing-Bo Tang4
1Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. lliu1988@henau.edu.cn.
Toxins
|May 1, 2019
Summary
Social insects possess social immunity, a set of defenses against fungal pathogens and toxins. This review explores how these adaptations, including genetic and biochemical factors, help colonies avoid, resist, and tolerate infections.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Social insects face constant threats from entomopathogenic fungi and their toxins.
- Colonies have evolved sophisticated defense mechanisms at the group level, termed social immunity.
- Social immunity encompasses behavioral and physiological adaptations to mitigate infection risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms by which social immunity enables insect colonies to manage fungal pathogens.
- To explore the molecular and biochemical underpinnings of social immunity.
- To investigate the evolutionary drivers of social immunity in response to fungal threats.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on social immunity in eusocial insects.
- Analysis of genetic elements and biochemical factors involved in colony-level defense.
- Discussion of chemosensory genes, antifungal secretions, and immune priming.
Main Results:
- Social immunity provides strategies for avoidance, resistance, and tolerance to fungal pathogens.
- Chemosensory genes regulate social behaviors crucial for defense.
- Antifungal secretions (e.g., insect venoms) and immune priming contribute to external and internal defense.
Conclusions:
- Fungal toxins are a significant evolutionary pressure driving the development of social immunity.
- Further research is needed to verify the molecular basis of social immunity.
- Understanding social 'host-fungal pathogen' interactions is key to unraveling social immunity mechanisms in eusocial insects.
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