In this week’s Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Sylvia Cremer and her team describe the immunoprotective effect of an association of ants with an ectosymbiotic fungus. In “Anti-pathogen Protection versus Survival Costs mediated by an Ectosymbiont in an Ant Host”, Konrad et al. studied the novel association between the invasive garden ant and the fungal ectosymbiont Laboulbenia, providing the ant with a hedgehog resemblence. The researchers found that ants with higher levels of the fungal ectosymbiont suffer higher mortality under food restriction, but on the upside are more resistant against infection by a common and deadly insect disease, the green muscardine. This protective effect is likely caused by a stimulation of both the ants’ hygiene behavior and their immune system. A lower susceptibility to this common and deadly disease may add to the success of the invasive garden ants. Further information at bit.ly/1CE6x9t
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:22:59 +0000
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