title: An immune response in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris leads to increased food consumption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concept of a costly immune system that must be traded off against other important physiological systems is fundamental to the burgeoning field of ecological immunity. Bumblebees have become one of the central models in this field. Although previous work has demonstrated costs of immunity in numerous life history traits, estimates of the more direct costs of bumblebee immunity have yet to be made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we show a 7.5% increase in energy consumption in response to non-pathogenic immune stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This increase in energy consumption along with other results suggests that immunity is one of the most important physiological systems, with other systems being sacrificed for its continuing efficiency. This increased consumption and maintained activity contrasts with the sickness-induced anorexia and reduced activity found in vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, LE1 7RH, Leicester, UK. ert2@le.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Eamonn B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Mallon
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006722:Honey; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007267:Injections; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014867:Water