title: From individual to collective immunity: the role of the venom as antimicrobial agent in the Stenogastrinae wasp societies.
abstract: Sociality is associated with an increased risk of disease transmission and one of the first defense of the insect colonies is represented by antimicrobial secretions. In many eusocial hymenopteran species venom glands represent one of the most important source of antimicrobial substances. It is known that in highly eusocial species the venom is spread on both the cuticle of insects and the comb, thus becoming a component of the so called "social immunity". So far, it is never been ascertained whether this phenomenon is also present in more primitively eusocial and incipiently eusocial groups. Using incipiently eusocial hover wasps as model, we demonstrate that venom is present on insect cuticles and that it strongly acts against microorganisms. By contrast, the nest, regardless of materials, does not represent a ''medium" where the venom is deposited by wasps in order to act as a social antiseptic weapon. Our findings discussed in an evolutionary perspective indicate that a certain degree of sociality or a sufficient number of individuals in an insect society are thresholds to be reached for the rise of complex and efficient forms of collective and social immunity as mechanisms of resistance to diseases.
authors: Università degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Leo Pardi, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy. david.baracchi@gmail.com
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Baracchi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Mazza
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Turillazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005260:Female; D006120:Grooming; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D012919:Social Behavior; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014688:Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014688:Venoms