title: Brain, physiological and behavioral modulation induced by immune stimulation in honeybees (Apis mellifera): a potential mediator of social immunity?
abstract: Social removal is often an adaptive response for preventing the entry and spread of parasitic infection between kin members of a group. Social isolation via removal or the switching of social tasks has also been observed in insect societies; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We tested in honeybees the role of the immune system in physiological and behavioral modulation. Forager bees are often located in the outer area of the colony, and thus have reduced contacts with individuals of high importance, who are located in the inner area of the colony (e.g. queen and brood). We thus expected that an immune challenge would induce a forager profile. This was confirmed by measuring brain (foraging and malvolio gene expression), physiological (hypopharyngeal glands size) and behavioral (queen attendance) parameters of nurse/forager profiles after a treatment with an immune-activator (lipopolysaccharides). Our results support the idea that the interplay between the brain and immune system may be an important regulatory factor of social immunity in insects.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon Cedex 9, France. cedric.alaux@avignon.inra.fr
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alaux
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kretzschmar
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Conte
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000276:immunology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016623:Ion Pumps / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010675:Pheromones; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D016623:Ion Pumps; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010675:Pheromones; C094756:mvl protein, Drosophila; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C528566:for protein, Drosophila