Architectural immunity: Ants alter their nest networks to prevent epidemics.
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| Názov: | Architectural immunity: Ants alter their nest networks to prevent epidemics. |
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| Autori: | Leckie L; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.; Department of Informatics, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA.; Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA., Andon MS; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK., Bruce K; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK., Stroeymeyt N; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. |
| Zdroj: | Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2025 Oct 16; Vol. 390 (6770), pp. 266-271. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Oct 16. |
| Spôsob vydávania: | Journal Article |
| Jazyk: | English |
| Informácie o časopise: | Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0404511 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1095-9203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00368075 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Science Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Original Publication: New York, N.Y. : [s.n.] 1880- |
| Výrazy zo slovníka MeSH: | Ants*/physiology , Ants*/immunology , Ants*/microbiology , Nesting Behavior*, Animals ; Social Behavior |
| Abstrakt: | In animal groups, spatial structure shapes social interaction patterns, thereby influencing the transmission of infectious diseases. Active modifications to the spatial environment could therefore be a potent tool to mitigate epidemic risk. We tested whether Lasius niger ants modify their nest architecture in response to pathogens by introducing control- or pathogen-treated individuals into nest-digging groups and monitoring three-dimensional nest morphogenesis. Pathogen exposure led to architectural changes, including faster nest growth, increased interentrance distance, transmission-inhibitory changes in nest network topology, and reduced chamber centrality. Simulations confirmed that these changes reduced transmission and highlighted a synergy between architectural and behavioral responses to disease. These results provide evidence for architectural immunity in a social animal and offer insights into how spatial organization can be leveraged to decrease epidemic susceptibility. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251016 Date Completed: 20251016 Latest Revision: 20251114 |
| Update Code: | 20251115 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.ads5930 |
| PMID: | 41100621 |
| Databáza: | MEDLINE |
Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstrakt: | In animal groups, spatial structure shapes social interaction patterns, thereby influencing the transmission of infectious diseases. Active modifications to the spatial environment could therefore be a potent tool to mitigate epidemic risk. We tested whether Lasius niger ants modify their nest architecture in response to pathogens by introducing control- or pathogen-treated individuals into nest-digging groups and monitoring three-dimensional nest morphogenesis. Pathogen exposure led to architectural changes, including faster nest growth, increased interentrance distance, transmission-inhibitory changes in nest network topology, and reduced chamber centrality. Simulations confirmed that these changes reduced transmission and highlighted a synergy between architectural and behavioral responses to disease. These results provide evidence for architectural immunity in a social animal and offer insights into how spatial organization can be leveraged to decrease epidemic susceptibility. |
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| ISSN: | 1095-9203 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.ads5930 |