Cellular encapsulation in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera), against infection by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae |
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Authors: | Thomas Chouvenc Nan-Yao Su |
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Institution: | a Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 3205 College Ave. Davie, FL 33314, USA b UMR 5548 Communication chimique et développement chez les insectes, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Bd. Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France |
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Abstract: | Reticulitermes flavipes workers were topically inoculated with ≈10,000 conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. After being kept in groups of 20 individuals for 1-9 d, histopathological examination showed that termites had an individual immune reaction. The nodule formation at the point of entrance of the fungal hyphae was identified as a cellular encapsulation and the different steps in the nodule formation are described. The relative number of hemocytes per termite increased 24 h after fungal exposure and remained high in the hemolymph for at least 3 d before decreasing back to pre-exposure levels. The role of an individual immune cellular reaction in social insects is discussed. |
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Keywords: | Termite Metarhizium Disease resistance Cellular encapsulation Hemocytes |
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