The extraordinary diversity and ecological success of the social insects has been attributed to their ability to cope with the rich and often infectious microbial community inhabiting their nests and feeding sites. Mechanisms of disease control used by eusocial species include antibiotic glandular secretions, mutual grooming, removal of diseased individuals from the nest, and the innate and adaptive immune responses of colony members. Here we demonstrate that after a challenge exposure to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, dampwood termites Zootermopsis angusticollis have higher survivorship when individuals develop immunity as group members. Furthermore, termites significantly improve their ability to resist infection when they are placed in contact with previously immunized nestmates. This ''social transfer'' of infection resistance, a previously unrecognized mechanism of disease control in the social insects, could explain how group living may improve the survivorship of colony members despite the increased risks of pathogen transmission that can accompany sociality.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Illuminating cancer modelsA new system for studying tumor growth and metastasis using the popular green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag is being adapted as a possible platform for testing anti-angiogenic compounds. The basic approach, described recently in the Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (97, 1206USA (97, -1211USA (97, , 2000, employs rodent and human tumor cell lines that express high levels of GFP. When injected into appropriate mouse strains, the cells can be traced in real time using a noninvasive whole-body imaging technique. In the initial tests of this concept, researchers were able to observe the growth of primary tumors and metastases in vivo. According to Andrew Perry, president of AntiCancer A/C's (San Diego, CA) diagnostic division, at the March meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in New Orleans, LA, scientists from the company will describe additional experiments that they say demonstrate the model's utility for studying angiogenesis in tumors. Perry said in a statement that "until now research has been significantly impeded through lack of a convenient and relevant animal model of angiogenesis. We anticipate our new product will greatly enhance the research."