Mechanisms and consequences of infection‐induced phenotypes

Nadler, Lauren E.; Adamo, Shelley A.; Hawley, Dana M.; Binning, Sandra A.

doi:10.1111/1365-2435.14309

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Together with our results, such studies indicate that infected hosts in some systems augment sociality in ways that likely ultimately benefit host fitness. However, it is notoriously challenging to tease apart whether behavioral changes during infection represent host‐mediated changes, pathogen‐mediated changes, or some combination (Nadler et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let's stick together: Infection enhances preferences for social grouping in a songbird species

Langager,

Adelman,

Hawley

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Acute infections can alter foraging and movement behaviors relevant to sociality and pathogen spread. However, few studies have directly examined how acute infections caused by directly transmitted pathogens influence host social preferences. While infected hosts often express sickness behaviors (e.g., lethargy) that can reduce social associations with conspecifics, enhanced sociality during infection might be favored in some systems if social grouping improves host survival of infection. Directly assaying social preferences of infected hosts is needed to elucidate potential changes in social preferences that may act as a form of behavioral tolerance (defined as using behavior to minimize fitness costs of infection). We tested how infection alters sociality in juvenile house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), which are both highly gregarious and particularly susceptible to infection by the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). We inoculated 33 wild‐caught but captive‐held juvenile house finches with MG or media (sham control). At peak infection, birds were given a choice assay to assess preference for associating near a flock versus an empty cage. We then repeated this assay after all birds had recovered from infection. Infected birds were significantly more likely than controls to spend time associating with, and specifically foraging near, the flock. However, after infected birds had recovered from MG infection, there were no significant differences in the amount of time birds in each treatment spent with the flock. These results indicate augmented social preferences during active infection, potentially as a form of behavioral tolerance. Notably, infected birds showed strong social preferences regardless of variation in disease severity or pathogen loads, with 14/19 harboring high loads (5–6 log10 copies of MG) at the time of the assay. Overall, our results show that infection with a directly transmitted pathogen can augment social preferences, with important implications for MG spread in natural populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let's stick together: Infection enhances preferences for social grouping in a songbird species

Langager,

Adelman,

Hawley

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Exposure to predators produces a range of negative impacts in insects ( Hermann and Landis, 2017 ), including M. sexta ( Thaler et al, 2012 ). However, non-immunological costs of infection are underappreciated ( Nadler et al, 2023 ), but can have a large impact on animal fitness ( Lopes, 2023 ). We show that increased mortality from predation is a likely non-immunological cost of infection in M. sexta .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Muscle in the caterpillar Manduca sexta responds to an immune challenge, but at a cost, suggesting a physiological trade-off

Adamo,

Corkum,

Kim

et al. 2023

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Although skeletal muscle is a specialized tissue that provides the motor for movement, it also participates in other functions, including the immune response. However, little is known about the effects of this multi-tasking on muscle. We show that muscle loses some of its capacity while it is participating in the immune response. Caterpillars (Manduca sexta) were exposed to an immune challenge, predator stress, or a combination of immune challenge and predator stress. The expression of immune genes (toll-1, domeless, cactus, tube and attacin) increased in body wall muscle after caterpillar exposure to an immune challenge. Muscle also showed a reduction in the amount of the energy storage molecule glycogen. During an immune challenge, the force of the defensive strike, an important anti-predator behaviour in M. sexta, was reduced. Caterpillars were also less able to defend themselves against a common enemy, the wasp Cotesia congregata, suggesting that the effect on muscle is biologically significant. Our results support the concept of an integrated defense system in which life-threatening events activate organism- wide responses. We suggest that increased mortality from predation is a non-immunological cost of infection in M. sexta. Our study also suggests that one reason non-immunological costs of infection exist is because of the participation of diverse organs, such as muscle, in immunity.

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“…The documented instances of increased sociality are thus not only advantageous for the pathogen but they might also ultimately enhance host fitness. This underscores the intricacy of such infection-related behavioral changes, which can be driven by the host or the pathogen, or can be a combination of both types of manipulations [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogen-Mediated Alterations of Insect Chemical Communication: From Pheromones to Behavior

Moyano,

Croce,

Scolari

2023

Pathogens

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Pathogens can influence the physiology and behavior of both animal and plant hosts in a manner that promotes their own transmission and dispersal. Recent research focusing on insects has revealed that these manipulations can extend to the production of pheromones, which are pivotal in chemical communication. This review provides an overview of the current state of research and available data concerning the impacts of bacterial, viral, fungal, and eukaryotic pathogens on chemical communication across different insect orders. While our understanding of the influence of pathogenic bacteria on host chemical profiles is still limited, viral infections have been shown to induce behavioral changes in the host, such as altered pheromone production, olfaction, and locomotion. Entomopathogenic fungi affect host chemical communication by manipulating cuticular hydrocarbons and pheromone production, while various eukaryotic parasites have been observed to influence insect behavior by affecting the production of pheromones and other chemical cues. The effects induced by these infections are explored in the context of the evolutionary advantages they confer to the pathogen. The molecular mechanisms governing the observed pathogen-mediated behavioral changes, as well as the dynamic and mutually influential relationships between the pathogen and its host, are still poorly understood. A deeper comprehension of these mechanisms will prove invaluable in identifying novel targets in the perspective of practical applications aimed at controlling detrimental insect species.

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Mechanisms and consequences of infection‐induced phenotypes

Cited by 5 publications

References 40 publications

Let's stick together: Infection enhances preferences for social grouping in a songbird species

Let's stick together: Infection enhances preferences for social grouping in a songbird species

Muscle in the caterpillar Manduca sexta responds to an immune challenge, but at a cost, suggesting a physiological trade-off

Pathogen-Mediated Alterations of Insect Chemical Communication: From Pheromones to Behavior

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