Can Ants Have Seizures?
WouterANTs have been associated with epilepsy in animal studies. They have also been shown to have a second immune system. These systems seem to have evolved in response to infection.
Researcher Cremer discovered that when healthy ants were infected with a fungus, the genes coding for general immune proteins and antifungal proteins were active. He believes that the entire colony builds up resistance to pathogens.
Ants are highly attracted to food and sugar. They gain entrance to buildings through gaps in walls or foundations. In some species, their jaws are strong enough to bite through human skin.
Ants have three pairs of walking legs. They also have a mouth part that is adapted for biting solid food. They have been shown to be highly attracted to meats.
In some species, the mouth part is actually used to lick fungal spores off of each other. This allows the individual immune systems to clear the fungus. However, if spores are not removed, they can lead to an infection.
Ants have a second immune system, which appears to be more active than usual when they are infected with fungi. This immune system appears to be highly attuned to sick nestmates in the first two days after infection.
The concept of ANT-DBS stimulation may be useful in the treatment of seizures. It has been demonstrated that ANT-DBS prevents neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1. This may be due to ANT-DBS’s ability to suppress KA-induced excitatory hyperactivity. ANT-DBS also inhibits energy metabolism in the frontal cortex.
