Fire Ants Release Toxins That Trigger An Immune Response
WouterAmong the insect species that release toxins, fire ants are one of the most studied. Besides, the physiological effects of envenomation have remained poorly understood. However, the study of the toxins and the immune response triggered by them is of significant biomedical interest.
Researchers recently reported that fire ants release toxins that trigger an immune response in lymph nodes. The study shows that the venom proteins induce a cytokine response in lymph node cells. The cytokine response was associated with recruitment of eosinophils.
The researchers also found that fire ant venoms contain proteins called RIFA venom proteins. These proteins immunize even at low doses. RIFA venom proteins contain four different allergens. They are also independent of alkaloids. This is a new biological meaning for toxins.
These results suggest that ants may regulate their acidic secretions to compensate for food dilution. This may be an easy mechanism to ensure natural resistance. However, the study did not demonstrate that this effect decreased disease transmission. This could be due to the overall health of the donor ant or the differences in bacterial CFUs in the crop.
It is also possible that ants may use their venom to adjust the pH of the crop. This would help carpenter ants to selectively filter out harmful bacteria. The researchers plan to examine more ant species. They will also investigate whether these compounds continue to be produced.
One of the earliest reports of phospholipase activity was in the venom of the bulldog ant Myrmecia pyriformis. Other ant species have also been reported to express phospholipases.
