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Differentiation of immune response with castes in termites by de novo transcriptome sequencing
(2017)
Eusociality is one major evolutionary transitions, during which the division of labor is considered as the hallmark feature. This character of evolution, also interpreted as task specialization, is associated with multiple morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations required for brood care, foraging, and defense. With these adaptations which ultimately cause the formation of castes in insect sociality (mostly in termites, ants, some bees and wasps), while whether immune system is related to eusociality in termites is rare understood. We hypothesis that immune system in termite sociality had also differentiation along with the formation of castes. We address this issue by exploring the immune responses of different castes with de novo transcriptome sequencing. After injection with cocktail of heat-killed pathogens (Pseudomonas entomophila, Bacillus thuringiensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the mRNAs from false workers, soldiers and reproductive of Neotermes canstaneus were sequenced. We found much more genes are regulated (1420 genes downregulated and 398 genes upregulated) in reproductives compared to soldiers (90 genes downregulated and 108 genes upregulated) and false workers (135 genes downregulated and 71 genes upregulated). In these upregulated genes, reproductives had 54 same genes as soldiers, while only 7 same genes as workers which almost is same number between soldiers and workers. In the downregulated genes, reproductives shared 50 and 41 same genes as soldiers
and workers, respectively. Besides, soldiers and workers had 29 same downregulated genes. From these findings, it is indicated that the immune system differentiates with division of labor during eusociality in termites.
The evolution and mechanistic underpinnings of termite immunity are not well understood. Given the intimate relationship between sociality and disease, this represents a major gap in understanding, particularly since termites represent the only animal group outside of Hymenoptera to have evolved such advanced forms of social living. We explore the evolution of termite immunity by conducting qualitative and quantitative transcriptomic analyses from twelve cockroach and termite species occurring along a gradient of sociality. We incorporate lineages spanning the origin of eusociality, and include species from a key transitional subsocial group: the wood roaches. Firstly, we analyze immune characteristics in the context of termite phylogeny. Here, we examine the evolution of immune traits during the transition to eusociality, and explore the extent to which immune adaptations are associated with evolutionary shifts in social complexity and ecology. Secondly, we conduct a quantitative analysis of responses to a common immune stimulus to examine the role of both sociality and caste in immunity. Here, we test the hypothesis that the evolution of division of labour – and associated increases in investment into costly altruistic (immune) traits – occurred at the expense of individual immunity in the sterile caste.