From Behavior to Mechanisms: An Integrative Approach to the Manipulation by a Parasitic Fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l.) of Its Host Ants (Camponotus spp.)
From Behavior to Mechanisms: An Integrative Approach to the Manipulation by a Parasitic Fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l.) of Its Host Ants (Camponotus spp.)
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DOI：
10.1093/icb/icu063
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发表时间：
2014-07-01
影响因子：
2.6
通讯作者：
Hughes, David P.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
de Bekker, Charissa;Merrow, Martha;Hughes, David P.
寄生虫和宿主的共同进化导致某些寄生虫能够自适应地操纵宿主的行为。尽管来自不同分类群的这一现象的例子越来越多，但寄生虫诱导操纵宿主行为的机制仍然知之甚少。将生命科学的各个学科结合起来发展实验室感染是朝着这个方向迈出的重要一步。在这里，我们提倡这样一种综合方法，以蛇虫草属的寄生真菌为例，该真菌诱导了Camponotus蚂蚁的适应性咬人行为。我们强调在受控的实验室条件下使用行为分析，行为的时间方面（可能涉及生物钟）的重要性，以及将殖民寄生虫作为具有劳动分工的组织的必要性。
Co-evolution of parasites and their hosts has led to certain parasites adaptively manipulating the behavior of their hosts. Although the number of examples from different taxa for this phenomenon is growing, the mechanisms underlying parasite-induced manipulation of hosts' behavior are still poorly understood. The development of laboratory infections integrating various disciplines within the life sciences is an important step in that direction. Here, we advocate for such an integrative approach using the parasitic fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps that induce an adaptive biting behavior in Camponotus ants as an example. We emphasize the use of behavioral assays under controlled laboratory conditions, the importance of temporal aspects of the behavior (possibly involving the circadian clock), and the need to approach colonizing parasites as organizations with a division of labor.