Antimicrobial defences in the evolution of sociality

在大多数物种的进化过程中，疾病微生物可能是重要的选择因子。群居昆虫，如蚂蚁、蜜蜂、黄蜂和白蚁，可能特别容易受到伤害，因为它们的群体中有大量近亲生活在一起的个体；传染疾病的理想条件。我们将探索社会昆虫和相关群体的抗菌防御的进化。群居昆虫具有重要的生态和经济意义，了解它们与微生物疾病的关系将有助于它们的保护和控制。这些相互作用的知识也可能证明对日益易受疾病影响的人类社会有用。

Disease microorganisms were probably important selective agents during the evolution of most species. Social insects, the ants, bees, wasps and termites, may have been especially vulnerable because their colonies contain large numbers of closely related individuals living in close proximity; ideal conditions for contagious diseases. We will explore the evolution of antimicrobial defences in social insects and related groups. Social insects are important ecologically and economically and understanding their relationships with microbial diseases will facilitate their conservation and control. Knowledge of these interactions may also prove useful to human societies becoming increasingly vulnerable to disease.