Insects' essential role in understanding and broadening animal medication

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Silvio Erler, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Sheena C. Cotter, University of Lincoln; Dalial Freitak, University of Graz; Hauke Koch, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Evan C. Plamer-Young, USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory; Jacobus De Roode, Emory University; Angela M. Smilanich, University of Nevada; H. Michael G. Lattorff, University of KwaZulu Natal
• Language: English
• Date: 2024-04-01
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.003
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Trends in Parasitology
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 338
• End Page: 349
• Keywords: immunity; transgenerational effects; microbiome; host-parasite interaction; nutrition; secondary metabolites
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Health Sciences, Nutrition; Biology, Parasitology

Abstract

Like humans, animals use plants and other materials as medication against parasites. Recent decades have shown that the study of insects can greatly advance our understanding of medication behaviors. The ease of rearing insects under laboratory conditions has enabled controlled experiments to test critical hypotheses, while their spectrum of reproductive strategies and living arrangements – ranging from solitary to eusocial communities – has revealed that medication behaviors can evolve to maximize inclusive fitness through both direct and indirect fitness benefits. Studying insects has also demonstrated in some cases that medication can act through modulation of the host’s innate immune system and microbiome. We highlight outstanding questions, focusing on costs and benefits in the context of inclusive host fitness.