Tapeworm Turns Ants Into Long-Lived "Golds"
Infected ants turn pale yellow, emit queen-like pheromones, and receive royal treatment from nestmates—while living up to 10 times longer.
Key Findings
A study published in BMC Genomics has uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis hijacks Temnothorax nylanderi ants, dramatically extending their lifespan and rewriting their behavior.
Infected ants become a pale yellow and produce queen-like pheromones. Their nestmates respond by granting them royal treatment, while the infected ants abandon all duties. They also live up to 10 times longer than uninfected ants.
The tapeworm's ultimate goal? To be eaten by a woodpecker. Inside the bird, it reproduces and releases eggs via droppings, completing its life cycle.
Genetic Analysis
Researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Zhejiang University examined gene expression in the brains and fat bodies of infected and uninfected ants—as well as queens.
- In fat bodies, infected workers showed a queen-like gene expression profile, linked to metabolism, immunity, stress responses, and aging.
- In the brain, infected ants had suppressed signaling molecules and receptors, which explains their loss of work ethic.
The parasite does not appear to use its own peptides to hack the brain. Instead, it indirectly intervenes in the host's own regulatory networks, reprogramming the ant from within.
Context
The tapeworm is one of several parasites that manipulate ant behavior. Another famous example is the cordyceps fungus, which turns ants into "zombies" before killing them.