Abstract
The immune response affects learning and memory in insects. Given this and the known fitness costs of both the immune system and learning, does an evolutionary trade-off exist between these two systems? We tested this by measuring the learning ability of 12 bumble-bee (Bombus terrestris) colonies in a free-flying paradigm. We then tested their immune response using the zone of inhibition assay. We found a positive relationship between colony learning performance and immune response, that is, fast-learning colonies also show high levels of antimicrobial activity. We conclude that there is no a priori reason to demand an evolutionary relationship between two traits that are linked physiologically.
Highlights
There is extensive communication between the nervous system and immune system in mammals (Dantzer 2004)
We have shown that both honeybees Apis mellifera (Mallon et al 2003a) and bumble-bees Bombus terrestris (Riddell & Mallon 2006; Alghamdi et al 2008) perform poorly in learning assays when their immune systems have been challenged by lipopolysaccaride (LPS)
LPS is a component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, which is a nonpathogenic elicitor of the immune response (Moret & Schmid-Hempel 2000)
Summary
There is extensive communication between the nervous system and immune system in mammals (Dantzer 2004). Many responses to parasites, such as fever, increased slow-wave sleep, reduced activity, exploration and sexual behaviour in mammals are orchestrated by immune products (proinflammatory cytokines) released in response to the detection of antigens (Maier & Watkins 1998). Links between nervous and immune systems are not unique to vertebrates. We have shown that both honeybees Apis mellifera (Mallon et al 2003a) and bumble-bees Bombus terrestris (Riddell & Mallon 2006; Alghamdi et al 2008) perform poorly in learning assays when their immune systems have been challenged by lipopolysaccaride (LPS). LPS is a component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, which is a nonpathogenic elicitor of the immune response (Moret & Schmid-Hempel 2000). We found that learning and memory are impaired by the immune response directly with no parasite present
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