(www.neomundo.com.ar)-to heal an infection, ants (or rather, a type of Ant) lick each other.) An Austrian research shows how healthy ants groom companions come into contact with a pathogenic fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae).
This social behavior drastically reduces the infection, because it reduces the number of spores of fungi which are reproduced on the surface of the body of each Ant.
Experiments were made with four populations of ants and the route of the pathogen continued using fluorescence techniques. After observing the interaction between ants, the scientists measured their immune capacity.
Results on memory and the immune ability of this species surprised researchers, as invertebrates do not have the molecular mechanisms of vertebrates needed for immunization.
Medical research always interested to understand how agencies are fighting an infection. One of the most common practices consists of testing error and one of the most common remedies, vaccination.
The success of this treatment involves exposure of individuals to a controlled number of pathogens to train their immune capacity against the disease.
As in the case of social species there is more possibility of contagion because individuals living in community, mass vaccination contributes to the immunity of the group.
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