Tapeworm makes worker ants live longer by turning them queen-like
Researchers have discovered that a specific tapeworm parasite extends the lifespan of worker ants by altering their gene expression. The parasite effectively reprograms the ants to mimic the biological traits of long-lived queen ants.
Why it matters
This study provides unique insights into the genetic mechanisms of aging and how parasites can manipulate host biology to ensure their own survival.
Deep inside the damp leaf litter of the Lenneberg Forest near Mainz, Germany, tiny worker ants of the species Temnothorax nylanderi are living surprisingly long lives. While a normal worker ant usually leads a short, busy life of just one to two years, workers carrying a parasitic tapeworm called Anomotaenia brevis can live several times longer. Instead of dying young, their chances of staying alive start to match those of their queen, a royal ant that can live for up to twenty years.Now, a detailed study published in the journal BMC Genomics shows how this unusual long life actually works. Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) found that the tapeworm does not simply make the ant sick or weak.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in