Mating precedes selective immune priming which is maintained throughout bumblebee queen diapause.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Understanding the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to unfavourable conditions is a fundamental question in ecology and evolutionary biology. One such mechanism is diapause, a period of dormancy typically found in nematodes, fish, crustaceans and insects. This state is a key life-history event characterised by arrested development, suppressed metabolism and increased stress tolerance and allows an organism to avoid prolonged periods of harsh and inhospitable environmental conditions. For some species, diapause is preceded by mating which can have a profound effect on female behaviour, physiology and key biological processes, including immunity. However, our understanding of how mating impacts long-term immunity and whether these effects persist throughout diapause is c

SUBMITTER: Colgan TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6902353 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature