Rare fly species wears fake termite head to infiltrate nests
A team of scientists discovered a species of blow fly (family Calliphoridae) whose larvae can infiltrate colonies of harvester termites in the Anti-Atlas mountains of southern Morocco. The research group from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE) at the Spanish National Research Council primarily studies ants and butterflies. Since the area was a little dry and lacking rainfall, the butterflies were not flying. The team decided to look around for some ants instead and were in for a surprise.
'When we lifted a stone we found a termite mound with three fly larvae that we had never seen before. The water had probably flooded the deeper layers of the nest and the larvae had emerged onto the surface,' Roger Vila, a study co-author and an evolutionary biologist at IBE said in a statement. 'It must be an extremely rare species, because we have made three more expeditions in that area and, despite lifting hundreds of stones, we found only two more flies, together, in another termite mound.'
The team took a closer look at the ant's bodies to see what types of adaptations were unique to this species of blow fly. The larvae of this calliphorid fly use disguise that helps them infiltrate termite mounds. The larvae display a 'termite mask' on the backs of their bodies. The mask includes a non-functional head adorned with antennae and palps–forward appendages near the mouth of termites–that are the same size as those of a large harvester termites. They also have two false eyes. These fake peepers are the larvae's breathing holes.
'Most termites live several metres deep and have no visual perception,' said Vila. 'However, harvester termites come out at dusk to collect grass, so they have functional eyes that the larvae are able to mimic with their spiracles.'
The larvae also use unusual 'tentacles' around their bodies that are detailed termite antennae dupes. The team used a scanning electron microscopy to look at the tentacles and saw that they help the larvae communicate with several termites at the same time.
[ Related: Even ants may hold grudges. ]
Everything inside a termite nest is dark, so the termites use their antennae to recognize each other. Their antennae can detect the shape and smell of their siblings, since all members of the nest share a particular scent. If the soldier termites sniff out intruders from other colonies, they will attack and dismember the interlopers.
To keep from being detected–and likely dismembered–the bowflies mimic the distinctive odour of their hosts. The team's analysis revealed that the chemical composition of the larvae is indistinguishable from the termites in the colony. This chemical disguise is key to interacting with the termites and benefitting from their communicable nest life. Future studies could determine how they create this unique scent booster.
When the team initially found the larvae in Morocco, they were in the termite mound's food chambers. When they observed the larvae back in a laboratory set up, they saw that they tend to settle in the most populated area of the nest. Here, they actually received constant attention from the termites. While the team couldn't determine what the larvae were eating, they did observe that the termites appeared to be transmitting food to the larvae using their mouths.
'The larvae are not only tolerated, but they constantly communicate with the termites through contact with their antenna-like tentacles,' said Vila. 'The termites even seem to feed them, although this has not yet been unequivocally demonstrated.'
One of the study's biggest challenges was the difficulty of keeping the insects in the lab. It involves maintaining colonies of desert termites, who live in very special conditions in the wild.
'The larvae we studied eventually died without metamorphosing, so there may be elements of the nest and the symbiotic relationship between the termites and the flies that we were unable to transfer to the laboratory. Their diet is currently unknown, and their adult form remains a mystery,' said Vila.
[ Related: Flies with shorter eye-stalks act aggressively because females are less attracted to them. ]
According to the team, the relationship between the blow fly larvae and termites appears to be some form of social parasitism or symbiosis. Humpbacked flies and termites have a similar relationship. However, it is adult humpback flies and not the larvae that mimic termites.
Genomic study also showed that the fly belongs to the genus Rhyncomya. No known species of this genus have this unusual lifestyle or physical traits, so the team believes that this new species must have evolved very quickly.
'This discovery invites us to reconsider the limits and potential of symbiotic relationships and social parasitism in nature,' said Vila. 'But, above all, we should realise how much we still do not know about the vast diversity and specialisation of insects, which are essential organisms in ecosystems.'
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Miami Herald
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ReiThera developed the GRAd viral vector platform and manufactured the vaccine candidate, while the Ragon Institute designed the immunogen using novel strategies to identify protective HIV epitopes and facilitate their targeting by T cells. This clinical program is funded by the Gates Foundation. The IAVI C114 clinical trial is taking place at three clinical trial sites: the Mutala Trust Clinical Trial Site, in Harare, Zimbabwe; the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF), in Cape Town, South Africa; and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), in Durban, South Africa. To determine the vaccine candidate's potential for relevance in sub-Saharan Africa, where disease burden is greatest, it is essential that the candidate be tested within communities affected by the epidemic. "This is a landmark moment for South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the continent. It shows the power of true partnership: IAVI's sponsorship, ReiThera's GRAd technology, the Ragon Institute's innovative immunogen built on decades of science, and African investigators co-leading every phase of the trial. We are edging closer to an HIV vaccine, made possible by global collaboration, with clinical trials conducted in Africa, for Africa, and for the world." said Dr. Tariro Makadzange, Clinical Trial Lead, Mutala Trust. "This trial represents the future of vaccine development, rooted in Africa, built through global partnerships, and designed for the communities most affected by HIV," said Dr. Vincent Muturi-Kioi, HIV Vaccines Product Development Team Lead at IAVI. The vaccine candidate is designed to engage the immune system to recognize and target critical structural regions of HIV using a clinically validated, potent, T cell-inducing GRAd vector. This approach will be evaluated to assess the ability of the vaccine candidate to direct strong CD8+ T cell immune responses towards these vulnerable viral regions. "We are thrilled to be moving insights from our long-term studies of spontaneous elite controllers of HIV toward the development of GRAdHIVNE1 and its testing in Africa. We are truly grateful to the network of global and African partners that have come together to make the IAVI C114 trial a reality," said Dr. Gaurav Gaiha, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Principal Investigator at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard. Because CD8+ T cells induced by this vaccine hold promise for targeting HIV-infected cells, this clinical trial will also assess the safety and immune response in people living with HIV. These data will be used to assess the suitability of the vaccine candidate for the development of investigational HIV therapeutic and curative interventions. "We are enormously pleased with the launch of this Phase 1 trial representing the result of a successful global partnership," said Stefano Colloca, CEO and co-Founder of ReiThera. "This candidate HIV vaccine, built on our GRAd platform, holds great promise to trigger a strong CD8 response targeting vulnerable viral regions." Principal Investigators Leading Clinical Trial Sites: Tariro Makadzange, Mutala TrustTheodorah Rirhandzu Ndzhukule, DTHFLimakatso Lebina, AHRI About IAVI IAVI is a global nonprofit scientific organization that works to develop vaccines and antibodies to prevent HIV and other infectious diseases, with a focus on innovation and equitable access. IAVI is the sponsor of this trial. Read more at IAVI media contact Heather Teixeirahteixeira@ About Mutala Trust Mutala Trust is founding member of Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) and is a site based in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is known for conducting high-quality, ethically sound clinical trials addressing diseases that affect African communities. Mutala is the clinical lead site for the study. Mutala Trustmedia contact coms@ About ReiThera Srl. ReiThera Srl, an Italian CDMO specializing in technology and process development as well as GMP manufacturing of viral vectors for genetic vaccines and advanced therapies, is the developer and owner of the GRAd platform used for this HIV vaccine. ReiThera media contact communication@ About the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard The Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard was established with a collaborative scientific mission among these institutions that brings scientists, clinicians and engineers together to harness the immune system to combat and cure human disease. They contributed to vaccine design. For more information, visit Ragon Institutemedia contact ragoncommunications@ SOURCE: IAVI
