ŠOBOTNÍK, Jan, Thomas BOURGUIGNON, Robert HANUS, Z. DEMIANOVA, J. PYTELKOVA, M. MARES, Pavla FOLTYNOVÁ, Jan PREISLER, Josef CVACKA, Jana KRASULOVÁ and Y. ROISIN. Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers. Science. WASHINGTON: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE, vol. 337, No 6093, p. 436. ISSN 0036-8075. doi:10.1126/science.1219129. 2012.
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Basic information
Original name Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers
Authors ŠOBOTNÍK, Jan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor), Thomas BOURGUIGNON (56 Belgium), Robert HANUS (203 Czech Republic), Z. DEMIANOVA (203 Czech Republic), J. PYTELKOVA (203 Czech Republic), M. MARES (203 Czech Republic), Pavla FOLTYNOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jan PREISLER (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Josef CVACKA (203 Czech Republic), Jana KRASULOVÁ (203 Czech Republic) and Y. ROISIN (56 Belgium).
Edition Science, WASHINGTON, AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE, 2012, 0036-8075.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study 10406 Analytical chemistry
Country of publisher United States of America
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW URL
Impact factor Impact factor: 31.027
RIV identification code RIV/00216224:14740/12:00057913
Organization unit Central European Institute of Technology
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219129
UT WoS 000306802300034
Keywords in English termite; SALD ICP MS; copper
Tags ok, rivok
Tags International impact, Reviewed
Changed by Changed by: prof. Mgr. Jan Preisler, Ph.D., učo 45329. Changed: 15/2/2018 22:16.
Abstract
By nature, defensive behavior is risky. In social insects, such behavior is more likely to occur in individuals whose potential for other tasks is diminished. We show that workers of the termite Neocapritermes taracua develop an exceptional two-component suicidal apparatus consisting of copper-containing protein crystals, stored in external pouches, and internal salivary glands. During aggressive encounters, their bodies rupture, and the crystals react with the salivary gland secretion to produce a toxic droplet. Both the amount of defensive substances and the readiness to explode increase with workers’ age, as their food-collecting ability declines.
Links
ED1.1.00/02.0068, research and development projectName: CEITEC - central european institute of technology
GAP206/12/0538, research and development projectName: Nové strategie úpravy vzorků pro desorpční hmotnostní spektrometrii
Investor: Czech Science Foundation
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