Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers

J 2012

Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers

ŠOBOTNÍK, Jan, Thomas BOURGUIGNON, Robert HANUS, Z. DEMIANOVA, J. PYTELKOVA et. al.

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

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10406 Analytical chemistry

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

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

Abstract

V originále

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 project

Name: CEITEC - central european institute of technology

GAP206/12/0538, research and development project

Name: Nové strategie úpravy vzorků pro desorpční hmotnostní spektrometrii

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

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, 2012, vol. 337, No 6093, p. 436. ISSN 0036-8075. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219129.

@article{1077846,
   author = {Šobotník, Jan and Bourguignon, Thomas and Hanus, Robert and Demianova, Z. and Pytelkova, J. and Mares, M. and Foltynová, Pavla and Preisler, Jan and Cvacka, Josef and Krasulová, Jana and Roisin, Y.},
   article_location = {WASHINGTON},
   article_number = {6093},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219129},
   keywords = {termite; SALD ICP MS; copper},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0036-8075},
   journal = {Science},
   title = {Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers},
   url = {http://www.sciencemag.org/content/337/6093/436},
   volume = {337},
   year = {2012}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1077846
AU  - Šobotník, Jan - Bourguignon, Thomas - Hanus, Robert - Demianova, Z. - Pytelkova, J. - Mares, M. - Foltynová, Pavla - Preisler, Jan - Cvacka, Josef - Krasulová, Jana - Roisin, Y.
PY  - 2012
TI  - Explosive Backpacks in Old Termite Workers
JF  - Science
VL  - 337
IS  - 6093
SP  - 436
EP  - 436
PB  - AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
SN  - 00368075
KW  - termite
KW  - SALD ICP MS
KW  - copper
UR  - http://www.sciencemag.org/content/337/6093/436
L2  - http://www.sciencemag.org/content/337/6093/436
N2  - 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.
ER  -

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. \textit{Science}. WASHINGTON: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE, 2012, vol.~337, No~6093, p.~436. ISSN~0036-8075. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1219129.

Detailed Information on Publication Record