@article{13042, abstract = {Let Lc,n denote the size of the longest cycle in G(n, c/n),c >1 constant. We show that there exists a continuous function f(c) such that Lc,n/n→f(c) a.s. for c>20, thus extending a result of Frieze and the author to smaller values of c. Thereafter, for c>20, we determine the limit of the probability that G(n, c/n)contains cycles of every length between the length of its shortest and its longest cycles as n→∞.}, author = {Anastos, Michael}, issn = {1077-8926}, journal = {Electronic Journal of Combinatorics}, number = {2}, publisher = {Electronic Journal of Combinatorics}, title = {{A note on long cycles in sparse random graphs}}, doi = {10.37236/11471}, volume = {30}, year = {2023}, } @article{13043, abstract = {We derive a weak-strong uniqueness principle for BV solutions to multiphase mean curvature flow of triple line clusters in three dimensions. Our proof is based on the explicit construction of a gradient flow calibration in the sense of the recent work of Fischer et al. (2020) for any such cluster. This extends the two-dimensional construction to the three-dimensional case of surfaces meeting along triple junctions.}, author = {Hensel, Sebastian and Laux, Tim}, issn = {1463-9971}, journal = {Interfaces and Free Boundaries}, number = {1}, pages = {37--107}, publisher = {EMS Press}, title = {{Weak-strong uniqueness for the mean curvature flow of double bubbles}}, doi = {10.4171/IFB/484}, volume = {25}, year = {2023}, } @article{13044, abstract = {Singlet oxygen (1O2) formation is now recognised as a key aspect of non-aqueous oxygen redox chemistry. For identifying 1O2, chemical trapping via 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA) to form the endoperoxide (DMA-O2) has become the mainstay method due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of use. While DMA has been shown to be selective for 1O2, rather than forming DMA-O2 with a wide variety of potentially reactive O-containing species, false positives might hypothetically be obtained in the presence of previously overlooked species. Here, we first give unequivocal direct spectroscopic proof by the 1O2-specific near infrared (NIR) emission at 1270 nm for the previously proposed 1O2 formation pathways, which centre around superoxide disproportionation. We then show that peroxocarbonates, common intermediates in metal-O2 and metal carbonate electrochemistry, do not produce false-positive DMA-O2. Moreover, we identify a previously unreported 1O2-forming pathway through the reaction of CO2 with superoxide. Overall, we give unequivocal proof for 1O2 formation in non-aqueous oxygen redox and show that chemical trapping with DMA is a reliable method to assess 1O2 formation.}, author = {Mondal, Soumyadip and Jethwa, Rajesh B and Pant, Bhargavi and Hauschild, Robert and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander}, issn = {1364-5498}, journal = {Faraday Discussions}, keywords = {Physical and Theoretical Chemistry}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, title = {{Singlet oxygen in non-aqueous oxygen redox: Direct spectroscopic evidence for formation pathways and reliability of chemical probes}}, doi = {10.1039/d3fd00088e}, year = {2023}, } @inproceedings{13048, abstract = {In this paper we introduce a pruning of the medial axis called the (λ,α)-medial axis (axλα). We prove that the (λ,α)-medial axis of a set K is stable in a Gromov-Hausdorff sense under weak assumptions. More formally we prove that if K and K′ are close in the Hausdorff (dH) sense then the (λ,α)-medial axes of K and K′ are close as metric spaces, that is the Gromov-Hausdorff distance (dGH) between the two is 1/4-Hölder in the sense that dGH (axλα(K),axλα(K′)) ≲ dH(K,K′)1/4. The Hausdorff distance between the two medial axes is also bounded, by dH (axλα(K),λα(K′)) ≲ dH(K,K′)1/2. These quantified stability results provide guarantees for practical computations of medial axes from approximations. Moreover, they provide key ingredients for studying the computability of the medial axis in the context of computable analysis.}, author = {Lieutier, André and Wintraecken, Mathijs}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 55th Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing}, isbn = {9781450399135}, location = {Orlando, FL, United States}, pages = {1768--1776}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery}, title = {{Hausdorff and Gromov-Hausdorff stable subsets of the medial axis}}, doi = {10.1145/3564246.3585113}, year = {2023}, } @article{13049, abstract = {We propose a computational design approach for covering a surface with individually addressable RGB LEDs, effectively forming a low-resolution surface screen. To achieve a low-cost and scalable approach, we propose creating designs from flat PCB panels bent in-place along the surface of a 3D printed core. Working with standard rigid PCBs enables the use of established PCB manufacturing services, allowing the fabrication of designs with several hundred LEDs. Our approach optimizes the PCB geometry for folding, and then jointly optimizes the LED packing, circuit and routing, solving a challenging layout problem under strict manufacturing requirements. Unlike paper, PCBs cannot bend beyond a certain point without breaking. Therefore, we introduce parametric cut patterns acting as hinges, designed to allow bending while remaining compact. To tackle the joint optimization of placement, circuit and routing, we propose a specialized algorithm that splits the global problem into one sub-problem per triangle, which is then individually solved. Our technique generates PCB blueprints in a completely automated way. After being fabricated by a PCB manufacturing service, the boards are bent and glued by the user onto the 3D printed support. We demonstrate our technique on a range of physical models and virtual examples, creating intricate surface light patterns from hundreds of LEDs.}, author = {Freire, Marco and Bhargava, Manas and Schreck, Camille and Hugron, Pierre-Alexandre and Bickel, Bernd and Lefebvre, Sylvain}, issn = {1557-7368}, journal = {Transactions on Graphics}, keywords = {PCB design and layout, Mesh geometry models}, location = {Los Angeles, CA, United States}, number = {4}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery}, title = {{PCBend: Light up your 3D shapes with foldable circuit boards}}, doi = {10.1145/3592411}, volume = {42}, year = {2023}, } @inbook{13052, abstract = {Imaging of the immunological synapse (IS) between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells in suspension is hampered by suboptimal alignment of cell-cell contacts along the vertical imaging plane. This requires optical sectioning that often results in unsatisfactory resolution in time and space. Here, we present a workflow where DCs and T cells are confined between a layer of glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that orients the cells along one, horizontal imaging plane, allowing for fast en-face-imaging of the DC-T cell IS.}, author = {Leithner, Alexander F and Merrin, Jack and Sixt, Michael K}, booktitle = {The Immune Synapse}, editor = {Baldari, Cosima and Dustin, Michael}, isbn = {9781071631348}, issn = {1940-6029}, pages = {137--147}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{En-Face Imaging of T Cell-Dendritic Cell Immunological Synapses}}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-3135-5_9}, volume = {2654}, year = {2023}, } @article{14653, abstract = {Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful analytical technique for the two-dimensional (2D) localization of chemicals on surfaces. Conventional MSI experiments require to predefine the surface of interest based on photographic or microscopic images. Typically, these boundaries can no longer be changed or adjusted once the experiment has been started. In terms of a more interactive approach we recently developed a pen-like ionization interface which is directly connected to the mass spectrometer. The device allows the user to ionize chemicals by desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and to freely move the interface over a surface of interest. A mini camera, which is mounted on the tip of the pen, magnifies the desorption area and enables a simple positioning of the pen. The combination of optical data from the camera module and chemical data obtained by mass analysis facilitates a novel type of imaging experiment: interactive mass spectrometry imaging (IMSI). For this application, we present a novel approach for a robust, optical flow-based motion detection. While the live video stream from the camera is used to track the pen's motion across the surface a post-acquisition algorithm correlates the coordinates of the pen trajectory with respective mass spectra obtained from a simultaneous mass spectrometric data acquisition. This algorithm is no longer dependent on a single, manually applied optical marker on the sample surface, which has to be visible on all video frames throughout the analysis. The advanced DESI-IMSI method was successfully tested on inkjet-printed letters as well as mouse brain tissue samples. Validation of the results was done by comparing DESI-IMSI with standard DESI-MSI data.}, author = {Kluibenschedl, Florian and Ploner, Anna and Meisenbichler, Christina and Konrat, Robert and Müller, Thomas}, issn = {1387-3806}, journal = {International Journal of Mass Spectrometry}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Advanced motion tracking for interactive mass spectrometry imaging (IMSI)}}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijms.2023.117168}, volume = {495}, year = {2023}, } @article{10656, abstract = {Idealized simulations of the tropical atmosphere have predicted that clouds can spontaneously clump together in space, despite perfectly homogeneous settings. This phenomenon has been called self-aggregation, and it results in a state where a moist cloudy region with intense deep convective storms is surrounded by extremely dry subsiding air devoid of deep clouds. We review here the main findings from theoretical work and idealized models of this phenomenon, highlighting the physical processes believed to play a key role in convective self-aggregation. We also review the growing literature on the importance and implications of this phenomenon for the tropical atmosphere, notably, for the hydrological cycle and for precipitation extremes, in our current and in a warming climate.}, author = {Muller, Caroline J and Yang, Da and Craig, George and Cronin, Timothy and Fildier, Benjamin and Haerter, Jan O. and Hohenegger, Cathy and Mapes, Brian and Randall, David and Shamekh, Sara and Sherwood, Steven C.}, issn = {1545-4479}, journal = {Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics}, pages = {133--157}, publisher = {Annual Reviews}, title = {{Spontaneous aggregation of convective storms}}, doi = {10.1146/annurev-fluid-022421-011319}, volume = {54}, year = {2022}, } @article{10658, abstract = {We analyse how migration from a large mainland influences genetic load and population numbers on an island, in a scenario where fitness-affecting variants are unconditionally deleterious, and where numbers decline with increasing load. Our analysis shows that migration can have qualitatively different effects, depending on the total mutation target and fitness effects of deleterious variants. In particular, we find that populations exhibit a genetic Allee effect across a wide range of parameter combinations, when variants are partially recessive, cycling between low-load (large-population) and high-load (sink) states. Increased migration reduces load in the sink state (by increasing heterozygosity) but further inflates load in the large-population state (by hindering purging). We identify various critical parameter thresholds at which one or other stable state collapses, and discuss how these thresholds are influenced by the genetic versus demographic effects of migration. Our analysis is based on a ‘semi-deterministic’ analysis, which accounts for genetic drift but neglects demographic stochasticity. We also compare against simulations which account for both demographic stochasticity and drift. Our results clarify the importance of gene flow as a key determinant of extinction risk in peripheral populations, even in the absence of ecological gradients. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Species’ ranges in the face of changing environments (part I)’.}, author = {Sachdeva, Himani and Olusanya, Oluwafunmilola O and Barton, Nicholas H}, issn = {1471-2970}, journal = {Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B}, number = {1846}, publisher = {The Royal Society}, title = {{Genetic load and extinction in peripheral populations: The roles of migration, drift and demographic stochasticity}}, doi = {10.1098/rstb.2021.0010}, volume = {377}, year = {2022}, } @article{10702, abstract = {Background: Blood-based markers of cognitive functioning might provide an accessible way to track neurodegeneration years prior to clinical manifestation of cognitive impairment and dementia. Results: Using blood-based epigenome-wide analyses of general cognitive function, we show that individual differences in DNA methylation (DNAm) explain 35.0% of the variance in general cognitive function (g). A DNAm predictor explains ~4% of the variance, independently of a polygenic score, in two external cohorts. It also associates with circulating levels of neurology- and inflammation-related proteins, global brain imaging metrics, and regional cortical volumes. Conclusions: As sample sizes increase, the ability to assess cognitive function from DNAm data may be informative in settings where cognitive testing is unreliable or unavailable.}, author = {McCartney, Daniel L. and Hillary, Robert F. and Conole, Eleanor L.S. and Banos, Daniel Trejo and Gadd, Danni A. and Walker, Rosie M. and Nangle, Cliff and Flaig, Robin and Campbell, Archie and Murray, Alison D. and Maniega, Susana Muñoz and Valdés-Hernández, María Del C. and Harris, Mathew A. and Bastin, Mark E. and Wardlaw, Joanna M. and Harris, Sarah E. and Porteous, David J. and Tucker-Drob, Elliot M. and McIntosh, Andrew M. and Evans, Kathryn L. and Deary, Ian J. and Cox, Simon R. and Robinson, Matthew Richard and Marioni, Riccardo E.}, issn = {1474-760X}, journal = {Genome Biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Blood-based epigenome-wide analyses of cognitive abilities}}, doi = {10.1186/s13059-021-02596-5}, volume = {23}, year = {2022}, } @article{10703, abstract = {When crawling through the body, leukocytes often traverse tissues that are densely packed with extracellular matrix and other cells, and this raises the question: How do leukocytes overcome compressive mechanical loads? Here, we show that the actin cortex of leukocytes is mechanoresponsive and that this responsiveness requires neither force sensing via the nucleus nor adhesive interactions with a substrate. Upon global compression of the cell body as well as local indentation of the plasma membrane, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) assembles into dot-like structures, providing activation platforms for Arp2/3 nucleated actin patches. These patches locally push against the external load, which can be obstructing collagen fibers or other cells, and thereby create space to facilitate forward locomotion. We show in vitro and in vivo that this WASp function is rate limiting for ameboid leukocyte migration in dense but not in loose environments and is required for trafficking through diverse tissues such as skin and lymph nodes.}, author = {Gaertner, Florian and Reis-Rodrigues, Patricia and De Vries, Ingrid and Hons, Miroslav and Aguilera, Juan and Riedl, Michael and Leithner, Alexander F and Tasciyan, Saren and Kopf, Aglaja and Merrin, Jack and Zheden, Vanessa and Kaufmann, Walter and Hauschild, Robert and Sixt, Michael K}, issn = {1878-1551}, journal = {Developmental Cell}, number = {1}, pages = {47--62.e9}, publisher = {Cell Press ; Elsevier}, title = {{WASp triggers mechanosensitive actin patches to facilitate immune cell migration in dense tissues}}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2021.11.024}, volume = {57}, year = {2022}, } @article{10704, abstract = {We define and study the existence of very stable Higgs bundles on Riemann surfaces, how it implies a precise formula for the multiplicity of the very stable components of the global nilpotent cone and its relationship to mirror symmetry. The main ingredients are the Bialynicki-Birula theory of C∗-actions on semiprojective varieties, C∗ characters of indices of C∗-equivariant coherent sheaves, Hecke transformation for Higgs bundles, relative Fourier–Mukai transform along the Hitchin fibration, hyperholomorphic structures on universal bundles and cominuscule Higgs bundles.}, author = {Hausel, Tamás and Hitchin, Nigel}, issn = {1432-1297}, journal = {Inventiones Mathematicae}, pages = {893--989}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Very stable Higgs bundles, equivariant multiplicity and mirror symmetry}}, doi = {10.1007/s00222-021-01093-7}, volume = {228}, year = {2022}, } @article{10705, abstract = {Although rigidity and jamming transitions have been widely studied in physics and material science, their importance in a number of biological processes, including embryo development, tissue homeostasis, wound healing, and disease progression, has only begun to be recognized in the past few years. The hypothesis that biological systems can undergo rigidity/jamming transitions is attractive, as it would allow these systems to change their material properties rapidly and strongly. However, whether such transitions indeed occur in biological systems, how they are being regulated, and what their physiological relevance might be, is still being debated. Here, we review theoretical and experimental advances from the past few years, focusing on the regulation and role of potential tissue rigidity transitions in different biological processes.}, author = {Hannezo, Edouard B and Heisenberg, Carl-Philipp J}, issn = {1879-3088}, journal = {Trends in Cell Biology}, number = {5}, pages = {P433--444}, publisher = {Cell Press}, title = {{Rigidity transitions in development and disease}}, doi = {10.1016/j.tcb.2021.12.006}, volume = {32}, year = {2022}, } @article{10706, abstract = {This is a collection of problems composed by some participants of the workshop “Differential Geometry, Billiards, and Geometric Optics” that took place at CIRM on October 4–8, 2021.}, author = {Bialy, Misha and Fiorebe, Corentin and Glutsyuk, Alexey and Levi, Mark and Plakhov, Alexander and Tabachnikov, Serge}, issn = {2199-6806}, journal = {Arnold Mathematical Journal}, location = {Hybrid}, pages = {411--422}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Open problems on billiards and geometric optics}}, doi = {10.1007/s40598-022-00198-y}, volume = {8}, year = {2022}, } @article{10712, abstract = {Solute carriers are increasingly recognized as participating in a plethora of pathologies, including cancer. We describe here the involvement of the orphan solute carrier MFSD1 in the regulation of tumor cell migration. Loss of MFSD1 enabled higher levels of metastasis in a mouse model. We identified an increased migratory potential in MFSD1-/- tumor cells which was mediated by increased focal adhesion turn-over, reduced stability of mature inactive β1 integrin, and the resulting increased integrin activation index. We show that MFSD1 promoted recycling to the cell surface of endocytosed inactive β1 integrin and thereby protected β1 integrin from proteolytic degradation; this led to dampening of the integrin activation index. Furthermore, down-regulation of MFSD1 expression was observed during early steps of tumorigenesis and higher MFSD1 expression levels correlate with a better cancer patient prognosis. In sum, we describe a requirement for endolysosomal MFSD1 in efficient β1 integrin recycling to suppress tumor spread.}, author = {Roblek, Marko and Bicher, Julia and van Gogh, Merel and György, Attila and Seeböck, Rita and Szulc, Bozena and Damme, Markus and Olczak, Mariusz and Borsig, Lubor and Siekhaus, Daria E}, issn = {2234-943X}, journal = {Frontiers in Oncology}, publisher = {Frontiers}, title = {{The solute carrier MFSD1 decreases β1 integrin’s activation status and thus tumor metastasis}}, doi = {10.3389/fonc.2022.777634}, volume = {12}, year = {2022}, } @article{10713, abstract = {Cells migrate through crowded microenvironments within tissues during normal development, immune response, and cancer metastasis. Although migration through pores and tracks in the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been well studied, little is known about cellular traversal into confining cell-dense tissues. We find that embryonic tissue invasion by Drosophila macrophages requires division of an epithelial ectodermal cell at the site of entry. Dividing ectodermal cells disassemble ECM attachment formed by integrin-mediated focal adhesions next to mesodermal cells, allowing macrophages to move their nuclei ahead and invade between two immediately adjacent tissues. Invasion efficiency depends on division frequency, but reduction of adhesion strength allows macrophage entry independently of division. This work demonstrates that tissue dynamics can regulate cellular infiltration.}, author = {Akhmanova, Maria and Emtenani, Shamsi and Krueger, Daniel and György, Attila and Pereira Guarda, Mariana and Vlasov, Mikhail and Vlasov, Fedor and Akopian, Andrei and Ratheesh, Aparna and De Renzis, Stefano and Siekhaus, Daria E}, issn = {0036-8075}, journal = {Science}, number = {6591}, pages = {394--396}, publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science}, title = {{Cell division in tissues enables macrophage infiltration}}, doi = {10.1126/science.abj0425}, volume = {376}, year = {2022}, } @article{10714, abstract = {Ribosomal defects perturb stem cell differentiation, causing diseases called ribosomopathies. How ribosome levels control stem cell differentiation is not fully known. Here, we discovered three RNA helicases are required for ribosome biogenesis and for Drosophila oogenesis. Loss of these helicases, which we named Aramis, Athos and Porthos, lead to aberrant stabilization of p53, cell cycle arrest and stalled GSC differentiation. Unexpectedly, Aramis is required for efficient translation of a cohort of mRNAs containing a 5’-Terminal-Oligo-Pyrimidine (TOP)-motif, including mRNAs that encode ribosomal proteins and a conserved p53 inhibitor, Novel Nucleolar protein 1 (Non1). The TOP-motif co-regulates the translation of growth-related mRNAs in mammals. As in mammals, the La-related protein co-regulates the translation of TOP-motif containing RNAs during Drosophila oogenesis. Thus, a previously unappreciated TOP-motif in Drosophila responds to reduced ribosome biogenesis to co-regulate the translation of ribosomal proteins and a p53 repressor, thus coupling ribosome biogenesis to GSC differentiation.}, author = {Martin, Elliot T. and Blatt, Patrick and Ngyuen, Elaine and Lahr, Roni and Selvam, Sangeetha and Yoon, Hyun Ah M. and Pocchiari, Tyler and Emtenani, Shamsi and Siekhaus, Daria E and Berman, Andrea and Fuchs, Gabriele and Rangan, Prashanth}, issn = {1878-1551}, journal = {Developmental Cell}, number = {7}, pages = {883--900.e10}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{A translation control module coordinates germline stem cell differentiation with ribosome biogenesis during Drosophila oogenesis}}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2022.03.005}, volume = {57}, year = {2022}, } @article{10717, abstract = {Much of what we know about the role of auxin in plant development derives from exogenous manipulations of auxin distribution and signaling, using inhibitors, auxins and auxin analogs. In this context, synthetic auxin analogs, such as 1-Naphtalene Acetic Acid (1-NAA), are often favored over the endogenous auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), in part due to their higher stability. While such auxin analogs have proven to be instrumental to reveal the various faces of auxin, they display in some cases distinct bioactivities compared to IAA. Here, we focused on the effect of auxin analogs on the accumulation of PIN proteins in Brefeldin A-sensitive endosomal aggregations (BFA bodies), and the correlation with the ability to elicit Ca 2+ responses. For a set of commonly used auxin analogs, we evaluated if auxin-analog induced Ca 2+ signaling inhibits PIN accumulation. Not all auxin analogs elicited a Ca 2+ response, and their differential ability to elicit Ca 2+ responses correlated partially with their ability to inhibit BFA-body formation. However, in tir1/afb and cngc14, 1-NAA-induced Ca 2+ signaling was strongly impaired, yet 1-NAA still could inhibit PIN accumulation in BFA bodies. This demonstrates that TIR1/AFB-CNGC14-dependent Ca 2+ signaling does not inhibit BFA body formation in Arabidopsis roots.}, author = {Wang, R and Himschoot, E and Grenzi, M and Chen, J and Safi, A and Krebs, M and Schumacher, K and Nowack, MK and Moeder, W and Yoshioka, K and Van Damme, D and De Smet, I and Geelen, D and Beeckman, T and Friml, Jiří and Costa, A and Vanneste, S}, issn = {1460-2431}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Botany}, number = {8}, publisher = {Oxford Academic}, title = {{Auxin analog-induced Ca2+ signaling is independent of inhibition of endosomal aggregation in Arabidopsis roots}}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erac019}, volume = {73}, year = {2022}, } @article{10719, abstract = {Auxin, one of the first identified and most widely studied phytohormones, has been and will remain a hot topic in plant biology. After more than a century of passionate exploration, the mysteries of its synthesis, transport, signaling, and metabolism have largely been unlocked. Due to the rapid development of new technologies, new methods, and new genetic materials, the study of auxin has entered the fast lane over the past 30 years. Here, we highlight advances in understanding auxin signaling, including auxin perception, rapid auxin responses, TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1 and AUXIN SIGNALING F-boxes (TIR1/AFBs)-mediated transcriptional and non-transcriptional branches, and the epigenetic regulation of auxin signaling. We also focus on feedback inhibition mechanisms that prevent the over-amplification of auxin signals. In addition, we cover the TRANSMEMBRANE KINASEs (TMKs)-mediated non-canonical signaling, which converges with TIR1/AFBs-mediated transcriptional regulation to coordinate plant growth and development. The identification of additional auxin signaling components and their regulation will continue to open new avenues of research in this field, leading to an increasingly deeper, more comprehensive understanding of how auxin signals are interpreted at the cellular level to regulate plant growth and development.}, author = {Yu, Z and Zhang, F and Friml, Jiří and Ding, Z}, issn = {1744-7909}, journal = {Journal of Integrative Plant Biology}, number = {2}, pages = {371--392}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Auxin signaling: Research advances over the past 30 years}}, doi = {10.1111/jipb.13225}, volume = {64}, year = {2022}, } @phdthesis{10727, abstract = {Social insects are a common model to study disease dynamics in social animals. Even though pathogens should thrive in social insect colonies as the hosts engage in frequent social interactions, are closely related and live in a pathogen-rich environment, disease outbreaks are rare. This is because social insects have evolved mechanisms to keep pathogens at bay – and fight disease as a collective. Social insect colonies are often viewed as “superorganisms” with division of labor between reproductive “germ-like” queens and males and “somatic” workers, which together form an interdependent reproductive unit that parallels a multicellular body. Superorganisms possess a “social immune system” that comprises of collective disease defenses performed by the workers - summarized as “social immunity”. In social groups immunization (reduced susceptibility to a parasite upon secondary exposure to the same parasite) can e.g. be triggered by social interactions (“social immunization”). Social immunization can be caused by (i) asymptomatic low-level infections that are acquired during caregiving to a contagious individual that can give an immune boost, which can induce protection upon later encounter with the same pathogen (active immunization) or (ii) by transfer of immune effectors between individuals (passive immunization). In the second chapter, I built up on a study that I co-authored that found that low-level infections can not only be protective, but also be costly and make the host more susceptible to detrimental superinfections after contact to a very dissimilar pathogen. I here now tested different degrees of phylogenetically-distant fungal strains of M. brunneum and M. robertsii in L. neglectus and can describe the occurrence of cross-protection of social immunization if the first and second pathogen are from the same level. Interestingly, low-level infections only provided protection when the first strain was less virulent than the second strain and elicited higher immune gene expression. In the third and fourth chapters, I expanded on the role of social immunity in sexual selection, a so far unstudied field. I used the fungus Metarhizium robertsii and the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior as a model, as in this species mating occurs in the presence of workers and can be studied under laboratory conditions. Before males mate with virgin queens in the nest they engage in fierce combat over the access to their mating partners. First, I focused on male-male competition in the third chapter and found that fighting with a contagious male is costly as it can lead to contamination of the rival, but that workers can decrease the risk of disease contraction by performing sanitary care. In the fourth chapter, I studied the effect of fungal infection on survival and mating success of sexuals (freshly emerged queens and males) and found that worker-performed sanitary care can buffer the negative effect that a pathogenic contagion would have on sexuals by spore removal from the exposed individuals. When social immunity was prevented and queens could contract spores from their mating partner, very low dosages led to negative consequences: their lifespan was reduced and they produced fewer offspring with poor immunocompetence compared to healthy queens. Interestingly, cohabitation with a late-stage infected male where no spore transfer was possible had a positive effect on offspring immunity – male offspring of mothers that apparently perceived an infected partner in their vicinity reacted more sensitively to fungal challenge than male offspring without paternal pathogen history.}, author = {Metzler, Sina}, issn = {2663-337X}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Pathogen-mediated sexual selection and immunization in ant colonies}}, doi = {10.15479/AT:ISTA:10727}, year = {2022}, }