Secreted antibiotics and antimicrobial defense in a subterranean termite

Two important effector molecules of the insect innate immune system (GNBP and termicin) have been identified in termite salivary glands. Their effectiveness appears to depend on them being spread among nestmates by grooming as well as incorporated into nest materials and soil passageways. This could be an important defense against entomopathogens such as the fungal pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae, which can evade the immune system once it has entered its host. The secretion of these antifungals may pre-emptively kill pathogens such as M. anisopliae before it enters the insect. We report new results that indicate that the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes produces secreted antibiotics that target naturally encountered microbial pathogens.