My project inves­ti­gates the mutual­ism between Vachel­lia trees and Pseudomyrmex ants, focus­ing on their role in wound care. Using chemi­cal ecology, proteomics, micro­bi­ol­ogy, and behav­ioral exper­i­ments, I plan to identify relevant wound healing compounds as well as the evolu­tion­ary mecha­nisms that enabled inter-kingdom wound care. This research expands on our concept of the social immune system by expand­ing it towards the ants’ host in this unique relationship.

Mutual­is­tic ant-plant relation­ships are vital for biodi­ver­sity and ecosys­tem stabil­ity. Through coevo­lu­tion, plants provide shelter and food, while ants defend them from herbi­vores and pathogens. As station­ary organ­isms, plants are vulner­a­ble to injuries that trigger defen­sive responses, includ­ing inter­ac­tions with ants. While some ants exhibit wound care within their colonies, their role in tending plant wounds remains unclear. This project hypoth­e­sizes that mutual­is­tic ants actively care for plant wounds, especially in oblig­ate relation­ships where plant survival directly affects ant fitness. Prelim­i­nary results show ants inter­act­ing with plant wounds, suggest­ing a role in interk­ing­dom wound care. By the end of this study, we aim to deliver the first detailed descrip­tion of this phenom­e­non. Using a multi­dis­ci­pli­nary approach – combin­ing chemi­cal ecology, proteomics, micro­bi­ol­ogy, and behav­ioral analy­ses – we will identify the proteins and compounds involved in wound healing and explore how myrme­co­phyte plants co-evolved with ants to optimize wound care. These findings may reveal novel plant defense strate­gies, redefine the concept of social immunity, and reshape our under­stand­ing of mutual­is­tic relationships.