New preprint: Krapf et al. (2026) Research Square

In this study, we investigated what drives the onset of aggression in animals using ants as a model system. By combining chemical, microbiome, genomic, and transcriptomic analyses, we identified specific bacterial taxa, gene mutations, and expression patterns linked to whether ants initiated or responded to aggression. Many of these traits were associated with hormone signalling and neural function, suggesting that aggression arises from a complex interplay of multiple biological factors. This work highlights how microbial and genetic traits together may influence social behaviour and its evolutionary significance.

References

2026

Preprint: The gut microbiome, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and differentially expressed genes promote aggression in an ant

Patrick Krapf, Francesco Cicconardi, Martin Schilling, Gerhard Aigner, Thomas Klammsteiner, Manfred Ayasse, Wolfgang Arthofer, Alexander Mikheyev, Birgit C. Schlick-Steiner, and Florian M. Steiner

Jan 2026

ISSN: 2693-5015

Abstract doi Bib

Animals frequently display aggressive behaviour, for example, when competing for food. Aggression is influenced by various extrinsic and intrinsic factors such as temperature, the microbiome, and genetics. However, we currently lack understanding what factors cause an animal to start aggression. Here, we use an ant species to test if chemical, microbiome, genomic, and/or transcriptomic traits correlate with the start of aggression and the reactions to it, that is, reacting aggressively or peacefully. We found nine bacterial operational taxonomic units, mutations in two genes, and eight differentially expressed genes, which were positively or negatively associated with the start of aggression or reactions to it. These traits are mainly linked to hormone signalling and neurological and synaptic functions. The results indicate that multiple traits, possibly acting in concert, affect the start of aggression and reactions to it. We speculate that such traits could promote aggression and could thus play important evolutionary roles.
@misc{krapf_researchsquare_2026, title = {Preprint: The gut microbiome, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and differentially expressed genes promote aggression in an ant}, url = {https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8539228/v1}, doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-8539228/v1}, urldate = {2026-01-09}, journal = {Research Square}, author = {Krapf, Patrick and Cicconardi, Francesco and Schilling, Martin and Aigner, Gerhard and Klammsteiner, Thomas and Ayasse, Manfred and Arthofer, Wolfgang and Mikheyev, Alexander and Schlick-Steiner, Birgit C. and Steiner, Florian M.}, month = jan, year = {2026}, note = {ISSN: 2693-5015}, dimensions = true, keywords = {Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics, gut microbiome, cuticular hydrocarbons, behaviour, start of aggression, Tetramorium alpestre}, file = {2026-01-09-Krapf-ResearchSquare.pdf} }