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Peng T, Kennedy A, Wu Y, Foitzik S, Grüter C. Early life exposure to queen mandibular pheromone mediates persistent transcriptional changes in the brain of honey bee foragers. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247516. [PMID: 38725404 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Behavioural regulation in insect societies remains a fundamental question in sociobiology. In hymenopteran societies, the queen plays a crucial role in regulating group behaviour by affecting individual behaviour and physiology through modulation of worker gene expression. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens signal their presence via queen mandibular pheromone (QMP). While QMP has been shown to influence behaviour and gene expression of young workers, we know little about how these changes translate in older workers. The effects of the queen pheromone could have prolonged molecular impacts on workers that depend on an early sensitive period. We demonstrate that removal of QMP impacts long-term gene expression in the brain and antennae in foragers that were treated early in life (1 day post emergence), but not when treated later in life. Genes important for division of labour, learning, chemosensory perception and ageing were among those differentially expressed in the antennae and brain tissues, suggesting that QMP influences diverse physiological and behavioural processes in workers. Surprisingly, removal of QMP did not have an impact on foraging behaviour. Overall, our study suggests a sensitive period early in the life of workers, where the presence or absence of a queen has potentially life-long effects on transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianfei Peng
- Institute of Molecular and Organismic Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Biozentrum I, Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, PR China
| | - Anissa Kennedy
- Institute of Molecular and Organismic Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Biozentrum I, Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Yongqiang Wu
- Institute of Molecular and Organismic Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Biozentrum I, Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Molecular and Organismic Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Biozentrum I, Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Christoph Grüter
- Institute of Molecular and Organismic Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Biozentrum I, Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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2
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Nguyen JB, Marshall CW, Cook CN. The buzz within: the role of the gut microbiome in honeybee social behavior. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246400. [PMID: 38344873 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Gut symbionts influence the physiology and behavior of their host, but the extent to which these effects scale to social behaviors is an emerging area of research. The use of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) as a model enables researchers to investigate the gut microbiome and behavior at several levels of social organization. Insight into gut microbial effects at the societal level is critical for our understanding of how involved microbial symbionts are in host biology. In this Commentary, we discuss recent findings in honeybee gut microbiome research and synthesize these with knowledge of the physiology and behavior of other model organisms to hypothesize how host-microbe interactions at the individual level could shape societal dynamics and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - C W Marshall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | - C N Cook
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
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3
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Alhosin M. Epigenetics Mechanisms of Honeybees: Secrets of Royal Jelly. Epigenet Insights 2023; 16:25168657231213717. [PMID: 38033464 PMCID: PMC10687967 DOI: 10.1177/25168657231213717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Early diets in honeybees have effects on epigenome with consequences on their phenotype. Depending on the early larval diet, either royal jelly (RJ) or royal worker, 2 different female castes are generated from identical genomes, a long-lived queen with fully developed ovaries and a short-lived functionally sterile worker. To generate these prominent physiological and morphological differences between queen and worker, honeybees utilize epigenetic mechanisms which are controlled by nutritional input. These mechanisms include DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications, mainly histone acetylation. In honeybee larvae, DNA methylation and histone acetylation may be differentially altered by RJ. This diet has biologically active ingredients with inhibitory effects on the de novo methyltransferase DNMT3A or the histone deacetylase 3 HDAC3 to create and maintain the epigenetic state necessary for developing larvae to generate a queen. DNMT and HDAC enzymes work together to induce the formation of a compacted chromatin structure, repressing transcription. Such dialog could be coordinated by their association with other epigenetic factors including the ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domains 1 (UHRF1). Through its multiple functional domains, UHRF1 acts as an epigenetic reader of both DNA methylation patterns and histone marks. The present review discusses the epigenetic regulation of honeybee's chromatin and how the early diets in honeybees can affect the DNA/histone modifying types of machinery that are necessary to stimulate the larvae to turn into either queen or worker. The review also looks at future directions in epigenetics mechanisms of honeybees, mainly the potential role of UHRF1 in these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Alhosin
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Cancer and Mutagenesis Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Centre for Artificial intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Moyano A, Croce AC, Scolari F. Pathogen-Mediated Alterations of Insect Chemical Communication: From Pheromones to Behavior. Pathogens 2023; 12:1350. [PMID: 38003813 PMCID: PMC10675518 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens can influence the physiology and behavior of both animal and plant hosts in a manner that promotes their own transmission and dispersal. Recent research focusing on insects has revealed that these manipulations can extend to the production of pheromones, which are pivotal in chemical communication. This review provides an overview of the current state of research and available data concerning the impacts of bacterial, viral, fungal, and eukaryotic pathogens on chemical communication across different insect orders. While our understanding of the influence of pathogenic bacteria on host chemical profiles is still limited, viral infections have been shown to induce behavioral changes in the host, such as altered pheromone production, olfaction, and locomotion. Entomopathogenic fungi affect host chemical communication by manipulating cuticular hydrocarbons and pheromone production, while various eukaryotic parasites have been observed to influence insect behavior by affecting the production of pheromones and other chemical cues. The effects induced by these infections are explored in the context of the evolutionary advantages they confer to the pathogen. The molecular mechanisms governing the observed pathogen-mediated behavioral changes, as well as the dynamic and mutually influential relationships between the pathogen and its host, are still poorly understood. A deeper comprehension of these mechanisms will prove invaluable in identifying novel targets in the perspective of practical applications aimed at controlling detrimental insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Moyano
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Cleta Croce
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.C.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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5
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Franco M, Fassler R, Goldberg TS, Chole H, Herz Y, Woodard SH, Reichmann D, Bloch G. Substances in the mandibular glands mediate queen effects on larval development and colony organization in an annual bumble bee. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302071120. [PMID: 37903277 PMCID: PMC10636365 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social organization is commonly dynamic, with extreme examples in annual social insects, but little is known about the underlying signals and mechanisms. Bumble bee larvae with close contact to a queen do not differentiate into gynes, pupate at an earlier age, and are commonly smaller than siblings that do not contact a queen. We combined detailed observations, proteomics, microRNA transcriptomics, and gland removal surgery to study the regulation of brood development and division of labor in the annual social bumble bee Bombus terrestris. We found that regurgitates fed to larvae by queens and workers differ in their protein and microRNA composition. The proteome of the regurgitate overlaps significantly with that of the mandibular (MG) and hypopharyngeal glands (HPG), suggesting that these exocrine glands are sources of regurgitate proteins. The proteome of the MG and HPG, but not the salivary glands, differs between queens and workers, with caste-specificity preserved for the MG and regurgitate proteomes. Queens subjected to surgical removal of the MG showed normal behavior, brood care, and weight gain, but failed to shorten larval development. These findings suggest that substances in the queen MG are fed to larvae and influence their developmental program. We suggest that when workers emerge and contribute to larval feeding, they dilute the effects of the queen substances, until she can no longer manipulate the development of all larvae. Longer developmental duration may allow female larvae to differentiate into gynes rather than to workers, mediating the colony transition from the ergonomic to the reproductive phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maayan Franco
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Rosi Fassler
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Tzvi S. Goldberg
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Hanna Chole
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Yogev Herz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - S. Hollis Woodard
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA92521
| | - Dana Reichmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
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6
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Carroll MJ, Brown NJ, Ruetz Z, Ricigliano VA, Anderson KE. Honey bee retinue workers respond similarly to queens despite seasonal differences in Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP) signaling. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291710. [PMID: 37768918 PMCID: PMC10538780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bee colonies maintain viable queens in part through communication with Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP), a mixture that signals the queen's presence and reproductive quality to workers. In turn, workers are thought to provide retinue queen care or replace queens partially based on QMP profiles. We examined the effects of seasonal dearth (overwintering in a warm subtropical location) on queen-worker interactions. Retinue worker responses to continuously ovipositing queens were considered in view of QMP signaling and queen reproductive quality. QMP signaling was estimated from QMP residues recovered from nest worker bodies, which is the primary mode of QMP transfer from the queen to the colony at large. QMP residues varied seasonally but not at all with queen reproductive quality (spermatheca sperm storage, ovary protein and lipid contents). 9-HDA and 9-ODA were lower in January than other months. HOB decreased from July to January, while HVA, a component associated with mated queens, increased sharply in January. Despite these seasonal signaling differences, retinue workers attended queens at similar levels through the months. In terms of reproductive quality, queens did not differ over the months in matedness (spermatheca sperm storage) or physiological age (protein carbonyl content), but varied in nutrient allocation to reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. Queen ovaries contained more protein in September than in November, and more lipid in July and September than in November and January. Queen fat bodies had more protein in July than September or November, but less lipid in July and September than November or January. Retinue worker responses did not vary with seasonal QMP changes, but reflected overall continuous brood rearing efforts and queen matedness throughout the year. The absence of seasonal differences in worker responses to QMP should be considered in the broader context of continuous reproductive efforts in warm subtropical colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Carroll
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Brown
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Zachary Ruetz
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Vincent A. Ricigliano
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kirk E. Anderson
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Entomology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
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7
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Bailly TPM, Kohlmeier P, Etienne RS, Wertheim B, Billeter JC. Social modulation of oogenesis and egg laying in Drosophila melanogaster. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00750-9. [PMID: 37369209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Being part of a group facilitates cooperation between group members but also creates competition for resources. This is a conundrum for gravid females, whose future offspring benefit from being in a group only if there are enough resources relative to group size. Females may therefore be expected to modulate reproductive output depending on social context. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, females actively attract conspecifics to lay eggs on the same resources, generating groups in which individuals may cooperate or compete. The genetic tractability of this species allows dissecting the mechanisms underlying physiological adaptation to social context. Here, we show that females produce eggs increasingly faster as group size increases. By laying eggs faster when grouped than when isolated, females reduce competition between offspring and increase offspring survival. In addition, grouped females lay eggs during the day, while isolated females lay them at night. We show that responses to the presence of others requires visual input and that flies from any sex, mating status, or species can trigger these responses. The mechanisms of this modulation of egg laying by group is connected to a lifting of the inhibition of light on oogenesis and egg laying, possibly mediated in part by an increase in juvenile hormone activity. Because modulation of reproduction by social context is a hallmark of animals with higher levels of sociality, our findings in a species considered solitary question the validity of this nomenclature and suggest a widespread and profound influence of social context on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiphaine P M Bailly
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9474AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Philip Kohlmeier
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9474AG Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Memphis, Department of Biological Sciences, Memphis, TN 38152-3530, USA
| | - Rampal S Etienne
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9474AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bregje Wertheim
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9474AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9474AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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8
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Bresnahan ST, Lee E, Clark L, Ma R, Rangel J, Grozinger CM, Li-Byarlay H. Examining parent-of-origin effects on transcription and RNA methylation in mediating aggressive behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera). BMC Genomics 2023; 24:315. [PMID: 37308882 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Conflict between genes inherited from the mother (matrigenes) and the father (patrigenes) is predicted to arise during social interactions among offspring if these genes are not evenly distributed among offspring genotypes. This intragenomic conflict drives parent-specific transcription patterns in offspring resulting from parent-specific epigenetic modifications. Previous tests of the kinship theory of intragenomic conflict in honey bees (Apis mellifera) provided evidence in support of theoretical predictions for variation in worker reproduction, which is associated with extreme variation in morphology and behavior. However, more subtle behaviors - such as aggression - have not been extensively studied. Additionally, the canonical epigenetic mark (DNA methylation) associated with parent-specific transcription in plant and mammalian model species does not appear to play the same role as in honey bees, and thus the molecular mechanisms underlying intragenomic conflict in this species is an open area of investigation. Here, we examined the role of intragenomic conflict in shaping aggression in honey bee workers through a reciprocal cross design and Oxford Nanopore direct RNA sequencing. We attempted to probe the underlying regulatory basis of this conflict through analyses of parent-specific RNA m6A and alternative splicing patterns. We report evidence that intragenomic conflict occurs in the context of honey bee aggression, with increased paternal and maternal allele-biased transcription in aggressive compared to non-aggressive bees, and higher paternal allele-biased transcription overall. However, we found no evidence to suggest that RNA m6A or alternative splicing mediate intragenomic conflict in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Bresnahan
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA.
| | - Ellen Lee
- Agricultural Research and Development Program, Central State University, Wilberforce, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, USA
| | - Lindsay Clark
- HPCBio, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
- Research Scientific Computing Group, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | - Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA
| | - Hongmei Li-Byarlay
- Agricultural Research and Development Program, Central State University, Wilberforce, USA.
- Department of Agricultural and Life Science, Central State University, Wilberforce, USA.
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9
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Obšteter J, Strachan LK, Bubnič J, Prešern J, Gorjanc G. SIMplyBee: an R package to simulate honeybee populations and breeding programs. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:31. [PMID: 37161307 PMCID: PMC10169377 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00798-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Western honeybee is an economically important species globally, but has been experiencing colony losses that lead to economical damage and decreased genetic variability. This situation is spurring additional interest in honeybee breeding and conservation programs. Stochastic simulators are essential tools for rapid and low-cost testing of breeding programs and methods, yet no existing simulator allows for a detailed simulation of honeybee populations. Here we describe SIMplyBee, a holistic simulator of honeybee populations and breeding programs. SIMplyBee is an R package and hence freely available for installation from CRAN http://cran.r-project.org/package=SIMplyBee . IMPLEMENTATION SIMplyBee builds upon the stochastic simulator AlphaSimR that simulates individuals with their corresponding genomes and quantitative genetic values. To enable honeybee-specific simulations, we extended AlphaSimR by developing classes for global simulation parameters, SimParamBee, for a honeybee colony, Colony, and multiple colonies, MultiColony. We also developed functions to address major honeybee specificities: honeybee genome, haplodiploid inheritance, social organisation, complementary sex determination, polyandry, colony events, and quantitative genetics at the individual- and colony-levels. RESULTS We describe its implementation for simulating a honeybee genome, creating a honeybee colony and its members, addressing haplodiploid inheritance and complementary sex determination, simulating colony events, creating and managing multiple colonies at the same time, and obtaining genomic data and honeybee quantitative genetics. Further documentation, available at http://www.SIMplyBee.info , provides details on these operations and describes additional operations related to genomics, quantitative genetics, and other functionalities. DISCUSSION SIMplyBee is a holistic simulator of honeybee populations and breeding programs. It simulates individual honeybees with their genomes, colonies with colony events, and individual- and colony-level genetic and breeding values. Regarding the latter, SIMplyBee takes a user-defined function to combine individual- into colony-level values and hence allows for modeling any type of interaction within a colony. SIMplyBee provides a research platform for testing breeding and conservation strategies and their effect on future genetic gain and genetic variability. Future developments of SIMplyBee will focus on improving the simulation of honeybee genomes, optimizing the simulator's performance, and including spatial awareness in mating functions and phenotype simulation. We invite the honeybee genetics and breeding community to join us in the future development of SIMplyBee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Obšteter
- Department of Animal Science, The Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Laura K Strachan
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jernej Bubnič
- Department of Animal Science, The Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Prešern
- Department of Animal Science, The Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Gorjanc
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, The University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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10
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Jin MJ, Wang ZL, Wu ZH, He XJ, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Zhang LZ, Wu XB, Yan WY, Zeng ZJ. Phenotypic dimorphism between honeybee queen and worker is regulated by complicated epigenetic modifications. iScience 2023; 26:106308. [PMID: 36942051 PMCID: PMC10024153 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic dimorphism between queens and workers is an important biological characteristic of honeybees that has been the subject of intensive research. The enormous differences in morphology, lifespan, physiology, and behavior between queens and workers are caused by a complicated set of factors. Epigenetic modifications are considered to play an important role in this process. In this study, we analyzed the differences in chromosome interactions and H3K27ac and H3K4me1 modifications between the queens and workers using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) and Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) technologies. We found that the queens contain more chromosome interactions and more unique H3K27ac modifications than workers; in contrast, workers have more H3K4me1 modifications than queens. Moreover, we identified Map3k15 as a potential caste gene in queen-worker differentiation. Our results suggest that chromosomal conformation and H3K27ac and H3K4me1 modifications are involved in regulating queen-worker differentiation, which reveals that the queen-worker phenotypic dimorphism is regulated by multiple epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Jie Jin
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Zi Long Wang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Zhi Hao Wu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Xu Jiang He
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Li Zhen Zhang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Bo Wu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Wei Yu Yan
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
| | - Zhi Jiang Zeng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P.R.China
- Jiangxi Province Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330045, P. R. China
- Corresponding author
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11
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Gomez Ramirez WC, Thomas NK, Muktar IJ, Riabinina O. The neuroecology of olfaction in bees. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 56:101018. [PMID: 36842606 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The focus of bee neuroscience has for a long time been on only a handful of social honeybee and bumblebee species, out of thousands of bees species that have been described. On the other hand, information about the chemical ecology of bees is much more abundant. Here we attempted to compile the scarce information about olfactory systems of bees across species. We also review the major categories of intra- and inter-specific olfactory behaviors of bees, with specific focus on recent literature. We finish by discussing the most promising avenues for bee olfactory research in the near future.
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12
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Autophagy Is Required to Sustain Increased Intestinal Cell Proliferation during Phenotypic Plasticity Changes in Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031926. [PMID: 36768248 PMCID: PMC9916008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue phenotypic plasticity facilitates rapid adaptation of organisms to biotic and/or abiotic pressure. The reproductive capacity of honey bee workers (Apis mellifera) is plastic and responsive to pheromones produced by broods and the queen. Egg laying workers (ELWs), which could reactivate their ovaries and lay haploid eggs upon queen lost, have been commonly discussed from many aspects. However, it remains unclear whether midgut homeostasis in ELWs is affected during plastic changes. Here, we found that the expression of nutrition- and autophagy-related genes was up-regulated in the midguts of ELWs, compared with that in nurse workers (NWs) by RNA-sequencing. Furthermore, the area and number of autophagosomes were increased, along with significantly increased cell death in the midguts of ELWs. Moreover, cell cycle progression in the midguts of ELWs was increased compared with that in NWs. Consistent with the up-regulation of nutrition-related genes, the body and midgut sizes, and the number of intestinal proliferation cells of larvae reared with royal jelly (RJ) obviously increased more than those reared without RJ in vitro. Finally, cell proliferation was dramatically suppressed in the midguts of ELWs when autophagy was inhibited. Altogether, our data suggested that autophagy was induced and required to sustain cell proliferation in ELWs' midguts, thereby revealing the critical role of autophagy played in the intestines during phenotypic plasticity changes.
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13
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Derstine N, Galbraith D, Villar G, Amsalem E. Differential gene expression underlying the biosynthesis of Dufour's gland signals in Bombus impatiens. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:100056. [PMID: 37124651 PMCID: PMC10130613 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Pheromones regulating social behavior are one of the most explored phenomena in social insects. However, compound identity, biosynthesis and their genetic basis are known in only a handful of species. Here we examined the gene expression associated with pheromone biosynthesis of two main chemical classes: esters and terpenes, using the social bee Bombus impatiens. We conducted chemical and RNA-seq analyses of the Dufour's gland, an exocrine gland producing a plethora of pheromones regulating social behavior in hymenopteran species. The Dufour's gland contains mostly long-chained hydrocarbons, terpenes and esters that signal reproductive and social status in several bee species. In bumble bees, the Dufour's gland contains queen- and worker-specific esters, in addition to terpenes and terpene-esters only found in gynes and queens. These compounds are assumed to be synthesized de novo in the gland, however, their genetic basis is unknown. A whole transcriptome gene expression analysis of the gland in queens, gynes, queenless and queenright workers showed distinct transcriptomic profiles, with thousands of differentially expressed genes between the groups. Workers and queens express genes associated with key enzymes in the biosynthesis of wax esters, while queens and gynes preferentially express key genes in terpene biosynthesis. Overall, our data demonstrate gland-specific regulation of chemical signals associated with social behavior and identifies candidate genes and pathways regulating caste-specific chemical signals in social insects.
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Knapp RA, Norman VC, Rouse JL, Duncan EJ. Environmentally responsive reproduction: neuroendocrine signalling and the evolution of eusociality. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 53:100951. [PMID: 35863739 PMCID: PMC9586883 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Eusociality is a rare but successful life-history strategy that is defined by the reproductive division of labour. In eusocial species, most females forgo their own reproduction to support that of a dominant female or queen. In many eusocial insects, worker reproduction is inhibited via dominance hierarchies or by pheromones produced by the queen and her brood. Here, we consider whether these cues may act as generic 'environmental signals', similar to temperature or nutrition stress, which induce a state of reproductive dormancy in some solitary insects. We review the recent findings regarding the mechanisms of reproductive dormancy in insects and highlight key gaps in our understanding of how environmental cues inhibit reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary A Knapp
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Victoria C Norman
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - James L Rouse
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
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15
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Wu F, Liu S, Zhang X, Hu H, Wei Q, Han B, Li H. Differences in ASP1 expression and binding dynamics to queen mandibular pheromone HOB between Apis mellifera and Apis cerana workers reveal olfactory adaptation to colony organization. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 217:583-591. [PMID: 35850267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The eastern Apis cerana (Ac) and the western Apis mellifera (Am) are two closely related and most economically valuable honeybee species managed extensively worldwide. However, how worker bees of Ac and Am are adapted to their colony organization remains to be uncovered. Here, we found that the expression level of gene encoding antennae-specific proteins 1 (ASP1, a key regulator in recognizing queen mandibular pheromone) was positively correlated with the colony sizes in both bee species, and the expression level in Am was higher than that in Ac, suggesting that ASP1 may play an important role in maintaining colony homeostasis. Using competitive binding assay, molecular docking, and site-directed mutagenesis, we then confirmed the good binding affinities of both Ac-ASP1 and Am-ASP1 to methyl p-hydroxy benzoate (HOB), and Val115 was the key amino acid. However, the affinity of Am-ASP1 was stronger than that of Ac-ASP1. EAG analysis further demonstrated that antennae of Am worker bees had faster depolarization and repolarization in response to HOB stimulation. Taken together, these findings indicate that the differences in expression levels and binding dynamics allow ASP1 recognizing HOB to potentially serve as a specific regulator of colony organization in Ac and Am.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China; Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China
| | - Shenyun Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Xufeng Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China; Institute of Horticultural Research, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030031, PR China
| | - Han Hu
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China
| | - Qiaohong Wei
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China
| | - Bin Han
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100093, PR China.
| | - Hongliang Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China.
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16
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Cho S, Lee SH, Kim S. Determination of the optimal maturation temperature for adult honey bee toxicity testing. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 257:109359. [PMID: 35508268 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Honey bees are exposed to various pesticides through pollinating and in-hive Varroa mite control. The most basic method for evaluating pesticide toxicity is the indoor bioassay using worker bees, in which newly emerged adults are matured in incubators for conditioning before use. However, little information is available on the optimum maturation temperature from a toxicological point of view, even though it can affect honey bee responses to pesticides. In this paper, to evaluate the optimal maturation temperature for pesticide toxicity testing, several indices related to the development, gene transcription, and toxicological properties of honey bee adults following maturation at 25, 30, and 35 °C were compared with those of field bees. The body weight and developmental state of hypopharyngeal glands were highest in the bees matured at 30 °C, and the overall transcription profiles of detoxification-related genes in the field bees were closest to those of bees matured at 30 °C, whereas immaturity and features of thermal stress were observed in the 25 °C and 35 °C bee groups, respectively. In the bioassay results, the effects of maturation temperature on the toxic response of honey bees varied significantly depending on the type of pesticide. By considering all the biological and toxicological aspects examined, we confirmed that 30 °C is a recommended maturation temperature for adult honey bee toxicity test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susie Cho
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Hyeock Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sanghyeon Kim
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Fleischer J, Rausch A, Dietze K, Erler S, Cassau S, Krieger J. A small number of male-biased candidate pheromone receptors are expressed in large subsets of the olfactory sensory neurons in the antennae of drones from the European honey bee Apis mellifera. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:749-766. [PMID: 34346151 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the olfactory system is essential for foraging and intraspecific communication via pheromones. Honey bees are equipped with a large repertoire of olfactory receptors belonging to the insect odorant receptor (OR) family. Previous studies have indicated that the transcription level of a few OR types including OR11, a receptor activated by the queen-released pheromone compound (2E)-9-oxodecenoic acid (9-ODA), is significantly higher in the antenna of males (drones) than in female workers. However, the number and distribution of antennal cells expressing male-biased ORs is elusive. Here, we analyzed antennal sections from bees by in situ hybridization for the expression of the male-biased receptors OR11, OR18, and OR170. Our results demonstrate that these receptors are expressed in only moderate numbers of cells in the antennae of females (workers and queens), whereas substantially higher cell numbers express these ORs in drones. Thus, the reported male-biased transcript levels are due to sex-specific differences in the number of antennal cells expressing these receptors. Detailed analyses for OR11 and OR18 in drone antennae revealed expression in two distinct subsets of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) that in total account for approximately 69% of the OR-positive cells. Such high percentages of OSNs expressing given receptors are reminiscent of male-biased ORs in moths that mediate the detection of female-released sex pheromone components. Collectively, our findings indicate remarkable similarities between male antennae of bees and moths and support the concept that male-biased ORs in bee drones serve the detection of female-emitted sex pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joerg Fleischer
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Halle (Saale)
| | - Alexander Rausch
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Halle (Saale)
| | - Kathrin Dietze
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Halle (Saale)
| | - Silvio Erler
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI)-Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sina Cassau
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Halle (Saale)
| | - Jürgen Krieger
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Department of Animal Physiology, Halle (Saale)
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18
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Fine JD, Litsey EM. Drone Laying Honey Bee Workers in Queen Monitoring Cages. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2022; 22:13. [PMID: 35703425 PMCID: PMC9199184 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Techniques to monitor honey bee (Apis mellifera) egg production in cages allow researchers to study how different environmental factors contribute to reproduction. However, although the conditions required to facilitate queen egg production in a laboratory setting have been established, limited work has addressed the requirements for stimulating and monitoring worker egg laying. Here, we documented that drone laying workers will lay eggs in Queen Monitoring Cages (QMC), specialized cages designed to facilitate queen egg laying under controlled conditions. Egg production and worker mortality were compared between QMCs containing queens and those containing drone laying workers. High-definition images of the last abdominal segments of living first-instar larvae hatched from worker laid eggs and those putatively laid by queens were qualitatively compared to identify candidate characteristics to determine their sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Fine
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Road, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Eliza M Litsey
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Road, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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19
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Stefanec M, Hofstadler DN, Krajník T, Turgut AE, Alemdar H, Lennox B, Şahin E, Arvin F, Schmickl T. A Minimally Invasive Approach Towards “Ecosystem Hacking” With Honeybees. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:791921. [PMID: 35572369 PMCID: PMC9096355 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.791921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees live in colonies of thousands of individuals, that not only need to collaborate with each other but also to interact intensively with their ecosystem. A small group of robots operating in a honey bee colony and interacting with the queen bee, a central colony element, has the potential to change the collective behavior of the entire colony and thus also improve its interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Such a system can be used to study and understand many elements of bee behavior within hives that have not been adequately researched. We discuss here the applicability of this technology for ecosystem protection: A novel paradigm of a minimally invasive form of conservation through “Ecosystem Hacking”. We discuss the necessary requirements for such technology and show experimental data on the dynamics of the natural queen’s court, initial designs of biomimetic robotic surrogates of court bees, and a multi-agent model of the queen bee court system. Our model is intended to serve as an AI-enhanceable coordination software for future robotic court bee surrogates and as a hardware controller for generating nature-like behavior patterns for such a robotic ensemble. It is the first step towards a team of robots working in a bio-compatible way to study honey bees and to increase their pollination performance, thus achieving a stabilizing effect at the ecosystem level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Stefanec
- Artificial Life Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- *Correspondence: Martin Stefanec,
| | | | - Tomáš Krajník
- Artificial Intelligence Centre, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ali Emre Turgut
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Hande Alemdar
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Barry Lennox
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Erol Şahin
- ROMER-Center for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Farshad Arvin
- Department of Computer Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Thomas Schmickl
- Artificial Life Lab, Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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20
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Sex-Specific Regulatory Systems for Dopamine Production in the Honey Bee. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13020128. [PMID: 35206702 PMCID: PMC8878259 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary In this review, we describe sex-specific differences in the regulatory systems for dopamine production in the brains of social insects, focusing on the honey bee. Dopamine has a crucial role in the promotion of reproduction in both sexes of the honey bee and is a key substance for understanding the mechanisms underlying the reproductive division of labor in females. Studies associated with dopamine regulation have been performed mainly in females, with less of a focus on its regulation in males. In social insects, males are specialized for reproduction and do not exhibit division of labor; however, they have evolved to adapt their social system and have acquired/discarded physiological and behavioral characteristics. Therefore, studies exploring the dopaminergic system in males can contribute to our understanding of social adaptation in males. We integrate findings related to dopamine in both honey bee sexes and provide insights into the physiology involved in dopaminergic systems in social insects. Abstract Dopamine has multiple functions in the modulation of social behavior and promotion of reproduction in eusocial Hymenoptera. In the honey bee, there are sex-specific differences in the regulation of dopamine production in the brain. These different dopaminergic systems might contribute to the maintenance of sex-specific behaviors and physiology. However, it is still not fully understood how the dopaminergic system in the brain is regulated by endocrinal factors and social stimuli in the colony. In this review, we focus on the regulation of dopamine production in queens, workers, and males in the honey bee. Dopamine production can be controlled by queen substance, juvenile hormone, and exogenous tyrosine from food. Queens can control dopamine production in workers via queen substance, whereas workers can manipulate the supply of tyrosine, a precursor of dopamine, to queens and males. The regulation of dopamine production through social interaction might affect the reproductive states of colony members and maintain sex-specific behaviors in unpredictable environments.
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21
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Oi CA. Honeybee queen mandibular pheromone fails to regulate ovary activation in the common wasp. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2022; 208:297-302. [PMID: 35028724 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01531-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) identified from the honeybee is responsible for maintaining reproductive division of labour in the colony, and affects multiple behaviours. Interestingly, QMP inhibits reproduction not only in honeybee workers, but also in distantly related insect species such as fruit flies and bumblebees. This study examines whether QMP also affects worker reproduction in the common wasp Vespula vulgaris. Wasp workers were exposed to one of the following treatments: QMP, wasp queen pheromone (the hydrocarbon heptacosane n-C27), or acetone (solvent-only control). After dissecting the workers, no evidence that QMP inhibits development in V. vulgaris could be found. However, this study could confirm the inhibitory effect of the hydrocarbon heptacosane on ovary activation. The reason why non-social species such as the fruit fly and social species such as bumblebees and ants respond to the QMP, while the social wasp V. vulgaris does not, is unclear. The investigation of whether olfaction is key to sensing QMP in other insect species, and the detailed study of odorant receptors in other social insects, may provide insights into the mechanisms of response to this pheromone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia Akemi Oi
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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22
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Aamidor SE, Cardoso-Júnior CAM, Harianto J, Nowell CJ, Cole L, Oldroyd BP, Ronai I. Reproductive plasticity and oogenesis in the queen honey bee (Apis mellifera). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 136:104347. [PMID: 34902433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen and worker castes originate from identical genetic templates but develop into different phenotypes. Queens lay up to 2000 eggs daily whereas workers are sterile in the queen's presence. Periodically queens stop laying: during swarming, when resources are scarce in winter, and when they are confined to a cage by beekeepers. We used confocal microscopy and gene expression assays to investigate the control of oogenesis in the ovaries of honey bee queens that were caged inside and outside the colony. We find evidence that queens use a different combination of 'checkpoints' to regulate oogenesis compared to honey bee workers and other insect species. However, both queen and worker castes likely use the same programmed cell death pathways to terminate oocyte development at their caste-specific checkpoints. Our results also suggest that a key factor driving the termination of oogenesis in queens is nutritional stress. Thus, queens may regulate oogenesis via the same regulatory pathways that were utilised by ancestral solitary species but likely have adjusted physiological checkpoints to suit their highly-derived life history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Aamidor
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Science, Macleay Building A12, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Carlos A M Cardoso-Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celulare Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Januar Harianto
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Macleay Building A12, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise Cole
- Microbial Imaging Facility, I3 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Benjamin P Oldroyd
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Science, Macleay Building A12, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Isobel Ronai
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Science, Macleay Building A12, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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23
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Investigating Genetic and Phenotypic Variability of Queen Bees: Morphological and Reproductive Traits. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113054. [PMID: 34827786 PMCID: PMC8614377 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The quality of the honeybee queen has an important effect on a colony's development, productivity, and survival. Queen failure or loss is considered a leading cause for colonies' mortality worldwide. The queen's quality, resulting from her genetic background, developmental conditions, mating success, and environment, can be assessed by some morphological measures. The study aims to investigate variability for traits that could assess the quality of the queen. Related animals were enrolled in this study. Variance components were estimated fitting a mixed animal model to collected data. Heritabilities of body and tagmata weights ranged from 0.46 to 0.54, whereas lower estimates were found for the tagmata width and wing length. Heritabilities estimated for the spermatheca diameter and volume, number of ovarioles, and number of sperms were 0.17, 0.88, 0.70, and 0.57, respectively. Many phenotypic correlations related to size were high and positive, while weak correlations were found between morphology and reproductive traits. Introducing a queen's traits in a selection program could improve colonies' survivability. Further research should focus on better defining the correlations between the individual qualities of a queen and her colony's performance.
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24
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Pernal SF. The Social Life of Honey Bees. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2021; 37:387-400. [PMID: 34689909 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees have evolved to use pollen, nectar, and water as their principal food sources. Their success is linked to the establishment of large colonies with one female reproductive member, three distinct social castes, a division of labor among workers, and genetically diverse subfamilies. Colonies also have the ability to recruit and communicate through complex mechanisms including dance language and pheromones. Pheromones produced by the queen maintain social order in the colony and ensure that she remains as the only female to lay eggs. Finally, honey bee colonies reproduce and disperse through a mechanism called swarming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada, T0H 0C0.
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25
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Litsey EM, Chung S, Fine JD. The Behavioral Toxicity of Insect Growth Disruptors on Apis mellifera Queen Care. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.729208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As social insects, honey bees (Apis mellifera) rely on the coordinated performance of various behaviors to ensure that the needs of the colony are met. One of the most critical of these behaviors is the feeding and care of egg laying honey bee queens by non-fecund female worker attendants. These behaviors are crucial to honey bee reproduction and are known to be elicited by the queen’s pheromone blend. The degree to which workers respond to this blend can vary depending on their physiological status, but little is known regarding the impacts of developmental exposure to agrochemicals on this behavior. This work investigated how exposing workers during larval development to chronic sublethal doses of insect growth disruptors affected their development time, weight, longevity, and queen pheromone responsiveness as adult worker honey bees. Exposure to the juvenile hormone analog pyriproxyfen consistently shortened the duration of pupation, and pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron inconsistently reduced the survivorship of adult bees. Finally, pyriproxyfen and methoxyfenozide treated bees were found to be less responsive to queen pheromone relative to other treatment groups. Here, we describe these results and discuss their possible physiological underpinnings as well as their potential impacts on honey bee reproduction and colony performance.
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26
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Orlova M, Amsalem E. Bumble bee queen pheromones are context-dependent. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16931. [PMID: 34417514 PMCID: PMC8379210 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Queen pheromones have long been studied as a major factor regulating reproductive division of labor in social insects. Hitherto, only a handful of queen pheromones were identified and their effects on workers have mostly been studied in isolation from the social context in which they operate. Our study examined the importance of behavioral and social context for the perception of queen semiochemicals by bumble bee workers. Our results indicate that a mature queen’s cuticular semiochemicals are capable of inhibiting worker reproduction only when accompanied by the queen’s visual presence and the offspring she produces, thus, when presented in realistic context. Queen’s chemistry, queen’s visual presence and presence of offspring all act to regulate worker reproduction, but none of these elements produces an inhibitory effect on its own. Our findings highlight the necessity to reconsider what constitutes a queen pheromone and suggest a new approach to the study of chemical ecology in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Orlova
- Department of Entomology, Center for Chemical Ecology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Etya Amsalem
- Department of Entomology, Center for Chemical Ecology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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27
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Cardoso-Júnior CAM, Yagound B, Ronai I, Remnant EJ, Hartfelder K, Oldroyd BP. DNA methylation is not a driver of gene expression reprogramming in young honey bee workers. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4804-4818. [PMID: 34322926 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The presence of DNA methylation marks within genic intervals, also called gene body methylation, is an evolutionarily-conserved epigenetic hallmark of animal and plant methylomes. In social insects, gene body methylation is thought to contribute to behavioural plasticity, for example between foragers and nurse workers, by modulating gene expression. However, recent studies have suggested that the majority of DNA methylation is sequence-specific, and therefore cannot act as a flexible mediator between environmental cues and gene expression. To address this paradox, we examined whole-genome methylation patterns in the brains and ovaries of young honey bee workers that had been subjected to divergent social contexts: the presence or absence of the queen. Although these social contexts are known to bring about extreme changes in behavioral and reproductive traits through differential gene expression, we found no significant differences between the methylomes of workers from queenright and queenless colonies. In contrast, thousands of regions were differentially methylated between colonies, and these differences were not associated with differential gene expression in the subset of genes examined. Methylation patterns were highly similar between brain and ovary tissues and only differed in nine regions. These results strongly indicate that DNA methylation is not a driver of differential gene expression between tissues or behavioral morphs. Finally, despite the lack of difference in methylation patterns, queen presence affected the expression of all four DNA methyltransferase genes, suggesting that these enzymes have roles beyond DNA methylation. Therefore, the functional role of DNA methylation in social insect genomes remains an open question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A M Cardoso-Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil.,Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Boris Yagound
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Isobel Ronai
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emily J Remnant
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Klaus Hartfelder
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brasil
| | - Benjamin P Oldroyd
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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28
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Cardoso-Júnior CAM, Oldroyd BP, Ronai I. Vitellogenin expression in the ovaries of adult honeybee workers provides insights into the evolution of reproductive and social traits. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:277-286. [PMID: 33427366 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are notable for having two female castes that exhibit extreme differences in their reproductive capacity. The molecular basis of these differences is largely unknown. Vitellogenin (Vg) is a powerful antioxidant and insulin-signalling regulator used in oocyte development. Here we investigate how Royal Jelly (the major food of honeybee queens) and queen mandibular pheromone (a major regulator of worker fertility), affect the longevity and reproductive status of honey bee workers, the expression of Vg, its receptor VgR and associated regulatory proteins. We find that Vg is expressed in the ovaries of workers and that workers fed a queen diet of Royal Jelly have increased Vg expression in the ovaries. Surprisingly, we find that expression of Vg is not associated with ovary activation in workers, suggesting that this gene has potentially acquired non-reproductive functions. Therefore, Vg expression in the ovaries of honeybee workers provides further support for the Ovarian Ground Plan Hypothesis, which argues that genes implicated in the regulation of reproduction have been co-opted to regulate behavioural differences between queens and workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A M Cardoso-Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - B P Oldroyd
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - I Ronai
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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29
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Sieber KR, Dorman T, Newell N, Yan H. (Epi)Genetic Mechanisms Underlying the Evolutionary Success of Eusocial Insects. INSECTS 2021; 12:498. [PMID: 34071806 PMCID: PMC8229086 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Eusocial insects, such as bees, ants, and wasps of the Hymenoptera and termites of the Blattodea, are able to generate remarkable diversity in morphology and behavior despite being genetically uniform within a colony. Most eusocial insect species display caste structures in which reproductive ability is possessed by a single or a few queens while all other colony members act as workers. However, in some species, caste structure is somewhat plastic, and individuals may switch from one caste or behavioral phenotype to another in response to certain environmental cues. As different castes normally share a common genetic background, it is believed that much of this observed within-colony diversity results from transcriptional differences between individuals. This suggests that epigenetic mechanisms, featured by modified gene expression without changing genes themselves, may play an important role in eusocial insects. Indeed, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs, have been shown to influence eusocial insects in multiple aspects, along with typical genetic regulation. This review summarizes the most recent findings regarding such mechanisms and their diverse roles in eusocial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayli R. Sieber
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Taylor Dorman
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Nicholas Newell
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
| | - Hua Yan
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (K.R.S.); (T.D.); (N.N.)
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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30
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Effects of juvenile hormone in fertility and fertility-signaling in workers of the common wasp Vespula vulgaris. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250720. [PMID: 33999926 PMCID: PMC8128253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the highly eusocial wasp, Vespula vulgaris, queens produce honest signals to alert their subordinate workers of their fertility status, and therefore they are reproductively suppressed and help in the colony. The honesty of the queen signals is likely maintained due to hormonal regulation, which affects fertility and fertility cue expression. Here, we tested if hormonal pleiotropy could support the hypothesis that juvenile hormone controls fertility and fertility signaling in workers. In addition, we aimed to check oocyte size as a proxy of fertility. To do that, we treated V. vulgaris workers with synthetic versions of juvenile hormone (JH) analogue and a JH inhibitor, methoprene and precocene, respectively. We dissected the treated females to check ovary activation and analyzed their chemical profile. Our results showed that juvenile hormone has an influence on the abundance of fertility linked compounds produced by workers, and it also showed to increase oocyte size in workers. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that juvenile hormone controls fertility and fertility signaling in workers, whereby workers are unable to reproduce without alerting other colony members of their fertility. This provides supports the hypothesis that hormonal pleiotropy contributes to keeping the queen fertility signals honest.
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31
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Tasman K, Rands SA, Hodge JJL. The Power of Drosophila melanogaster for Modeling Neonicotinoid Effects on Pollinators and Identifying Novel Mechanisms. Front Physiol 2021; 12:659440. [PMID: 33967830 PMCID: PMC8096932 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.659440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are the most widely used insecticides in the world and are implicated in the widespread population declines of insects including pollinators. Neonicotinoids target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which are expressed throughout the insect central nervous system, causing a wide range of sub-lethal effects on non-target insects. Here, we review the potential of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to model the sub-lethal effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators, by utilizing its well-established assays that allow rapid identification and mechanistic characterization of these effects. We compare studies on the effects of neonicotinoids on lethality, reproduction, locomotion, immunity, learning, circadian rhythms and sleep in D. melanogaster and a range of pollinators. We also highlight how the genetic tools available in D. melanogaster, such as GAL4/UAS targeted transgene expression system combined with RNAi lines to any gene in the genome including the different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes, are set to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the sub-lethal effects of these common pesticides. We argue that studying pollinators and D. melanogaster in tandem allows rapid elucidation of mechanisms of action, which translate well from D. melanogaster to pollinators. We focus on the recent identification of novel and important sublethal effects of neonicotinoids on circadian rhythms and sleep. The comparison of effects between D. melanogaster and pollinators and the use of genetic tools to identify mechanisms make a powerful partnership for the future discovery and testing of more specific insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiah Tasman
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sean A. Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - James J. L. Hodge
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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32
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The microRNA miR-14 Regulates Egg-Laying by Targeting EcR in Honeybees ( Apis mellifera). INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12040351. [PMID: 33919981 PMCID: PMC8071020 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators and are commonly used for honey production. The oviposition behavior in honeybees is complex and errors in oviposition could affect the development of the bee colony. Recent studies reported that RNA-RNA cross-talk played a critical role in several biological processes, including reproduction. Ecdysone receptor (EcR) and miR-14 were previously reported to play important roles in egg-laying. Moreover, EcR was predicted to be the target gene of miR-14 and may form miR-14-EcR cross-talk. In this study, knocking down and overexpression of miR-14 and EcR in queen model were implemented. The effect of RNA expression of miR-14 and EcR on the number of eggs laid by honeybee queens were analyzed. Further, luciferase assay was used to confirm the target relation between miR-14 and 3'UTR of EcR. The results showed that the expression of miR-14 and EcR was associated with the number of eggs laid by queens. In specific, inhibition of miR-14 expression enhanced the number of eggs laid, while overexpression of EcR enhanced the number of eggs laid. Lastly, we determined that miR-14 directly targets the mRNA of EcR. These findings suggest that the cross-talk of miR-14-EcR plays an important role in the number of eggs laid by honeybee queens.
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33
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Duncan EJ, Leask MP, Dearden PK. Genome Architecture Facilitates Phenotypic Plasticity in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera). Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:1964-1978. [PMID: 32134461 PMCID: PMC7306700 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an organism to alter its phenotype in response to an environmental cue, facilitates rapid adaptation to changing environments. Plastic changes in morphology and behavior are underpinned by widespread gene expression changes. However, it is unknown if, or how, genomes are structured to ensure these robust responses. Here, we use repression of honeybee worker ovaries as a model of plasticity. We show that the honeybee genome is structured with respect to plasticity; genes that respond to an environmental trigger are colocated in the honeybee genome in a series of gene clusters, many of which have been assembled in the last 80 My during the evolution of the Apidae. These clusters are marked by histone modifications that prefigure the gene expression changes that occur as the ovary activates, suggesting that these genomic regions are poised to respond plastically. That the linear sequence of the honeybee genome is organized to coordinate widespread gene expression changes in response to environmental influences and that the chromatin organization in these regions is prefigured to respond to these influences is perhaps unexpected and has implications for other examples of plasticity in physiology, evolution, and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Duncan
- Genomics Aotearoa and Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Megan P Leask
- Genomics Aotearoa and Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Peter K Dearden
- Genomics Aotearoa and Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Abstract
Social behavior is one of the most fascinating and complex behaviors in humans and animals. A fundamental process of social behavior is communication among individuals. It relies on the capability of the nervous system to sense, process, and interpret various signals (e.g., pheromones) and respond with appropriate decisions and actions. Eusocial insects, including ants, some bees, some wasps, and termites, display intriguing cooperative social behavior. Recent advances in genetic and genomic studies have revealed key genes that are involved in pheromone synthesis, chemosensory perception, and physiological and behavioral responses to varied pheromones. In this review, we highlight the genes and pathways that regulate queen pheromone-mediated social communication, discuss the evolutionary changes in genetic systems, and outline prospects of functional studies in sociobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yan
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA
- Center for Smell and Taste, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
| | - Jürgen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
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35
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Shawer DMB, Rakha OM, Taha EKA, Al-Kahtani SN, Elnabawy EM. The impact of caging the queens during the flow season on some biological activities of honeybee colonies. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:2975-2979. [PMID: 34025174 PMCID: PMC8117163 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was achieved in a private apiary located in a banana farm in Sa El Hagar, Basioun, Gharbia, Egypt from August 15, 2019 to May 25, 2020, including the banana (Musa sp., Musaceae) flow season (August and September) and extend to Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L., Fabaceae) flow season (May). The study aimed to evaluate the effect of confining the queen during the banana flow season on the brood rearing, honey yield, and activation of worker's ovaries. Also, we determined the negative impact of caging the queen during the banana flow season on the activity of the colony in brood rearing, storing pollen, and honey yield after releasing the queen on 5 October, extending to the next flow season in May. The obtained results showed that the honeybee colonies with the caged queen produced significantly more honey yield and less brood production than the free queen ones during the banana flow season. Also, the caging of the queen did not affect the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the partial development of the ovaries of some workers, but they did not lay eggs. In addition, releasing the queens suppressed the ovaries of the laying workers. It can be concluded that caging the queen during the banana flow season helps the colonies to produce more honey yield without effect on the colony strength after releasing the queen despite the ovaries development of few workers without egg-laying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia M B Shawer
- Department of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Osama M Rakha
- Department of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - El-Kazafy A Taha
- Department of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Saad N Al-Kahtani
- Arid Land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural Sciences & Foods, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elsaid M Elnabawy
- Department of Economic Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
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36
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Dufour's gland analysis reveals caste and physiology specific signals in Bombus impatiens. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2821. [PMID: 33531560 PMCID: PMC7854627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82366-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive division of labor in insect societies is regulated through multiple concurrent mechanisms, primarily chemical and behavioral. Here, we examined if the Dufour’s gland secretion in the primitively eusocial bumble bee Bombus impatiens signals information about caste, social condition, and reproductive status. We chemically analyzed Dufour’s gland contents across castes, age groups, social and reproductive conditions, and examined worker behavioral and antennal responses to gland extracts. We found that workers and queens each possess caste-specific compounds in their Dufour’s glands. Queens and gynes differed from workers based on the presence of diterpene compounds which were absent in workers, whereas four esters were exclusive to workers. These esters, as well as the total amounts of hydrocarbons in the gland, provided a separation between castes and also between fertile and sterile workers. Olfactometer bioassays demonstrated attraction of workers to Dufour’s gland extracts that did not represent a reproductive conflict, while electroantennogram recordings showed higher overall antennal sensitivity in queenless workers. Our results demonstrate that compounds in the Dufour’s gland act as caste- and physiology-specific signals and are used by workers to discriminate between workers of different social and reproductive status.
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Abstract
With less than a million neurons, the western honeybee Apis mellifera is capable of complex olfactory behaviors and provides an ideal model for investigating the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit and the basis of olfactory perception and learning. Here, we review the most fundamental aspects of honeybee's olfaction: first, we discuss which odorants dominate its environment, and how bees use them to communicate and regulate colony homeostasis; then, we describe the neuroanatomy and the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit; finally, we explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to olfactory memory formation. The vastity of histological, neurophysiological, and behavioral data collected during the last century, together with new technological advancements, including genetic tools, confirm the honeybee as an attractive research model for understanding olfactory coding and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paoli
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, 31062, Toulouse, France.
| | - Giovanni C Galizia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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38
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Wilk JT, Bąk B, Artiemjew P, Wilde J, Siuda M. Classifying the Biological Status of Honeybee Workers Using Gas Sensors. SENSORS 2020; 21:s21010166. [PMID: 33383770 PMCID: PMC7795461 DOI: 10.3390/s21010166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Honeybee workers have a specific smell depending on the age of workers and the biological status of the colony. Laboratory tests were carried out at the Department of Apiculture at UWM Olsztyn, using gas sensors installed in two twin prototype multi-sensor detectors. The study aimed to compare the responses of sensors to the odor of old worker bees (3–6 weeks old), young ones (0–1 days old), and those from long-term queenless colonies. From the experimental colonies, 10 samples of 100 workers were taken for each group and placed successively in the research chambers for the duration of the study. Old workers came from outer nest combs, young workers from hatching out brood in an incubator, and laying worker bees from long-term queenless colonies from brood combs (with laying worker bee’s eggs, humped brood, and drones). Each probe was measured for 10 min, and then immediately for another 10 min ambient air was given to regenerate sensors. The results were analyzed using 10 different classifiers. Research has shown that the devices can distinguish between the biological status of bees. The effectiveness of distinguishing between classes, determined by the parameters of accuracy balanced and true positive rate, of 0.763 and 0.742 in the case of the best euclidean.1nn classifier, may be satisfactory in the context of practical beekeeping. Depending on the environment accompanying the tested objects (a type of insert in the test chamber), the introduction of other classifiers as well as baseline correction methods may be considered, while the selection of the appropriate classifier for the task may be of great importance for the effectiveness of the classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub T. Wilk
- Apiculture Division, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 48, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland; (B.B.); (J.W.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Beata Bąk
- Apiculture Division, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 48, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland; (B.B.); (J.W.); (M.S.)
| | - Piotr Artiemjew
- Mathematical Methods and Computer Science Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 48, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Jerzy Wilde
- Apiculture Division, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 48, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland; (B.B.); (J.W.); (M.S.)
| | - Maciej Siuda
- Apiculture Division, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 48, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland; (B.B.); (J.W.); (M.S.)
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39
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Cardoso-Junior CAM, Ronai I, Hartfelder K, Oldroyd BP. Queen pheromone modulates the expression of epigenetic modifier genes in the brain of honeybee workers. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200440. [PMID: 33290662 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheromones are used by many insects to mediate social interactions. In the highly eusocial honeybee (Apis mellifera), queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) is involved in the regulation of the reproductive and other behaviour of workers. The molecular mechanisms by which QMP acts are largely unknown. Here, we investigate how genes responsible for epigenetic modifications to DNA, RNA and histones respond to the presence of QMP in the environment. We show that several of these genes are upregulated in the honeybee brain when workers are exposed to artificial QMP. We propose that pheromonal communication systems, such as those used by social insects, evolved to respond to environmental signals by making use of existing epigenomic machineries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Antônio Mendes Cardoso-Junior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) laboratory, University of Sydney, Macleay Building A12, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Isobel Ronai
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) laboratory, University of Sydney, Macleay Building A12, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Klaus Hartfelder
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Benjamin P Oldroyd
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) laboratory, University of Sydney, Macleay Building A12, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
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40
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Reproductive inhibition among nestmate queens in the invasive Argentine ant. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20484. [PMID: 33235272 PMCID: PMC7687882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In social species, the presence of several reproductive individuals can generate conflict. In social insects, as queen number increases, individual oviposition rate may decrease because of direct and indirect behavioural and/or chemical interactions. Understanding the factors that mediate differences in queen fecundity should provide insight into the regulation and maintenance of highly polygynous insect societies, such as those of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). In this study, we investigated (1) whether differences in the oviposition rates of Argentine ant queens exposed to polygynous conditions could result from interactions among them; (2) whether such differences in fecundity stemmed from differences in worker attention; and (3) whether polygynous conditions affected the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of queens (CHCs). We found that differences in queen fecundity and CHC profiles observed under polygynous conditions disappeared when queens were exposed to monogynous conditions, suggesting some form of reproductive inhibition may exist when queens cohabit. These differences did not seem to arise from variation in worker attention because more fecund queens were not more attractive to workers. Levels of some CHCs were higher in more fecund queens. These CHCs are associated with greater queen productivity and survival. Our findings indicate that such compounds could be multifunctional queen pheromones.
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Liebig J. Chemical Ecology: A New Royal Scent in a Small Insect Society. Curr Biol 2020; 30:R280-R282. [PMID: 32208156 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the diversity of insect societies is tied to explaining the mechanisms of reproductive division of labor. Small societies were not expected to use chemical signals or queen pheromones for this purpose. A new study shows that one of them does while using unexpected compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juergen Liebig
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 East Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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Ge J, Ge Z, Zhu D, Wang X. Pheromonal Regulation of the Reproductive Division of Labor in Social Insects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:837. [PMID: 32974354 PMCID: PMC7468439 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive altruism in social insects is an evolutionary enigma that has been puzzling scientists starting from Darwin. Unraveling how reproductive skew emerges and maintains is crucial to understand the reproductive altruism involved in the consequent division of labor. The regulation of adult worker reproduction involves conspecific inhibitory signals, which are thought to be chemical signals by numerous studies. Despite the primary identification of few chemical ligands, the action modes of primer pheromones that regulate reproduction and their molecular causes and effects remain challenging. Here, these questions were elucidated by comprehensively reviewing recent advances. The coordination with other modalities of queen pheromones (QPs) and its context-dependent manner to suppress worker reproduction were discussed under the vast variation and plasticity of reproduction during colony development and across taxa. In addition to the effect of QPs, special attention was paid to recent studies revealing the regulatory effect of brood pheromones. Considering the correlation between pheromone and hormone, this study focused on the production and perception of pheromones under the endocrine control and highlighted the pivotal roles of nutrition-related pathways. The novel chemicals and gene pathways discovered by recent works provide new insights into the understanding of social regulation of reproductive division of labor in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuxi Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xianhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Injection of seminal fluid into the hemocoel of honey bee queens (Apis mellifera) can stimulate post-mating changes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11990. [PMID: 32686702 PMCID: PMC7371693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68437-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee queens undergo dramatic behavioral (e.g., reduced sexual receptivity), physiological (e.g., ovary activation, ovulation, and modulation of pheromone production) and transcriptional changes after they complete mating. To elucidate how queen post-mating changes are influenced by seminal fluid, the non-spermatozoa-containing component of semen, we injected queens with semen or seminal fluid alone. We assessed queen sexual receptivity (as measured by likelihood to take mating flights), ovary activation, worker retinue response (which is influenced by queen pheromone production), and transcriptional changes in queen abdominal fat body and brain tissues. Injection with either seminal fluid or semen resulted in decreased sexual receptivity, increased attractiveness of queens to workers, and altered expression of several genes that are also regulated by natural mating in queens. The post-mating and transcriptional changes of queens receiving seminal fluid were not significantly different from queens injected with semen, suggesting that components in seminal fluid, such as seminal fluid proteins, are largely responsible for stimulating post-mating changes in queens.
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Walsh EM, Sweet S, Knap A, Ing N, Rangel J. Queen honey bee (Apis mellifera) pheromone and reproductive behavior are affected by pesticide exposure during development. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2810-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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45
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Li HL, Song XM, Wu F, Qiu YL, Fu XB, Zhang LY, Tan J. Chemical structure of semiochemicals and key binding sites together determine the olfactory functional modes of odorant-binding protein 2 in Eastern honey bee, Apis cerana. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 145:876-884. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.11.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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46
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Hefetz A. The critical role of primer pheromones in maintaining insect sociality. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 74:221-231. [PMID: 30920959 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2018-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Primer pheromones play a pivotal role in the biology and social organization of insect societies. Despite their importance, they have been less studied because of the complexity of the required bioassays and, consequently, only a few of them have been chemically identified to date. The major primer pheromones are that of the queen pheromones that regulate reproductive skew and maintain colony cohesion and function. From a theoretical viewpoint, several features regarding the chemistry of queen pheromones can be predicted. They should be generally nonvolatile in order to avoid saturation of the colony space, which might otherwise hamper their perception because of sensory habituation. Accordingly, they should be actively dispersed throughout the colony by workers. The queen pheromone should also be caste-specific, qualitatively different from any worker pheromone, and preferably multicomponent, to allow unequivocal identification of the queen. The bi-potency of the female larvae in social Hymenoptera to become queen or worker necessitates strict regulation over pheromone production. Indeed, in the honeybee, the biosynthetic pathways as well as the genomic expressions are completely disparate between queens and workers. Future advances in chemical analyses, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics will enrich our understanding of the chemistry, mechanisms, and crucial role that primer pheromones play in social evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Hefetz
- Tel Aviv University, Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Ruppin Academic Center, School of Marine Sciences, Michmoret, Israel
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47
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Steitz I, Brandt K, Biefel F, Minat Ä, Ayasse M. Queen Recognition Signals in Two Primitively Eusocial Halictid Bees: Evolutionary Conservation and Caste-Specific Perception. INSECTS 2019; 10:E416. [PMID: 31766459 PMCID: PMC6955767 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Queen signals are known to regulate reproductive harmony within eusocial colonies by influencing worker behavior and ovarian physiology. However, decades of research have resulted in the identification of just a few queen signals, and studies of their mode of action are rare. Our aim was to identify queen recognition signals in the halictid bee Lasioglossum pauxillum and to analyze caste differences in the olfactory perception of queen signals in L. pauxillum and the closely related species L. malachurum. We performed chemical analyses and bioassays to test for caste differences in chemical profiles and worker behavior influenced by queen-specific compounds in L. pauxillum. Our results indicated that caste differences in the chemical profiles were mainly attributable to higher amounts of macrocyclic lactones in queens. Bioassays demonstrated a higher frequency of subordinate behavior in workers elicited by queen-specific amounts of macrocyclic lactones. Thus, macrocyclic lactones function as queen recognition signals in L. pauxillum, as in L. malachurum. Using electrophysiological analyses, we have demonstrated that queens of both tested species lack antennal reactions to certain macrocyclic lactones. Therefore, we assume that this is a mechanism to prevent reproductive self-inhibition in queens. Our results should stimulate debate on the conservation and mode of action of queen signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Steitz
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany; (K.B.); (F.B.); (Ä.M.); (M.A.)
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Princen SA, Van Oystaeyen A, Petit C, van Zweden JS, Wenseleers T. Cross-activity of honeybee queen mandibular pheromone in bumblebees provides evidence for sensory exploitation. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe evolutionary origin of queen pheromones (QPs), which regulate reproductive division of labor in insect societies, has been explained by two evolutionary scenarios: the sender-precursor hypothesis and the sensory exploitation hypothesis. These scenarios differ in terms of whether the signaling system was built on preadaptations on the part of either the sender queens or the receiver workers. While some social insect QPs—such as cuticular hydrocarbons—were likely derived from ancestral fertility cues and evolved according to the former theory, the honeybee’s queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) has been suggested to act directly on preexisting gene-regulatory networks linked with reproduction. This is evidenced by the fact that QMP has been shown to also inhibit ovary activation in fruit flies, thereby implying exploitation of conserved physiological pathways. To verify whether QMP has similar effects on more closely related eusocial species, we here tested for QMP cross-activity in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Interestingly, we found that the non-native QMP blend significantly inhibited egg laying in both worker and queen bumblebees and caused accompanying shifts in ovary activation. The native bumblebee QP pentacosane, by contrast, only inhibited the reproduction of the workers. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that honeybee QMP likely evolved via a route of sensory exploitation. We argue that such exploitation could allow social insect queens to produce compounds that manipulate the workers to remain sterile, but that a major hurdle would be that the queens themselves would have to be immune to such compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Princen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annette Van Oystaeyen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
- Biobest Group NV, Westerlo, Belgium
| | - Clément Petit
- Biobest Group NV, Westerlo, Belgium
- Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Jelle S van Zweden
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, Naamsestraat, Leuven, Belgium
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49
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Mumoki FN, Yusuf AA, Pirk CWW, Crewe RM. Hydroxylation patterns associated with pheromone synthesis and composition in two honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis laying workers. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 114:103230. [PMID: 31470083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Colony losses due to social parasitism in the form of reproductive workers of the Apis mellifera capensis clones results from the production of queen-like pheromonal signals coupled with ovarian activation in these socially parasitic honey bees. While the behavioral attributes of these social parasites have been described, their genetic attributes require more detailed exploration. Here, we investigate the production of mandibular gland pheromones in queenless workers of two sub-species of African honey bees; A. m. scutellata (low reproductive potential) and A. m. capensis clones (high reproductive potential). We used standard techniques in gas chromatography to assess the amounts of various pheromone components present, and qPCR to assess the expression of cytochrome P450 genes cyp6bd1 and cyp6as8, thought to be involved in the caste-dependent hydroxylation of acylated stearic acid in queens and workers, respectively. We found that, for both subspecies, the quality and quantity of the individual pheromone components vary with age, and that from the onset, A. m. capensis parasites make use of gene pathways typically upregulated in queens in achieving reproductive dominance. Due to the high production of 9-hydroxy-decenoic acid (9-HDA) the precursor to the queen substance 9-oxo-decenoic acid (9-ODA) in newly emerged capensis clones, we argue that clones are primed for parasitism upon emergence and develop into fully fledged parasites depending on the colony's social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona N Mumoki
- Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Abdullahi A Yusuf
- Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Christian W W Pirk
- Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Robin M Crewe
- Social Insects Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
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50
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Orlova M, Amsalem E. Context matters: plasticity in response to pheromones regulating reproduction and collective behavior in social Hymenoptera. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 35:69-76. [PMID: 31404906 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pheromones mediating social behavior are critical components in the cohesion and function of the colony and are instrumental in the evolution of eusocial insect species. However, different aspects of colony function, such as reproductive division of labor and colony maintenance (e.g. foraging, brood care, and defense), pose different challenges for the optimal function of pheromones. While reproductive communication is shaped by forces of conflict and competition, colony maintenance calls for enhanced cooperation and self-organization. Mechanisms that ensure efficacy, adaptivity and evolutionary stability of signals such as structure-to-function suitability, honesty and context are important to all chemical signals but vary to different degrees between pheromones regulating reproductive division of labor and colony maintenance. In this review, we will discuss these differences along with the mechanisms that have evolved to ensure pheromone adaptivity in reproductive and non-reproductive context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Orlova
- Department of Entomology, Center for Chemical Ecology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Etya Amsalem
- Department of Entomology, Center for Chemical Ecology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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