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Glass JR, Harrison JF. A thermal performance curve perspective explains decades of disagreements over how air temperature affects the flight metabolism of honey bees. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246926. [PMID: 38487901 PMCID: PMC11058628 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
While multiple studies have shown that honey bees and some other flying insects lower their flight metabolic rates when flying at high air temperatures, critics have suggested such patterns result from poor experimental methods as, theoretically, air temperature should not appreciably affect aerodynamic force requirements. Here, we show that apparently contradictory studies can be reconciled by considering the thermal performance curve of flight muscle. We show that prior studies that found no effects of air temperature on flight metabolism of honey bees achieved flight muscle temperatures that were near or on equal, opposite sides of the thermal performance curve. Honey bees vary their wing kinematics and metabolic heat production to thermoregulate, and how air temperature affects the flight metabolic rate of honey bees is predictable using a non-linear thermal performance perspective of honey bee flight muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan R. Glass
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - Jon F. Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 85281, USA
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2
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Musila J, Přidal A. Seasonal Changes in Hemolymph Protein Level and Hypopharyngeal Gland Size Depending on Age and In-Nest Location of Honeybee Workers. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:512. [PMID: 38338155 PMCID: PMC10854915 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A honeybee colony, as a super-organism, is regulated through age-polyethism. A honeybee worker's age is considered by means of a chronological and biological approach. The biological age is estimated with physiologically related biological markers, e.g., total hemolymph protein content (THP) and hypopharyngeal gland size (HGs), which also vary seasonally. Contemporary insights into the age-related spatial workers' distribution within the hive nest space regarding biological age are insufficiently clarified. This study aimed to monitor changes in selected physiological markers during the entire season in relation to worker age and their spatial position in the hive nest. THP content and HG size analysis was performed in nine colonies for the entire season to compare the physiological markers within and among the groups of the workers whose ages were known and sampled in different hive parts. Seasonal impact on the biomarkers' development was confirmed in known-age workers. In the case of HGs, this impact was the most apparent in 4- and 5-week-old workers. For THP, the seasonal impact was the most obvious in 2-week-old workers. The highest THP was found in 1- and 2-week-old workers during the entire season. Biologically younger workers of the same age were located predominantly in upper hive parts consistently throughout the year and vice versa. These workers showed significantly higher THP in comparison with those sampled below. Regarding the chronological age, the downwards, spatially shifting mechanism of workers within the hive nest while they aged was characterized. We recommend storage of diluted hemolymph samples up to one month before performing an assay if necessary. The physiological context, relation to division of labor and benefits for beekeeping practices are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonín Přidal
- Department of Zoology, Fishery, Hydrobiology and Apidology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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3
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Kodrík D, Čapková Frydrychová R, Hlávková D, Skoková Habuštová O, Štěrbová H. Unusual functions of insect vitellogenins: minireview. Physiol Res 2023; 72:S475-S487. [PMID: 38165752 PMCID: PMC10861248 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Insect vitellogenins are an intriguing class of complex proteins. They primarily serve as a source of energy for the developing embryo in insect eggs. Vitellogenesis is a complex hormonally and neurally controlled process that command synthesis of vitellogenin molecules and ensures their transport from the female fat bodies or ovarial cells into eggs. The representatives of all insect hormones such as juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and neurohormones participate in vitellogenesis, but juvenile hormones (most insect species) and ecdysteroids (mostly Diptera) play the most important roles in the process. Strikingly, not only insect females, but also males have been reported to synthesize vitellogenins indicating their further utility in the insect body. Indeed, it has recently been found that vitellogenins perform a variety of biological functions in the insect body. They participate in defense reactions against entomopathogens such as nematodes, fungi, and bacteria, as well as against venoms such as the honeybee Apis mellifera venom. Interestingly, vitellogenins are also present in the venom of the honeybee itself, albeit their exact role is unknown; they most likely increase the efficacy of the venom in the victim's body. Within the bee's body vitellogenins contribute to the lifespan regulation as anti-aging factor acting under tight social interactions and hormonal control. The current minireview covers all of these functions of vitellogenins and portrays them as biologically active substances that play a variety of significant roles in both insect females and males, and not only acting as passive energy sources for developing embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic.
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4
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Kim YH, Kim BY, Choi YS, Lee KS, Jin BR. Ingestion of heat-killed pathogens confers transgenerational immunity to the pathogens via the vitellogenin-hypopharyngeal gland axis in honeybees. Dev Comp Immunol 2023; 144:104709. [PMID: 37031709 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.104709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Honeybee diseases are a serious threat to beekeeping and pollination. Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) has been attracting increasing attention as a promising strategy to protect honeybee colonies from infections. This study investigated whether feeding honeybees (Apis mellifera) with a heat-killed pathogen cocktail can provide them with transgenerational immunity to these pathogens. We found that vitellogenin (Vg) and defensin-1 were highly upregulated in nurse bees upon feeding them with a cocktail of heat-killed Ascosphaera apis and Paenibacillus larvae (A + P cocktail). Pathogen-pattern-recognition receptor genes in the Toll signaling pathway were upregulated in nurse bees upon ingestion of the A + P cocktail. In the nurse bees of the hives supplied with the A + P cocktail, Vg was upregulated in the fat body, and the defensin-1 expression and Vg uptake in the hypopharyngeal glands were induced. Consequently, the major proteins in royal jelly were upregulated. In addition, defensin-1 was upregulated in the queen larvae and young worker larvae in these hives. In correlation, the young worker larvae showed high pathogen resistance to P. larvae infection. Thus, our findings imply that introduction of a heat-killed pathogen cocktail into hives is an efficient strategy for conferring honeybees with social immunity through TGIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hui Kim
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Yeon Kim
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Sik Lee
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
| | - Byung Rae Jin
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan, 49315, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Singh A, Sohal SK, Singh N, Arora S, Fnu S. Cosmopolitan honey bee, Apis mellifera, as quick and efficient marker of pesticide pollution in environment through RP-HPLC. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-28051-5. [PMID: 37344714 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are extremely hazardous to human health as well as various kinds of non-target organisms. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is not only a dominant pollinator, but also a good indicator of pesticide residue and pollutants in the environment. At the time of sample collection in each village, the surrounding flora was Triticum aestivum and Brassica species. The area chosen for this study covered only 15% of the land in the state of Punjab, but pesticide consumption was approximately 75% of the state consumption. Pesticides in the collected samples (from six districts) were analyzed using RP-HPLC chromatography. The chemical methoxychlor (MC) was not found in any of the six villages' honey samples; however, spiromesifen (n = 5) and aldicarb (n = 5) were the most prevalent chemicals and were found in every honey sample. The pesticides carbendazim (n = 1) and parathion methyl (n = 1) were found only in Behman (longitude 29.9224° N and latitude 75.1137° E), and Malumazra (longitude 30.2468° N and latitude 75.8500° E). The carbofuran (n = 3) was discovered in Talwandi Sabo (longitude 29.984° N and latitude 75.8500° E), Himmatpura (longitude 30.5289° N and latitude 75.3616° E), and Malumazra, while atrazine (n = 4) was discovered in all except Malumazra. Three identical pesticides were observed in Chukrian (longitude 29.9759° N and latitude 75.4476° E) and Singo (longitude 29.9092° N and latitude 75.1589° E) indicating the same pesticides used in these villages. The given study gives a summary model to use A. mellifera as a quick monitoring bioindicator of the environment. This model helps to maintain a pesticide or pollutant database of selected areas for regular monitoring of the surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Singh
- Department of Agriculture, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
| | | | | | - Saroj Arora
- Department of Botany, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India
| | - Samiksha Fnu
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
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6
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Isani G, Bellei E, Rudelli C, Cabbri R, Ferlizza E, Andreani G. SDS-PAGE-Based Quantitative Assay of Hemolymph Proteins in Honeybees: Progress and Prospects for Field Application. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10216. [PMID: 37373362 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In human and veterinary medicine, serum proteins are considered to be useful biomarkers for assessing the health and nutritional status of the organism. Honeybee hemolymph has a unique proteome that could represent a source of valuable biomarkers. Therefore, the aims of this study were to separate and identify the most abundant proteins in the hemolymph of worker honeybees to suggest a panel of these proteins that could represent useful biomarkers for assessing the nutritional and health status of the colonies and, finally, to analyze them in different periods of the year. Four apiaries were selected in the province of Bologna, and the bees were analyzed in April, May, July, and November. Thirty specimens from three hives of each apiary were sampled and their hemolymph was collected. The most represented bands obtained after 1D sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were cut from the gel, and the proteins were identified using an LC-ESI-Q-MS/MS System. A total of twelve proteins were unmistakably identified; the two most abundant proteins were apolipophorin and vitellogenin, which are known biomarkers of bee trophic and health status. The two other proteins identified were transferrin and hexamerin 70a, the first being involved in iron homeostasis and the second being a storage protein. Most of these proteins showed an increase from April to November, mirroring the physiological changes of honeybees during the productive season. The current study suggests a panel of biomarkers from honeybee hemolymph worth testing under different physiological and pathological field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Bellei
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, Proteomic Lab, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Rudelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cabbri
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enea Ferlizza
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro, 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Andreani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
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7
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Elfar SA, Bahgat IM, Shebl MA, Lihoreau M, Tawfik MM. Intraspecific Variability in Proteomic Profiles and Biological Activities of the Honey Bee Hemolymph. Insects 2023; 14:365. [PMID: 37103179 PMCID: PMC10142140 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator declines have raised major concerns for the maintenance of biodiversity and food security, calling for a better understanding of environmental factors that affect their health. Here we used hemolymph analysis to monitor the health status of Western honey bees Apis mellifera. We evaluated the intraspecific proteomic variations and key biological activities of the hemolymph of bees collected from four Egyptian localities characterized by different food diversities and abundances. Overall, the lowest protein concentrations and the weakest biological activities (cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties) were recorded in the hemolymph of bees artificially fed sucrose solution and no pollen. By contrast, the highest protein concentrations and biological activities were recorded in bees that had the opportunity to feed on various natural resources. While future studies should expand comparisons to honey bee populations exposed to more different diets and localities, our results suggest hemolymph samples can be used as reliable indicators of bee nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma A. Elfar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
| | - Iman M. Bahgat
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Shebl
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Mathieu Lihoreau
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Mohamed M. Tawfik
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
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8
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Brejcha M, Prušáková D, Sábová M, Peska V, Černý J, Kodrík D, Konopová B, Čapková Frydrychová R. Seasonal changes in ultrastructure and gene expression in the fat body of worker honey bees. J Insect Physiol 2023; 146:104504. [PMID: 36935036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics of honey bees are affected by the season as well as division of labor. In this study, we examined the structure, ultrastructure, and gene expression of fat body cells in both long-lived winter and short-lived summer worker bees (the youngest stage of hive bees and forager bees). In contrast to hive bees, foragers and winter bees have a higher metabolism due to intensive muscle activity during their flight (foragers) or endothermic heat production (winter bees). These workers differ from hive bees in the biology of their mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes as well as in the expression of the genes involved in lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid metabolism, insulin, and TGF- β signaling. Additionally, the expression of genes related to phospholipid metabolism was higher in the hive bees. However, we found no differences between workers in the expression of genes controlling cell organelles, such as the Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, nucleus, and vacuoles, as well as genes for DNA replication, cell cycle control, and autophagy. Furthermore, lysosomes, autophagic processes and lipofuscin particles were more frequently observed in winter bees using electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloslav Brejcha
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Prušáková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Sábová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peska
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Černý
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Konopová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radmila Čapková Frydrychová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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9
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Cang T, Lou Y, Zhu YC, Li W, Weng H, Lv L, Wang Y. Mixture toxicities of tetrachlorantraniliprole and tebuconazole to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and the potential mechanism. Environ Int 2023; 172:107764. [PMID: 36689864 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The extensive use of pesticides has negative effects on the health of insect pollinators. Although pollinators in the field are seldom exposed to individual pesticides, few reports have assessed the toxic impacts of pesticide combinations on them. In this work, we purposed to reveal the combined impacts of tetrachlorantraniliprole (TET) and tebuconazole (TEB) on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Our data exhibited that TET had greater toxicity to A. mellifera (96-h LC50 value of 298.2 mg a.i. L-1) than TEB (96-h LC50 value of 1,841 mg a.i. L-1). The mixture of TET and TEB displayed acute synergistic toxicity to the pollinators. Meanwhile, the activities of CarE, CYP450, trypsin, and sucrase, as well as the expressions of five genes (ppo, abaecin, cat, CYP4G11, and CYP6AS14) associated with immune response, oxidative stress, and detoxification metabolism, were conspicuously altered when exposed to the mixture relative to the individual exposures. These results provided an overall comprehension of honey bees upon the challenge of sublethal toxicity between neonicotinoid insecticides and triazole fungicides and could be used to assess the intricate toxic mechanisms in honey bees when exposed to pesticide mixtures. Additionally, these results might guide pesticide regulation strategies to enhance the honey bee populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Cang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yancen Lou
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yu-Cheng Zhu
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
| | - Wenhong Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China; Guizhou Institute of Plant Protection, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Hongbiao Weng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lu Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Yanhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products / Key Laboratory of Detection for Pesticide Residues and Control of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Quality and Standard for Agro-products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, PR China.
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10
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Kunc M, Dobeš P, Ward R, Lee S, Čegan R, Dostálková S, Holušová K, Hurychová J, Eliáš S, Pinďáková E, Čukanová E, Prodělalová J, Petřivalský M, Danihlík J, Havlík J, Hobza R, Kavanagh K, Hyršl P. Omics-based analysis of honey bee (Apis mellifera) response to Varroa sp. parasitisation and associated factors reveals changes impairing winter bee generation. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 152:103877. [PMID: 36403678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The extensive annual loss of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) represents a global problem affecting agriculture and biodiversity. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, associated with viral co-infections, plays a key role in this loss. Despite years of intensive research, the complex mechanisms of Varroa - honey bee interaction are still not fully defined. Therefore, this study employed a unique combination of transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and functional analyses to reveal new details about the effect of Varroa mites and naturally associated factors, including viruses, on honey bees. We focused on the differences between Varroa parasitised and unparasitised ten-day-old worker bees collected before overwintering from the same set of colonies reared without anti-mite treatment. Supplementary comparison to honey bees collected from colonies with standard anti-Varroa treatment can provide further insights into the effect of a pyrethroid flumethrin. Analysis of the honey bees exposed to mite parasitisation revealed alterations in the transcriptome and proteome related to immunity, oxidative stress, olfactory recognition, metabolism of sphingolipids, and RNA regulatory mechanisms. The immune response and sphingolipid metabolism were strongly activated, whereas olfactory recognition and oxidative stress pathways were inhibited in Varroa parasitised honey bees compared to unparasitised ones. Moreover, metabolomic analysis confirmed the depletion of nutrients and energy stores, resulting in a generally disrupted metabolism in the parasitised workers. The combined omics-based analysis conducted on strictly parasitised bees revealed the key molecular components and mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of Varroa sp. and its associated pathogens. This study provides the theoretical basis and interlinked datasets for further research on honey bee response to biological threats and the development of efficient control strategies against Varroa mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kunc
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Dobeš
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Rachel Ward
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2K8 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Saetbyeol Lee
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Čegan
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Silvie Dostálková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Holušová
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Hurychová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sara Eliáš
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Pinďáková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Čukanová
- Department of Infectious Disease and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Prodělalová
- Department of Infectious Disease and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Petřivalský
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Danihlík
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Havlík
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Hobza
- Department of Plant Developmental Genetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2K8 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Pavel Hyršl
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
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11
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Cormier SB, Léger A, Boudreau LH, Pichaud N. Overwintering in North American domesticated honeybees (Apis mellifera) causes mitochondrial reprogramming while enhancing cellular immunity. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:276355. [PMID: 35938391 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Many factors negatively impact domesticated honeybee (Apis mellifera) health causing a global decrease in their population year after year with major losses occurring during winter, and the cause remains thus far unknown. Here, we monitored for 12 months North American colonies of honeybees enduring important temperature variations throughout the year, to assess the metabolism and immune system of honeybees of summer and winter individuals. Our results show that in flight muscle, mitochondrial respiration via complex I during winter is drastically reduced compared to summer. However, the capacity for succinate and glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) oxidation by mitochondria is increased during winter, resulting in higher mitochondrial oxygen consumption when complex I substrates, succinate and G3P were assessed altogether. Pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase tend to have reduced activity levels in winter unlike hexokinase, NADH dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Transcript abundance of highly important immunity proteins like Vitellogenin and Defensin-1 were also increased in winter bees, and a stronger phagocytic response as well as a better hemocyte viability was observed during winter. Thus, a reorganization of substrate utilization favoring succinate and G3P while negatively affecting complex I of the ETS is occurring during winter. We suggest that this might be due to complex I transitioning to a dormant conformation through post-translational modification. Winter bees also have an increased response for antibacterial elimination in honeybees. Overall, this study highlights previously unknown cellular mechanisms between summer and winter honeybees that further our knowledge about this important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon B Cormier
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, E1A3E9, Canada.,New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine (NBCPM), Moncton, NB, E1C8X3, Canada
| | - Adèle Léger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, E1A3E9, Canada.,New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine (NBCPM), Moncton, NB, E1C8X3, Canada
| | - Luc H Boudreau
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, E1A3E9, Canada.,New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine (NBCPM), Moncton, NB, E1C8X3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Pichaud
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, E1A3E9, Canada.,New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine (NBCPM), Moncton, NB, E1C8X3, Canada
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12
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Ward R, Coffey M, Kavanagh K. Proteomic analysis of summer and winter Apis mellifera workers shows reduced protein abundance in winter samples. J Insect Physiol 2022; 139:104397. [PMID: 35537525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Apis mellifera workers display two stages; short lived summer bees that engage in nursing, hive maintenance and foraging, and long lived winter bees (diutinus bees) which remain within the hive and are essential for thermoregulation and rearing the next generation of bees in spring before dying. Label free quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on A. mellifera workers sampled in June and December to compare the proteomes of summer and winter bees. Proteomic analysis was performed on head, abdominal and venom sac samples and revealed an elevated level of protein abundance in summer bees. Head and abdominal samples displayed an increased abundance in cuticular proteins in summer samples whereas an increase in xenobiotic proteins was observed in winter samples. Several carbohydrate metabolism pathways which have been linked to energy production and longevity in insects were increased in abundance in winter samples in comparison to summer samples. Proteomic analysis of the venom sacs of summer samples showed an increased abundance of bee venom associated proteins in comparison to winter workers. These data provides an insight into the adaptions of A. mellifera workers in summer and winter and may aid in future treatment and disease studies on honeybee colonies. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030483.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ward
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Mary Coffey
- Plant Health Laboratories, Plant Science Division (Bee Health), Department of Agriculture, Celbridge, Co Kildare, Ireland
| | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
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13
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Lee S, Kalcic F, Duarte IF, Titera D, Kamler M, Mrna P, Hyrsl P, Danihlik J, Dobes P, Kunc M, Pudlo A, Havlik J. 1H NMR Profiling of Honey Bee Bodies Revealed Metabolic Differences between Summer and Winter Bees. Insects 2022; 13:193. [PMID: 35206766 PMCID: PMC8875373 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The European honey bee, Apis mellifera, is well-known to have two distinct populations in temperate climate zone: short-living summer bees and long-living winter bees. Several biological factors related to the different lifespans of the two populations have been studied. However, the link between the metabolic changes and basic physiological features in the bodies of summer bees and winter bees is limited. This study aimed to identify the metabolic fingerprints that characterize summer and winter bees using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. In total, we found 28 significantly changed metabolites between the two populations. The results suggest that the metabolites detected in honey bee bodies can distinguish the summer and winter bees. Changes in carbohydrates, amino acids, choline-containing compounds, and an unknown compound were noticeable during the transition from summer bees to winter bees. The results from this study give us a broad perspective on honey bee metabolism that will support future research related to honey bee lifespan and overwintering management. Abstract In temperate climates, honey bee workers of the species Apis mellifera have different lifespans depending on the seasonal phenotype: summer bees (short lifespan) and winter bees (long lifespan). Many studies have revealed the biochemical parameters involved in the lifespan differentiation of summer and winter bees. However, comprehensive information regarding the metabolic changes occurring in their bodies between the two is limited. This study used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to analyze the metabolic differences between summer and winter bees of the same age. The multivariate analysis showed that summer and winter bees could be distinguished based on their metabolic profiles. Among the 36 metabolites found, 28 metabolites have displayed significant changes from summer to winter bees. Compared to summer bees, trehalose in winter bees showed 1.9 times higher concentration, and all amino acids except for proline and alanine showed decreased patterns. We have also detected an unknown compound, with a CH3 singlet at 2.83 ppm, which is a potential biomarker that is about 13 times higher in summer bees. Our results show that the metabolites in summer and winter bees have distinctive characteristics; this information could provide new insights and support further studies on honey bee longevity and overwintering.
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14
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Simone-Finstrom M, Strand MK, Tarpy DR, Rueppell O. Impact of Honey Bee Migratory Management on Pathogen Loads and Immune Gene Expression is Affected by Complex Interactions With Environment, Worker Life History, and Season. J Insect Sci 2022; 22:6523145. [PMID: 35137136 PMCID: PMC8825759 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The effects of honey bee management, such as intensive migratory beekeeping, are part of the ongoing debate concerning causes of colony health problems. Even though comparisons of disease and pathogen loads among differently managed colonies indicate some effects, the direct impact of migratory practices on honey bee pathogens is poorly understood. To test long- and short-term impacts of managed migration on pathogen loads and immunity, experimental honey bee colonies were maintained with or without migratory movement. Individuals that experienced migration as juveniles (e.g., larval and pupal development), as adults, or both were compared to control colonies that remained stationary and therefore did not experience migratory relocation. Samples at different ages and life-history stages (hive bees or foragers), taken at the beginning and end of the active season, were analyzed for pathogen loads and physiological markers of health. Bees exposed to migratory management during adulthood had increased levels of the AKI virus complex (Acute bee paralysis, Kashmir bee, and Israeli acute bee paralysis viruses) and decreased levels of antiviral gene expression (dicer-like). However, those in stationary management as adults had elevated gut parasites (i.e. trypanosomes). Effects of environment during juvenile development were more complex and interacted with life-history stage and season. Age at collection, life-history stage, and season all influenced numerous factors from viral load to immune gene expression. Although the factors that we examined are not independent, the results illuminate potential factors in both migratory and nonmigratory beekeeping that are likely to contribute to colony stress, and also indicate potential mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Simone-Finstrom
- USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
| | - Micheline K Strand
- Life Sciences Branch, U.S. Army Research Office, 800 Park Office Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27703, USA
| | - David R Tarpy
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, 100 Derieux Place, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- The W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, 112 Derieux Place, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Current address: Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 100 Eugene Brooks Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW 405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA
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15
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Kodrík D, Krištůfek V, Svobodová Z. Bee year: Basic physiological strategies to cope with seasonality. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 264:111115. [PMID: 34775045 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Worker honey bees are subject to biochemical and physiological changes throughout the year. This study aimed to provide the reasons behind these fluctuations. The markers analysed included lipid, carbohydrate, and protein levels in the haemolymph; the activity of digestive enzymes in the midgut; the levels of adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in the bee central nervous system; the levels of vitellogenins in the bee venom and haemolymph; and the levels of melittin in the venom. The levels of all the main nutrients in the haemolymph peaked mostly within the period of maximal bee activity, whereas the activity of digestive enzymes mostly showed a two-peak course. Furthermore, the levels of AKHs fluctuated throughout the year, with modest but significant variations. These data suggest that the role of AKHs in bee energy metabolism is somewhat limited, and that bees rely more on available food and less on body deposits. Interestingly, the non-metabolic characteristics also fluctuated over the year. The vitellogenin peak reached its maximum in the haemolymph in winter, which is probably associated with the immunoprotection of long-lived winter bees. The analysis of bee venom showed the maximal levels of vitellogenin in autumn; however, it is not entirely clear why this is the case. Finally, melittin levels showed strong fluctuations, suggesting that seasonal control was unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalibor Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Václav Krištůfek
- Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre, CAS, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeňka Svobodová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, CAS, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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16
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Bresnahan ST, Döke MA, Giray T, Grozinger CM. Tissue-specific transcriptional patterns underlie seasonal phenotypes in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Mol Ecol 2021; 31:174-184. [PMID: 34643007 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Faced with adverse conditions, such as winter in temperate regions or hot and dry conditions in tropical regions, many insect species enter a state of diapause, a period of dormancy associated with a reduction or arrest of physical activity, development and reproduction. Changes in common physiological pathways underlie diapause phenotypes in different insect species. However, most transcriptomic studies of diapause have not simultaneously evaluated and compared expression patterns in different tissues. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) represent a unique model system to study the mechanisms underpinning diapause-related phenotypes. In winter, honey bees exhibit a classic diapause phenotype, with reduced metabolic activity, increased physiological nutritional resources and altered hormonal profiles. However, winter bees actively heat their colony by vibrating their wing muscles; thus, this tissue is not quiescent. Here, we evaluated the transcriptional profiles of flight muscle tissue and fat body tissue (involved in nutrient storage, metabolism and immune function) of winter bees. We also evaluated two behavioural phenotypes of summer bees: nurses, which exhibit high nutritional stores and low flight activity, and foragers, which exhibit low nutritional stores and high flight activity. We found winter bees and nurses have similar fat body transcriptional profiles, whereas winter bees and foragers have similar flight muscle transcriptional profiles. Additionally, differentially expressed genes were enriched in diapause-related gene ontology terms. Thus, honey bees exhibit tissue-specific transcriptional profiles associated with seasonal phenotypes, laying the groundwork for future studies evaluating the mechanisms, evolution and consequences of this tissue-specific regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Bresnahan
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.,Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mehmet A Döke
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biology and Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Tugrul Giray
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
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17
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Shumkova R, Balkanska R, Koynarski T, Hristov P. Application of the Natural Products NOZEMAT HERB and NOZEMAT HERB PLUS Can Decrease Honey Bee Colonies Losses during the Winter. Diversity 2021; 13:228. [DOI: 10.3390/d13060228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are crucial pollinators for many crops and natural ecosystems. However, honey bee colonies have been experiencing heavy overwinter mortality in almost all parts of the world. In the present study we have investigatеd, for the first time, the effects from the application of the herbal supplements NOZEMAT HERB® (NH) and NOZEMAT HERB PLUS® (NHP) on overwintering honey bee colony survival and on total protein and lysozyme content. To achieve this, in early autumn 2019, 45 colonies were selected and treated with these herbal supplements. The total protein and lysozyme content were evaluated after administration of NH and NHP twice the following year (June and September 2020). The obtained results have shown that both supplements have a positive effect on overwintering colony survival. Considerable enhancement in longevity of “winter bees” has been observed after the application of NHP, possibly due to the increased functionality of the immune system and antioxidant detoxification capacity. Although the mechanisms of action of NH and NHP are yet to be completely elucidated, our results suggest a new holistic approach on overwintering honey bee colony survival and welfare.
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18
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Řeřicha M, Dobeš P, Knapp M. Changes in haemolymph parameters and insect ability to respond to immune challenge during overwintering. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4267-4275. [PMID: 33976809 PMCID: PMC8093749 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Overwintering is a challenging period in the life of temperate insects. A limited energy budget characteristic of this period can result in reduced investment in immune system. Here, we investigated selected physiological and immunological parameters in laboratory-reared and field-collected harlequin ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis). For laboratory-reared beetles, we focused on the effects of winter temperature regime (cold, average, or warm winter) on total haemocyte concentration aiming to investigate potential effects of ongoing climate change on immune system in overwintering insects. We recorded strong reduction in haemocyte concentration during winter; however, there were only limited effects of winter temperature regime on changes in haemocyte concentration in the course of overwintering. For field-collected beetles, we measured additional parameters, specifically: total protein concentration, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, and haemocyte concentration before and after overwintering. The field experiment did not investigate effects of winter temperature, but focused on changes in inducibility of insect immune system during overwintering, that is, measured parameters were compared between naïve beetles and those challenged by Escherichia coli. Haemocyte concentration decreased during overwintering, but only in individuals challenged by Escherichia coli. Prior to overwintering, the challenged beetles had a significantly higher haemocyte concentration compared to naïve beetles, whereas no difference was observed after overwintering. A similar pattern was observed also for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli as challenged beetles outperformed naïve beetles before overwintering, but not after winter. In both sexes, total protein concentration increased in the course of overwintering, but females had a significantly higher total protein concentration in their hemolymph compared to males. In general, our results revealed that insect's ability to respond to an immune challenge is significantly reduced in the course of overwintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Řeřicha
- Department of EcologyFaculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePrague ‐ SuchdolCzech Republic
| | - Pavel Dobeš
- Department of Experimental BiologyFaculty of ScienceMasaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Michal Knapp
- Department of EcologyFaculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePrague ‐ SuchdolCzech Republic
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19
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Dostálková S, Dobeš P, Kunc M, Hurychová J, Škrabišová M, Petřivalský M, Titěra D, Havlík J, Hyršl P, Danihlík J. Winter honeybee ( Apis mellifera) populations show greater potential to induce immune responses than summer populations after immune stimuli. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb232595. [PMID: 33288532 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In the temperate climates of central Europe and North America, two distinct honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations are found in colonies: short-living summer bees emerge in spring and survive until summer, whereas long-living winter bees emerge in late August and overwinter. Besides the difference in their life spans, each of these populations fulfils a different role in the colonies and individual bees have distinct physiological and immunological adaptations depending on their roles. For instance, winter worker bees have higher vitellogenin levels and larger reserves of nutrients in the fat body than summer bees. The differences between the immune systems of both populations are well described at the constitutive level; however, our knowledge of its inducibility is still very limited. In this study, we focus on the response of 10-day-old honeybee workers to immune challenges triggered in vivo by injecting heat-killed bacteria, with particular focus on honeybees that emerge and live under hive conditions. Responses to bacterial injections differed between summer and winter bees. Winter bees exhibited a more intense response, including higher expression of antimicrobial genes and antimicrobial activity, as well as a significant decrease in vitellogenin gene expression and its concentration in the hemolymph. The intense immune response observed in winter honeybees may contribute to our understanding of the relationships between colony fitness and infection with pathogens, as well as its association with successful overwintering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvie Dostálková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 783 71, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Dobeš
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kunc
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Hurychová
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Škrabišová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 783 71, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Petřivalský
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 783 71, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Titěra
- Bee Research Institute, Libčice nad Vltavou 252 66, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Havlík
- Department of Food Quality and Safety, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 129, Prague 252 63, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hyršl
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Danihlík
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 783 71, Czech Republic
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20
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Tlak Gajger I, Vlainić J, Šoštarić P, Prešern J, Bubnič J, Smodiš Škerl MI. Effects on Some Therapeutical, Biochemical, and Immunological Parameters of Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera) Exposed to Probiotic Treatments, in Field and Laboratory Conditions. Insects 2020; 11:insects11090638. [PMID: 32957451 PMCID: PMC7563132 DOI: 10.3390/insects11090638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Various negative factors contribute to a decline in insect pollinators. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of commercial probiotic EM® PROBIOTIC FOR BEES on honey bees. The study was conducted in field and laboratory-controlled conditions. In the field, the sugar syrup with 10% of probiotic was administered by spraying or feeding the honey bee colonies in order to evaluate the colonies’ strength and Nosema spp. infection levels. In the laboratory, the adult workers have been fed with sugar syrup supplemented with 2.5, 5, and 10% of EM® for bees for biochemical and immunological analyses of hemolymph, and with 5 and 10% for measuring the size of hypopharyngeal glands. It was found that following the EM® for bees administration the Nosema spp. spore counts in colonies were significantly reduced, and colonies’ strength was increased. The results at the individual level showed positive physiological changes in treated groups of adult bees, but, at the same time, a higher mortality rate. Our findings indicate that the EM® for bees is a promising food additive for nosemosis combating. Therefore, additional emphasis needs to be placed on studies investigating the nutritional requirements crucial to improve and sustain honey bee colonies health. Abstract Several negative factors contribute to a decline in the number of insect pollinators. As a novel approach in therapy, we hypothesize that the EM® for bees could potentially have an important therapeutic and immunomodulatory effect on honey bee colonies. The aim of our study was to evaluate its impact on honey bees at the individual and colony level. This is the first appliance of the commercial probiotic mix EM® PROBIOTIC FOR BEES in honey bees as economically important social insects. The sugar syrup with 10% of probiotic was administered by spraying or feeding the honey bee colonies in the field conditions, in order to evaluate the infection levels with spores of Nosema spp. and colonies’ strength. Moreover, in laboratory-controlled conditions, in the hoarding cages, adult workers have been fed with sugar syrup supplemented with 2.5, 5, and 10% of EM® for bees for biochemical and immunological analyses of hemolymph, and with 5 and 10% for measuring the size of hypopharyngeal glands. It was found that following the EM® for bees administration the Nosema spp. spore counts in colonies were significantly reduced, and colonies’ strength was increased. The results at the individual level showed significant positive physiological changes in treated groups of adult bees, revealing at the same time a higher mortality rate when feeding sugar syrup supplemented with the probiotic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Tlak Gajger
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-91-2390-041
| | - Josipa Vlainić
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Advanced Genomics, Institute Ruđer Bošković, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Petra Šoštarić
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Janez Prešern
- Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.P.); (J.B.); (M.I.S.Š.)
| | - Jernej Bubnič
- Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.P.); (J.B.); (M.I.S.Š.)
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21
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Dobeš P, Kunc M, Hurychová J, Votavová A, Komzáková O, Hyršl P. The Effect of Foraging on Bumble Bees, Bombus terrestris, Reared under Laboratory Conditions. Insects 2020; 11:E321. [PMID: 32456127 DOI: 10.3390/insects11050321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bumble bees are important pollinators broadly used by farmers in greenhouses and under conditions in which honeybee pollination is limited. As such, bumble bees are increasingly being reared for commercial purposes, which brings into question whether individuals reared under laboratory conditions are fully capable of physiological adaptation to field conditions. To understand the changes in bumble bee organism caused by foraging, we compared the fundamental physiological and immunological parameters of Bombus terrestris workers reared under constant optimal laboratory conditions with workers from sister colonies that were allowed to forage for two weeks in the field. Nutritional status and immune response were further determined in wild foragers of B.terrestris that lived under the constant influence of natural stressors. Both wild and laboratory-reared workers subjected to the field conditions had a lower protein concentration in the hemolymph and increased antimicrobial activity, the detection of which was limited in the non-foragers. However, in most of the tested parameters, specifically the level of carbohydrates, antioxidants, total hemocyte concentration in the hemolymph and melanization response, we did not observe any significant differences between bumble bee workers produced in the laboratory and wild animals, nor between foragers and non-foragers. Our results show that bumble bees reared under laboratory conditions can mount a sufficient immune response to potential pathogens and cope with differential food availability in the field, similarly to the wild bumble bee workers.
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Knoll S, Pinna W, Varcasia A, Scala A, Cappai MG. The honey bee (Apis mellifera L., 1758) and the seasonal adaptation of productions. Highlights on summer to winter transition and back to summer metabolic activity. A review. Livest Sci 2020; 235:104011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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