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Ernst UR, Cardoen D, Cornette V, Ratnieks FL, de Graaf DC, Schoofs L, Verleyen P, Wenseleers T. Individual and genetic task specialization in policing behaviour in the European honeybee. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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2
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Benaets K, Van Geystelen A, Cardoen D, De Smet L, de Graaf DC, Schoofs L, Larmuseau MHD, Brettell LE, Martin SJ, Wenseleers T. Covert deformed wing virus infections have long-term deleterious effects on honeybee foraging and survival. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20162149. [PMID: 28148747 PMCID: PMC5310602 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [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: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have suggested that covert stressors can contribute to bee colony declines. Here we provide a novel case study and show using radiofrequency identification tracking technology that covert deformed wing virus (DWV) infections in adult honeybee workers seriously impact long-term foraging and survival under natural foraging conditions. In particular, our experiments show that adult workers injected with low doses of DWV experienced increased mortality rates, that DWV caused workers to start foraging at a premature age, and that the virus reduced the workers' total activity span as foragers. Altogether, these results demonstrate that covert DWV infections have strongly deleterious effects on honeybee foraging and survival. These results are consistent with previous studies that suggested DWV to be an important contributor to the ongoing bee declines in Europe and the USA. Overall, our study underlines the strong impact that covert pathogen infections can have on individual and group-level performance in bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristof Benaets
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anneleen Van Geystelen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Cardoen
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lina De Smet
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, UGent, Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Gent, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Research group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten H D Larmuseau
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Forensic Genetics and Molecular Archaeology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Forensic Medicine, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura E Brettell
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, The University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Stephen J Martin
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, The University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Verdonck R, De Haes W, Cardoen D, Menschaert G, Huhn T, Landuyt B, Baggerman G, Boonen K, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L. Fast and Reliable Quantitative Peptidomics with labelpepmatch. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:1080-9. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5b00845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Gerben Menschaert
- Research
Group of Bio-informatics and Computational Genomics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Huhn
- Chemistry
Department, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Geert Baggerman
- CFP/CeProMa, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
- Applied Bio & Molecular Systems, Vito, Mol, Belgium
| | - Kurt Boonen
- Biology
Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Abstract
In a recent review article, Selman and colleagues (Trends Ecol Evol 27:570-577, 2012) discuss the status quo of the oxidative stress theory of aging (OSTA) and how it links to life history evolution. They suggest that the OSTA should be tested in wild populations which might show effects masked in laboratory settings. We disagree with their propositions for several reasons. We argue that there is increasing evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not causally linked with aging and that ROS do not play a straightforward role in shaping life history evolution. We propose that laboratory animals and semi-wild populations rather than wild animals are suited best to test any hypothesized effect of reactive oxygen species. This is because data from controlled manipulative experiments rather than observational correlations are preferred to solve this issue. In addition, nonconventional model organisms will be useful in answering the question how relevant the OSTA could be for life history evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich R Ernst
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium,
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5
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Formesyn EM, Cardoen D, Ernst UR, Danneels EL, Van Vaerenbergh M, De Koker D, Verleyen P, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L, de Graaf DC. Reproduction of honeybee workers is regulated by epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 197:1-4. [PMID: 24333651 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Eusocial insect societies display a remarkable reproductive division of labor between a single fertile queen and thousands of largely sterile workers. In most species, however, the workers retain the capacity to reproduce, particularly in queenless colonies where typically many workers lay eggs. As yet, the molecular determinants that initiate this shift in worker fertility are still poorly documented. By using RNA interference we here demonstrate that the knockdown of epidermal growth factor receptor, a gene which was previously shown to be involved in queen-worker caste differentiation, also induces reproduction in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera). These data show that worker fertility and queen-worker caste determination partly rely on the same gene regulatory networks, thereby providing a major breakthrough in our understanding of the molecular determinants of the social insects' spectacular reproductive division of labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M Formesyn
- Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dries Cardoen
- Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ulrich R Ernst
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen L Danneels
- Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Dieter De Koker
- Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Verleyen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socio-ecology and Social Evolution, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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6
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Danneels EL, Formesyn EM, Hahn DA, Denlinger DL, Cardoen D, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L, de Graaf DC. Early changes in the pupal transcriptome of the flesh fly Sarcophagha crassipalpis to parasitization by the ectoparasitic wasp, Nasonia vitripennis. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2013; 43:1189-200. [PMID: 24161520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We investigated changes in the pupal transcriptome of the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis, 3 and 25 h after parasitization by the ectoparasitoid wasp, Nasonia vitripennis. These time points are prior to hatching of the wasp eggs, thus the results document host responses to venom injection, rather than feeding by the wasp larvae. Only a single gene appeared to be differentially expressed 3 h after parasitization. However, by 25 h, 128 genes were differentially expressed and expression patterns of a subsample of these genes were verified using RT-qPCR. Among the responsive genes were clusters of genes that altered the fly's metabolism, development, induced immune responses, elicited detoxification responses, and promoted programmed cell death. Envenomation thus clearly alters the metabolic landscape and developmental fate of the fly host prior to subsequent penetration of the pupal cuticle by the wasp larva. Overall, this study provides new insights into the specific action of ectoparasitoid venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L Danneels
- Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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7
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Van Vaerenbergh M, Cardoen D, Formesyn EM, Brunain M, Van Driessche G, Blank S, Spillner E, Verleyen P, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L, Devreese B, de Graaf DC. Extending the honey bee venome with the antimicrobial peptide apidaecin and a protein resembling wasp antigen 5. Insect Mol Biol 2013; 22:199-210. [PMID: 23350689 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Honey bee venom is a complex mixture of toxic proteins and peptides. In the present study we tried to extend our knowledge of the venom composition using two different approaches. First, worker venom was analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and this revealed the antimicrobial peptide apidaecin for the first time in such samples. Its expression in the venom gland was confirmed by reverse transcription PCR and by a peptidomic analysis of the venom apparatus tissue. Second, genome mining revealed a list of proteins with resemblance to known insect allergens or venom toxins, one of which showed homology to proteins of the antigen 5 (Ag5)/Sol i 3 cluster. It was demonstrated that the honey bee Ag5-like gene is expressed by venom gland tissue of winter bees but not of summer bees. Besides this seasonal variation, it shows an interesting spatial expression pattern with additional production in the hypopharyngeal glands, the brains and the midgut. Finally, our immunoblot study revealed that both synthetic apidaecin and the Ag5-like recombinant from bacteria evoke no humoral activity in beekeepers. Also, no IgG4-based cross-reactivity was detected between the honey bee Ag5-like protein and its yellow jacket paralogue Ves v 5.
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9
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Cardoen D, Ernst UR, Boerjan B, Bogaerts A, Formesyn E, de Graaf DC, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L, Verleyen P. Worker Honeybee Sterility: A Proteomic Analysis of Suppressed Ovary Activation. J Proteome Res 2012; 11:2838-50. [DOI: 10.1021/pr201222s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dries Cardoen
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Entomology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ulrich R. Ernst
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Entomology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boerjan
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Bogaerts
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Liliane Schoofs
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Verleyen
- Research group of Functional
Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Boerjan B, Cardoen D, Verdonck R, Caers J, Schoofs L. Insect omics research coming of age1This review is part of a virtual symposium on recent advances in understanding a variety of complex regulatory processes in insect physiology and endocrinology, including development, metabolism, cold hardiness, food intake and digestion, and diuresis, through the use of omics technologies in the postgenomic era. CAN J ZOOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1139/z2012-010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As more and more insect genomes are fully sequenced and annotated, omics technologies, including transcriptomic, proteomic, peptidomics, and metobolomic profiling, as well as bioinformatics, can be used to exploit this huge amount of sequence information for the study of different biological aspects of insect model organisms. Omics experiments are an elegant way to deliver candidate genes, the function of which can be further explored by genetic tools for functional inactivation or overexpression of the genes of interest. Such tools include mainly RNA interference and are currently being developed in diverse insect species. In this manuscript, we have reviewed how omics technologies were integrated and applied in insect biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Boerjan
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Cardoen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Entomology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Research Group of Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Caers
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Berten H, Cardoen D, Brondeel R, Vettenburg N. Alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents in Flemish secondary school in Brussels: effects of type of education. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:215. [PMID: 22433291 PMCID: PMC3337296 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research regarding socio-economic differences in alcohol and drug use in adolescence yields mixed results. This study hypothesizes that (1) when using education type as a proxy of one's social status, clear differences will exist between students from different types of education, regardless of students' familial socio-economic background; (2) and that the effects of education type differ according to their cultural background. Methods Data from the Brussels youth monitor were used, a school survey administered among 1,488 adolescents from the 3rd to 6th year of Flemish secondary education. Data were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression models. Results Controlling for their familial background, the results show that native students in lower educational tracks use alcohol and cannabis more often than students in upper educational tracks. Such a relationship was not found for students from another ethnic background. Conclusion Results from this study indicate that research into health risks should take into account both adolescents' familial background and individual social position as different components of youngsters' socio-economic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Berten
- Department of Social Welfare Studies, H, Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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12
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Temmerman L, Bogaerts A, Meelkop E, Cardoen D, Boerjan B, Janssen T, Schoofs L. A proteomic approach to neuropeptide function elucidation. Peptides 2012; 34:3-9. [PMID: 21920396 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Revised: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Many of the diverse functions of neuropeptides are still elusive. As they are ideally suited to modulate traditional signaling, their added actions are not always detectable under standard laboratory conditions. The search for function assignment to peptide encoding genes can therefore greatly benefit from molecular information. Specific molecular changes resulting from neuropeptide signaling may direct researchers to yet unknown processes or conditions, for which studying these signaling systems may eventually lead to phenotypic confirmation. Here, we applied gel-based proteomics after pdf-1 neuropeptide gene knockout in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. It has previously been described that pdf-1 null mutants display a locomotion defect, being slower and making more turns and reversals than wild type worms. The vertebrate functional homolog of PDF-1, vasocative intestinal peptide (VIP), is known to influence a plethora of processes, which have so far not been investigated for pdf-1. Because proteins represent the actual effectors inside an organism, proteomic analysis can guide our view to novel pdf-1 actions in the nematode worm. Our data show that knocking out pdf-1 results in alteration of levels of proteins involved in fat metabolism, stress resistance and development. This indicates a possible conservation of VIP-like actions for pdf-1 in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Temmerman
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Naamsestraat 59, Leuven, Belgium
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Cardoen D, Wenseleers T, Ernst UR, Danneels EL, Laget D, DE Graaf DC, Schoofs L, Verleyen P. Genome-wide analysis of alternative reproductive phenotypes in honeybee workers. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:4070-84. [PMID: 21902748 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05254.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A defining feature of social insects is the reproductive division of labour, in which workers usually forego all reproduction to help their mother queen to reproduce. However, little is known about the molecular basis of this spectacular form of altruism. Here, we compared gene expression patterns between nonreproductive, altruistic workers and reproductive, non-altruistic workers in queenless honeybee colonies using a whole-genome microarray analysis. Our results demonstrate massive differences in gene expression patterns between these two sets of workers, with a total of 1292 genes being differentially expressed. In nonreproductive workers, genes associated with energy metabolism and respiration, flight and foraging behaviour, detection of visible light, flight and heart muscle contraction and synaptic transmission were overexpressed relative to reproductive workers. This implies they probably had a higher whole-body energy metabolism and activity rate and were most likely actively foraging, whereas same-aged reproductive workers were not. This pattern is predicted from evolutionary theory, given that reproductive workers should be less willing to compromise their reproductive futures by carrying out high-risk tasks such as foraging or other energetically expensive tasks. By contrast, reproductive workers mainly overexpressed oogenesis-related genes compared to nonreproductive ones. With respect to key switches for ovary activation, several genes involved in steroid biosynthesis were upregulated in reproductive workers, as well as genes known to respond to queen and brood pheromones, genes involved in TOR and insulin signalling pathways and genes located within quantitative trait loci associated with reproductive capacity in honeybees. Overall, our results provide unique insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying alternative reproductive phenotypes in honeybee workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries Cardoen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, K.U. Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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14
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Cardoen D, Ernst UR, Van Vaerenbergh M, Boerjan B, de Graaf DC, Wenseleers T, Schoofs L, Verleyen P. Differential proteomics in dequeened honeybee colonies reveals lower viral load in hemolymph of fertile worker bees. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20043. [PMID: 21698281 PMCID: PMC3115943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2011] [Accepted: 04/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The eusocial societies of honeybees, where the queen is the only fertile female among tens of thousands sterile worker bees, have intrigued scientists for centuries. The proximate factors, which cause the inhibition of worker bee ovaries, remain largely unknown; as are the factors which cause the activation of worker ovaries upon the loss of queen and brood in the colony. In an attempt to reveal key players in the regulatory network, we made a proteomic comparison of hemolymph profiles of workers with completely activated ovaries vs. rudimentary ovaries. An unexpected finding of this study is the correlation between age matched worker sterility and the enrichment of Picorna-like virus proteins. Fertile workers, on the other hand, show the upregulation of potential components of the immune system. It remains to be investigated whether viral infections contribute to worker sterility directly or are the result of a weaker immune system of sterile workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dries Cardoen
- Research Group of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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15
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Boerjan B, Cardoen D, Bogaerts A, Landuyt B, Schoofs L, Verleyen P. Mass spectrometric profiling of (neuro)-peptides in the worker honeybee, Apis mellifera. Neuropharmacology 2009; 58:248-58. [PMID: 19576913 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2009] [Revised: 06/03/2009] [Accepted: 06/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The honeybee is the economically most important beneficial insect and a model for studying immunity, development and social behavior. Hence, this species was selected for genome sequencing and annotation. An intensive interplay between bioinformatics and mass spectrometry (MS) resulted in the annotation of 36 neuropeptide genes (Hummon et al., 2006). Exactly 100 peptides were demonstrated by a variety of MS techniques. In this follow-up study we dissected and analysed separately all ganglia of the central nervous system (CNS) of adult worker bees in three repeats. The combined MALDI-TOF spectra enabled the accurate mapping of 67 peptides, encoded by 20 precursors. We also demonstrated the expression of an additional but already predicted peptide. In addition to putative bioactive peptides we also list and discuss spacer peptides, propeptides and truncated peptides. The majority of such peptides have a more restricted distribution pattern. Their presence provides some information on the precursor turnover and/or the location of neural cell bodies in which they are produced. Of a given precursor, the (neuro)-peptides with the widest distribution pattern are likely to be the best candidates to interact with receptors. The separate analysis of a neuroendocrine complex and the mushroom body yields suggestions as to which (neuro)-peptides might act as hormones and which neuropeptides might be involved in the complex spectrum of non-hormone driven honeybee behaviour, at these sites. Our data complement immunohistochemical studies of (neuro)-peptides in the honeybee, and form a reference for comparative studies in other insect or arthropod models, in particular in the light of recent or upcoming genome projects. Finally, they also form a firm basis for physiological, functional and/or differential peptidomics studies in the honeybee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Boerjan
- Research Group Functional Genomics and Proteomics, K.U. Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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