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Alaoui A, Christ F, Silva V, Vested A, Schlünssen V, González N, Gai L, Abrantes N, Baldi I, Bureau M, Harkes P, Norgaard T, Navarro I, de la Torre A, Sanz P, Martínez MÁ, Hofman J, Pasković I, Pasković MP, Glavan M, Lwanga EH, Aparicio VC, Campos I, Alcon F, Contreras J, Mandrioli D, Sgargi D, Scheepers PTJ, Ritsema C, Geissen V. Identifying pesticides of high concern for ecosystem, plant, animal, and human health: A comprehensive field study across Europe and Argentina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174671. [PMID: 39004368 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The widespread and excessive use of pesticides in modern agricultural practices has caused pesticide contamination of the environment, animals, and humans, with confirmed serious health consequences. This study aimed to identify the 20 most critical substances based on an analysis of detection frequency (DF) and median concentrations (MC) across environmental and biological matrices. A sampling campaign was conducted across 10 case study sites in Europe and 1 in Argentina, each encompassing conventional and organic farming systems. We analysed 209 active substances in a total of 4609 samples. All substances ranked among the 20 most critical were detected in silicon wristbands worn by humans and animals and indoor dust from both farming systems. Five of them were detected in all environmental matrices. Overall, higher values of DF and MC, including in the blood plasma of animals and humans, were recorded in samples of conventional compared to organic farms. The differences between farming systems were greater in the environmental samples and less in animal and human samples. Ten substances were detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms and eight in animal blood plasma from organic farms. Two of those, detected in both farming systems, are classified as hazardous for mammals (acute). Five substances detected in animal blood plasma from organic farms and seven detected in animal blood plasma from conventional farms are classified as hazardous for mammals (dietary). Three substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as carcinogens. Seven of the substances detected in human blood plasma are classified as endocrine disruptors. Six substances, of which five were detected in human blood plasma, are hazardous for reproduction/development. Efforts are needed to elucidate the unknown effects of mixtures, and it is crucial that such research also considers biocides and banned substances, which constitute a baseline of contamination that adds to the effect of substances used in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Alaoui
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Florian Christ
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vera Silva
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Anne Vested
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Neus González
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lingtong Gai
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabelle Baldi
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathilde Bureau
- Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, U1219, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Paula Harkes
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Trine Norgaard
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - Irene Navarro
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián de la Torre
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Sanz
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Martínez
- Unit of POPs and Emerging Pollutants in Environment, Department of Environment, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jakub Hofman
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
| | - Marija Polić Pasković
- Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, K. Huguesa 8, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
| | - Matjaž Glavan
- Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Esperanza Huerta Lwanga
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM and Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Francisco Alcon
- Agricultural Engineering School, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
| | - Josefa Contreras
- Agricultural Engineering School, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Spain
| | | | - Daria Sgargi
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Italy
| | - Paul T J Scheepers
- Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Coen Ritsema
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Violette Geissen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Aynalem T, Meng L, Getachew A, Wu J, Yu H, Tan J, Li N, Xu S. A New Isolated Fungus and Its Pathogenicity for Apis mellifera Brood in China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:313. [PMID: 38399717 PMCID: PMC10892447 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In this article, we report the pathogenicity of a new strain of fungus, Rhizopus oryzae to honeybee larvae, isolated from the chalkbrood-diseased mummies of honeybee larvae and pupae collected from apiaries in China. Based on morphological observation and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region analyses, the isolated pathogenic fungus was identified as R. oryzae. Koch's postulates were performed to determine the cause-and-effect pathogenicity of this isolate fungus. The in vitro pathogenicity of this virulent fungus in honeybees was tested by artificially inoculating worker larvae in the lab. The pathogenicity of this new fungus for honeybee larvae was both conidial-concentration and exposure-time dependent; its highly infectious and virulent effect against the larvae was observed at 1 × 105 conidia/larva in vitro after 96 h of challenge. Using probit regression analysis, the LT50 value against the larvae was 26.8 h at a conidial concentration of 1 × 105 conidia/larva, and the LC50 was 6.2 × 103 conidia/larva. These results indicate that the new isolate of R. oryzae has considerable pathogenicity in honeybee larvae. Additionally, this report suggests that pathogenic phytofungi may harm their associated pollinators. We recommend further research to quantify the levels, mechanisms, and pathways of the pathogenicity of this novel isolated pathogen for honeybee larvae at the colony level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessema Aynalem
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia
| | - Lifeng Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Awraris Getachew
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia
| | - Jiangli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Huimin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Jing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Nannan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Shufa Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
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3
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Chow LJ, Nesbit ML, Hill T, Tranter C, Evison SE, Hughes WO, Graystock P. Identification of fungi isolated from commercial bumblebee colonies. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16713. [PMID: 38313023 PMCID: PMC10836204 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungi can have important beneficial and detrimental effects on animals, yet our understanding of the diversity and function of most bee-associated fungi is poor. Over 2 million bumblebee colonies are traded globally every year, but the presence and transport of viable fungi within them is unknown. Here, we explored whether any culturable fungi could be isolated from commercial bumblebee nests. We collected samples of various substrates from within 14 bumblebee colonies, including the honey, honey cup wall, egg cup wall, and frass then placed them on agar and recorded any growth. Fungal morphotypes were then subcultured and their ITS region sequenced for identification. Overall, we cultured 11 fungal species from the various nest substrates. These included both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Candida sp. Our results provide the first insights into the diversity of viable fungal communities in commercial bumblebee nests. Further research is needed to determine if these fungi are unique to commercial colonies or prevalent in wild bumblebee nests, and crucially to determine the ecological and evolutionary implications of these fungi in host colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lui Julie Chow
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Miles L. Nesbit
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Hill
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Tranter
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie E.F. Evison
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Peter Graystock
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park Campus, Imperial College London, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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4
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Wirta H, Jones M, Peña‐Aguilera P, Chacón‐Duque C, Vesterinen E, Ovaskainen O, Abrego N, Roslin T. The role of seasonality in shaping the interactions of honeybees with other taxa. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10580. [PMID: 37818248 PMCID: PMC10560870 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eltonian niche of a species is defined as its set of interactions with other taxa. How this set varies with biotic, abiotic and human influences is a core question of modern ecology. In seasonal environments, the realized Eltonian niche is likely to vary due to periodic changes in the occurrence and abundance of interaction partners and changes in species behavior and preferences. Also, human management decisions may leave strong imprints on species interactions. To compare the impact of seasonality to that of management effects, honeybees provide an excellent model system. Based on DNA traces of interaction partners archived in honey, we can infer honeybee interactions with floral resources and microbes in the surrounding habitats, their hives, and themselves. Here, we resolved seasonal and management-based impacts on honeybee interactions by sampling beehives repeatedly during the honey-storing period of honeybees in Finland. We then use a genome-skimming approach to identify the taxonomic contents of the DNA in the samples. To compare the effects of the season to the effects of location, management, and the colony itself in shaping honeybee interactions, we used joint species distribution modeling. We found that honeybee interactions with other taxa varied greatly among taxonomic and functional groups. Against a backdrop of wide variation in the interactions documented in the DNA content of honey from bees from different hives, regions, and beekeepers, the imprint of the season remained relatively small. Overall, a honey-based approach offers unique insights into seasonal variation in the identity and abundance of interaction partners among honeybees. During the summer, the availability and use of different interaction partners changed substantially, but hive- and taxon-specific patterns were largely idiosyncratic as modified by hive management. Thus, the beekeeper and colony identity are as important determinants of the honeybee's realized Eltonian niche as is seasonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Wirta
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Mirkka Jones
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Pablo Peña‐Aguilera
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Camilo Chacón‐Duque
- Centre for PalaeogeneticsStockholmSweden
- Department of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | | | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity DynamicsNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Nerea Abrego
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Tomas Roslin
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
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5
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Rutkowski D, Weston M, Vannette RL. Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad077. [PMID: 37422442 PMCID: PMC10370288 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee-fungus associations are common, and while most studies focus on entomopathogens, emerging evidence suggests that bees associate with a variety of symbiotic fungi that can influence bee behavior and health. Here, we review nonpathogenic fungal taxa associated with different bee species and bee-related habitats. We synthesize results of studies examining fungal effects on bee behavior, development, survival, and fitness. We find that fungal communities differ across habitats, with some groups restricted mostly to flowers (Metschnikowia), while others are present almost exclusively in stored provisions (Zygosaccharomyces). Starmerella yeasts are found in multiple habitats in association with many bee species. Bee species differ widely in the abundance and identity of fungi hosted. Functional studies suggest that yeasts affect bee foraging, development, and pathogen interactions, though few bee and fungal taxa have been examined in this context. Rarely, fungi are obligately beneficial symbionts of bees, whereas most are facultative bee associates with unknown or ecologically contextual effects. Fungicides can reduce fungal abundance and alter fungal communities associated with bees, potentially disrupting bee-fungi associations. We recommend that future study focus on fungi associated with non-honeybee species and examine multiple bee life stages to document fungal composition, abundance, and mechanistic effects on bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Rutkowski
- 367 Briggs Hall, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Makena Weston
- 367 Briggs Hall, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Rachel L Vannette
- 367 Briggs Hall, Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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6
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Strange JP, Tripodi AD, Huntzinger C, Knoblett J, Klinger E, Herndon JD, Vuong HQ, McFrederick QS, Irwin RE, Evans JD, Giacomini JJ, Ward R, Adler LS. Comparative analysis of 3 pollen sterilization methods for feeding bumble bees. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:662-673. [PMID: 36930576 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pollen is an essential component of bee diets, and rearing bumble bees (Bombus spp.) for commercial use necessitates feeding pollen in mass quantities. This pollen is collected from honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies because neither an artificial diet nor an economical, large-scale pollen collection process from flowers is available. The provenance of honey bee-collected pollen is often unknown, and in some cases has crossed international borders. Both deformed wing virus (DWV) and the fungal pathogen Ascosphaera apis (Claussen) Olive & Spiltoir (cause of chalkbrood disease); occur in honey bee-collected pollen, and infections have been observed in bumble bees. We used these pathogens as general surrogates for viruses and spore-forming fungal diseases to test the efficacy of 3 sterilization methods, and assessed whether treatment altered pollen quality for the bumble bee. Using honey bee-collected pollen spiked with known doses of DWV and A. apis, we compared gamma irradiation (GI), ozone fumigation (OZ), and ethylene oxide fumigation (EO) against an untreated positive control and a negative control. Following sterilization treatments, we tested A. apis spore viability, detected viral presence with PCR, and tested palatability to the bumble bee Bombus impatiens Cresson. We also measured bacterial growth from pollens treated with EO and GI. GI and EO outperformed OZ treatment in pathogen suppression. EO had the highest sterilizing properties under commercial conditions and retained palatability and supported bee development better than other treatments. These results suggest that EO sterilization reduces pathogen risks while retaining pollen quality as a food source for rearing bumble bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Strange
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | | | - Craig Huntzinger
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
| | - Joyce Knoblett
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
| | - Ellen Klinger
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - James D Herndon
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84321, United States
| | - Hoang Q Vuong
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695United States
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
| | - Jonathan J Giacomini
- Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695United States
| | - Robert Ward
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322United States
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003United States
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LeCroy KA, Krichilsky (Rin) E, Grab HL, Roulston TH, Danforth BN. Spillover of chalkbrood fungi to native solitary bee species from non‐native congeners. J Appl Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A. LeCroy
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia 400 Blandy Farm Lane Boyce Virginia 22620 USA
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Comstock Hall Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Erin Krichilsky (Rin)
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Comstock Hall Ithaca New York 14850 USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York City New York 10027 USA
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology American Museum of Natural History New York City New York 10024 USA
| | - Heather L. Grab
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Comstock Hall Ithaca New York 14850 USA
- School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Plant Science Building Cornell University Ithaca New York 14853 USA
| | - T’ai H. Roulston
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia 400 Blandy Farm Lane Boyce Virginia 22620 USA
| | - Bryan N. Danforth
- Department of Entomology Cornell University Comstock Hall Ithaca New York 14850 USA
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Kogan HV, Elikan AB, Glaser KF, Bergmann JM, Raymond LM, Prado-Irwin SR, Snow JW. Colonization of Honey Bee Digestive Tracts by Environmental Yeast Lachancea thermotolerans Is Naturally Occurring, Temperature Dependent, and Impacts the Microbiome of Newly Emerged Bees. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0519422. [PMID: 36790179 PMCID: PMC10100982 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05194-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are critical pollinators in both agricultural and ecological settings. Recent declines in honey bee colonies in the United States have put increased strain on agricultural pollination. Although there are many environmental stressors implicated in honey bee disease, there has been intensifying focus on the role of microbial attacks on honey bee health. Despite the long-standing appreciation for the association of fungi of various groups with honey bees and their broader environment, the effects of these interactions on honey bee health are incompletely understood. Here, we report the discovery of colonization of the honey bee digestive tract by the environmental yeast Lachancea thermotolerans. Experimental colonization of honey bee digestive tracts by L. thermotolerans revealed that this yeast species maintains high levels in the honey bee midgut only at temperatures below the typical colony temperature. In newly eclosed bees, L. thermotolerans colonization alters the microbiome, suggesting that environmental yeasts can impact its composition. Future studies should be undertaken to better understand the role of L. thermotolerans and other environmental yeasts in honey bee health. IMPORTANCE Although many fungal species are found in association with honey bees and their broader environment, the effects of these interactions on honey bee health are largely unknown. Here, we report the discovery that a yeast commonly found in the environment can be found at high levels in honey bee digestive tracts. Experimentally feeding this yeast to honey bees showed that the yeast's ability to maintain high levels in the digestive tract is influenced by temperature and can lead to alterations of the microbiome in young bees. These studies provide a foundation for future studies to better understand the role of environmental yeasts in honey bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen V. Kogan
- Biology Department, Barnard College, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Westreich LR, Westreich ST, Tobin PC. Bacterial and Fungal Symbionts in Pollen Provisions of a Native Solitary Bee in Urban and Rural Environments. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02164-9. [PMID: 36576521 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02164-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Among insects, symbionts such as bacteria and fungi can be linked to their physiology and immature development, and in some cases are part of a defense system against parasites and diseases. Current bacterial and fungal symbiont associations in solitary bees are understudied, especially in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA. We collected pollen provisions from the native spring-foraging solitary bee, Osmia lignaria Say, across two distinct foraging periods over 2 years at 22 sites along an urban-to-rural gradient in western Washington. We then used next-generation sequencing to identify bacterial and fungi within pollen provisions and assessed the effect of their richness and diversity on O. lignaria larval development success and adult emergence. We detected a significantly positive relationship between bacterial diversity in pollen with O. lignaria larval developmental success, and higher bacterial richness and diversity during the later foraging period. Fungal generic richness and diversity decreased with increasing plant richness. Although neither was associated with O. lignaria developmental success, we did detect Ascosphaera spp. known to be pathogenic to O. lignaria and other bee species. Neither bacterial or fungal richness or diversity was affected by site type when classified as urban or rural. This study provides new information on bacterial and fungal symbionts present in pollen provisions of a native solitary bee when foraging across urban and rural areas of the Pacific Northwest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lila R Westreich
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, 3715 W. Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Patrick C Tobin
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, 3715 W. Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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10
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Hatmaker EA, Rangel-Grimaldo M, Raja HA, Pourhadi H, Knowles SL, Fuller K, Adams EM, Lightfoot JD, Bastos RW, Goldman GH, Oberlies NH, Rokas A. Genomic and Phenotypic Trait Variation of the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Aspergillus flavus and Its Close Relatives. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0306922. [PMID: 36318036 PMCID: PMC9769809 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03069-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases affect millions of humans annually, yet fungal pathogens remain understudied. The mold Aspergillus flavus can cause both aspergillosis and fungal keratitis infections, but closely related species are not considered clinically relevant. To study the evolution of A. flavus pathogenicity, we examined genomic and phenotypic traits of two strains of A. flavus and three closely related species, Aspergillus arachidicola (two strains), Aspergillus parasiticus (two strains), and Aspergillus nomiae (one strain). We identified >3,000 orthologous proteins unique to A. flavus, including seven biosynthetic gene clusters present in A. flavus strains and absent in the three nonpathogens. We characterized secondary metabolite production for all seven strains under two clinically relevant conditions, temperature and salt concentration. Temperature impacted metabolite production in all species, whereas salinity did not affect production of any species. Strains of the same species produced different metabolites. Growth under stress conditions revealed additional heterogeneity within species. Using the invertebrate fungal disease model Galleria mellonella, we found virulence of strains of the same species varied widely; A. flavus strains were not more virulent than strains of the nonpathogens. In a murine model of fungal keratitis, we observed significantly lower disease severity and corneal thickness for A. arachidicola compared to other species at 48 h postinfection, but not at 72 h. Our work identifies variations in key phenotypic, chemical, and genomic attributes between A. flavus and its nonpathogenic relatives and reveals extensive strain heterogeneity in virulence that does not correspond to the currently established clinical relevance of these species. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus flavus is a filamentous fungus that causes opportunistic human infections, such as aspergillosis and fungal keratitis, but its close relatives are considered nonpathogenic. To begin understanding how this difference in pathogenicity evolved, we characterized variation in infection-relevant genomic, chemical, and phenotypic traits between strains of A. flavus and its relatives. We found extensive variation (or strain heterogeneity) within the pathogenic A. flavus as well as within its close relatives, suggesting that strain-level differences may play a major role in the ability of these fungi to cause disease. Surprisingly, we also found that the virulence of strains from species not considered to be pathogens was similar to that of A. flavus in both invertebrate and murine models of disease. These results contrast with previous studies on Aspergillus fumigatus, another major pathogen in the genus, for which significant differences in infection-relevant chemical and phenotypic traits are observed between closely related pathogenic and nonpathogenic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Anne Hatmaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Manuel Rangel-Grimaldo
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Huzefa A. Raja
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hadi Pourhadi
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sonja L. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kevin Fuller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Emily M. Adams
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jorge D. Lightfoot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Rafael W. Bastos
- Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Nicholas H. Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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11
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Hatmaker EA, Miller DL, Newton I, Rokas A. Draft Genome Sequence of an Aspergillus Strain Isolated from a Honey Bee Pupa. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0079822. [PMID: 36194126 PMCID: PMC9670926 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00798-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect-associated fungi play an important role in wild and agricultural communities. We present a draft genome sequence of an entomopathogenic strain from the fungal genus Aspergillus, isolated from a honey bee pupa.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Anne Hatmaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Delaney L. Miller
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Irene Newton
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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12
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StcU-2 Gene Mutation via CRISPR/Cas9 Leads to Misregulation of Spore-Cyst Formation in Ascosphaera apis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102088. [PMID: 36296364 PMCID: PMC9607276 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascosphaera apis is the causative agent of honey bee chalkbrood disease, and spores are the only known source of infections. Interference with sporulation is therefore a promising way to manage A. apis. The versicolorin reductase gene (StcU-2) is a ketoreductase protein related to sporulation and melanin biosynthesis. To study the StcU-2 gene in ascospore production of A. apis, CRISPR/Cas9 was used, and eight hygromycin B antibiotic-resistant transformants incorporating enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were made and analyzed. PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, and sequence analysis were used for target gene editing analysis and verification. The CRISPR/Cas9 editing successfully knocked out the StcU-2 gene in A. apis. StcU-2 mutants had shown albino and non-functional spore-cyst development and lost effective sporulation. In conclusion, editing of StcU-2 gene has shown direct relation with sporulation and melanin biosynthesis of A. apis; this effective sporulation reduction would reduce the spread and pathogenicity of A. apis to managed honey bee. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing has been efficiently performed in A. apis, a fungal honey bee brood pathogen, which offers a comprehensive set of procedural references that contributes to A. apis gene function studies and consequent control of chalkbrood disease.
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13
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Becchimanzi A, Nicoletti R. Aspergillus-bees: A dynamic symbiotic association. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:968963. [PMID: 36160228 PMCID: PMC9489833 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.968963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides representing one of the most relevant threats of fungal origin to human and animal health, the genus Aspergillus includes opportunistic pathogens which may infect bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in all developmental stages. At least 30 different species of Aspergillus have been isolated from managed and wild bees. Some efficient behavioral responses (e.g., diseased brood removal) exerted by bees negatively affect the chance to diagnose the pathology, and may contribute to the underestimation of aspergillosis importance in beekeeping. On the other hand, bee immune responses may be affected by biotic and abiotic stresses and suffer from the loose co-evolutionary relationships with Aspergillus pathogenic strains. However, if not pathogenic, these hive mycobiota components can prove to be beneficial to bees, by affecting the interaction with other pathogens and parasites and by detoxifying xenobiotics. The pathogenic aptitude of Aspergillus spp. likely derives from the combined action of toxins and hydrolytic enzymes, whose effects on bees have been largely overlooked until recently. Variation in the production of these virulence factors has been observed among strains, even belonging to the same species. Toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains/species may co-exist in a homeostatic equilibrium which is susceptible to be perturbed by several external factors, leading to mutualistic/antagonistic switch in the relationships between Aspergillus and bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Becchimanzi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy
- *Correspondence: Andrea Becchimanzi,
| | - Rosario Nicoletti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, Caserta, Italy
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14
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The potential consequences of 'bee washing' on wild bee health and conservation. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:30-32. [PMID: 35399591 PMCID: PMC8989764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Concern around declining bee populations globally has become an environmental issue of mainstream importance. Policymakers, scientists, environmental non-government organizations, media outlets and the public have displayed great interest in conservation actions to support pollinators. As with many environmental causes, green washing, or in this case ‘bee washing’, has become rampant. Bee washing can lead to multiple negative consequences, including misinformation, misallocation of resources, increasing threats and steering public understanding and environmental policy away from evidence-based decision-making. Here I will discuss the multiple potential consequences of bee washing on efforts to conserve declining wild bees and promote wild bee health. Concern around declining bee populations globally has become an environmental issue of mainstream importance. Policymakers, scientists, environmental non-government organizations, media outlets and the public have displayed interest in conservation action to support pollinators. ‘Bee washing’, has become rampant. Narratives and actions tend to focus on low-hanging fruit, actions which are easy to address and/or the selling of commercial items where industry benefits but the species of concern do not. Negative consequences include misinformation, misallocation of resources, increasing threats and steering environmental policy away from evidence-based decision-making.
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15
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Brown MJF. Complex networks of parasites and pollinators: moving towards a healthy balance. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210161. [PMID: 35491603 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites are viewed as a major threat to wild pollinator health. While this may be true for epidemics driven by parasite spillover from managed or invasive species, the picture is more complex for endemic parasites. Wild pollinator species host and share a species-rich, generalist parasite community. In contrast to the negative health impacts that these parasites impose on individual hosts, at a community level they may act to reduce competition from common and abundant pollinator species. By providing rare species with space in which to exist, this will act to support and maintain a diverse and thus healthier pollinator community. At this level, and perhaps paraxodically, parasites may be good for pollinators. This stands in clear contrast to the obvious negative impacts of epidemic and spillover parasites on wild pollinator communities. Research into floral resources that control parasites could be best employed to help design landscapes that provide pollinators with the opportunity to moderate their parasite community, rather than attempting to eliminate specific parasites from wild pollinator communities. This article is part of the theme issue 'Natural processes influencing pollinator health: from chemistry to landscapes'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
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16
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Iorizzo M, Ganassi S, Albanese G, Letizia F, Testa B, Tedino C, Petrarca S, Mutinelli F, Mazzeo A, De Cristofaro A. Antimicrobial Activity from Putative Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria for the Biological Control of American and European Foulbrood Diseases. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050236. [PMID: 35622764 PMCID: PMC9143654 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The balance of the gut microbiome is important for the honey bee’s growth and development, immune function and defense against pathogens. The use of a beneficial bacteria-based strategy for the prevention and biocontrol of American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) diseases in honey bees offers interesting prospects. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of the honey bee. Among LABs associated with bee gut microbiota, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously Lactobacillus plantarum) and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (formerly classified as Lactobacillus kunkeei) are two of the most abundant species. In this study, four Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains and four Apilactobacillus kunkeei strains, isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) were selected for their in vitro inhibition ability of Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545 and Melissococccus plutonius ATCC 35311. In addition, these LABs have been characterized through some biochemical and functional characteristics: cell surface properties (hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation), carbohydrates assimilation and enzymatic activities. The antimicrobial, biochemical and cell surface properties of these LABs have been functional to their candidature as potential probiotics in beekeeping and for the biocontrol of AFB and EFB diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Iorizzo
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Sonia Ganassi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Gianluca Albanese
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Francesco Letizia
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Bruno Testa
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Cosimo Tedino
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Sonia Petrarca
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
- Conaproa, Consorzio Nazionale Produttori Apistici, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Franco Mutinelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Viale dell’Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Mazzeo
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Antonio De Cristofaro
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy; (M.I.); (S.G.); (F.L.); (B.T.); (C.T.); (S.P.); (A.M.); (A.D.C.)
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17
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Yordanova M, Evison SEF, Gill RJ, Graystock P. The threat of pesticide and disease co-exposure to managed and wild bee larvae. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 17:319-326. [PMID: 35342713 PMCID: PMC8943340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Brood diseases and pesticides can reduce the survival of bee larvae, reduce bee populations, and negatively influence ecosystem biodiversity. However, major gaps persist in our knowledge regarding the routes and implications of co-exposure to these stressors in managed and wild bee brood. In this review, we evaluate the likelihood for co-exposure to brood pathogen and pesticide stressors by examining the routes of potential co-exposure and the possibility for pollen and nectar contaminated with pathogens and pesticides to become integrated into brood food. Furthermore, we highlight ways in which pesticides may increase brood disease morbidity directly, through manipulating host immunity, and indirectly through disrupting microbial communities in the guts of larvae, or compromising brood care provided by adult bees. Lastly, we quantify the brood research bias towards Apis species and discuss the implications the bias has on brood disease and pesticide risk assessment in wild bee communities. We advise that future studies should place a higher emphasis on evaluating bee brood afflictions and their interactions with commonly encountered stressors, especially in wild bee species. Brood exposure to pathogens and pesticides may occur frequently and in combination during the consumption of pollen and nectar. Brood pathogen virulence can be directly increased due to pesticide-mediated manipulation of larvae immune responses. Pesticides may indirectly increase brood disease morbidity by affecting larval gut microbial compositionand adult bee health. Research bias towards Apis species skews our understanding and management of brood disease and pesticide risks in wild bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Yordanova
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Sophie E F Evison
- School of Life Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Gill
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Peter Graystock
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
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18
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Functional Properties and Antimicrobial Activity from Lactic Acid Bacteria as Resources to Improve the Health and Welfare of Honey Bees. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030308. [PMID: 35323606 PMCID: PMC8953987 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Honey bees play a pivotal role in the sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity. Many factors including parasites, pathogens, pesticide residues, forage losses, and poor nutrition have been proposed to explain honey bee colony losses. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of honey bees and their role has been consistently reported in the literature. In recent years, there have been numerous scientific evidence that the intestinal microbiota plays an essential role in honey bee health. Management strategies, based on supplementation of the gut microbiota with probiotics, may be important to increase stress tolerance and disease resistance. In this review, recent scientific advances on the use of LABs as microbial supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed. Abstract Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are agriculturally important pollinators. Over the past decades, significant losses of wild and domestic bees have been reported in many parts of the world. Several biotic and abiotic factors, such as change in land use over time, intensive land management, use of pesticides, climate change, beekeeper’s management practices, lack of forage (nectar and pollen), and infection by parasites and pathogens, negatively affect the honey bee’s well-being and survival. The gut microbiota is important for honey bee growth and development, immune function, protection against pathogen invasion; moreover, a well-balanced microbiota is fundamental to support honey bee health and vigor. In fact, the structure of the bee’s intestinal bacterial community can become an indicator of the honey bee’s health status. Lactic acid bacteria are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of many insects, and their presence in the honey bee intestinal tract has been consistently reported in the literature. In the first section of this review, recent scientific advances in the use of LABs as probiotic supplements in the diet of honey bees are summarized and discussed. The second section discusses some of the mechanisms by which LABs carry out their antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Afterward, individual paragraphs are dedicated to Chalkbrood, American foulbrood, European foulbrood, Nosemosis, and Varroosis as well as to the potentiality of LABs for their biological control.
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19
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Russo L, de Keyzer CW, Harmon-Threatt AN, LeCroy KA, MacIvor JS. The managed-to-invasive species continuum in social and solitary bees and impacts on native bee conservation. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:43-49. [PMID: 33540109 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Invasive bee species have negative impacts on native bee species and are a source of conservation concern. The invasion of bee species is mediated by the abiotic environment, biotic communities, and propagule pressure of the invader. Each of these factors is further affected by management, which can amplify the magnitude of the impact on native bee species. The ecological traits and behavior of invasive bees also play a role in whether and to what degree they compete with or otherwise negatively affect native bee species. The magnitude of impact of an invasive bee species relates both to its population size in the introduced habitat and the degree of overlap between its resources and the resources native bees require.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
| | - Charlotte W de Keyzer
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | | | - Kathryn A LeCroy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - James Scott MacIvor
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
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20
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Kuivila KM, Judd H, Hladik ML, Strange JP. Field-Level Exposure of Bumble Bees to Fungicides Applied to a Commercial Cherry Orchard. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 114:1065-1071. [PMID: 33885755 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toab051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bumble bees, Bombus spp. (Apidae), are important native pollinators; however, populations of some species are declining in North America and agricultural chemicals are a potential cause. Fungicides are generally not highly toxic to bees, but little is known about sublethal or synergistic effects. This study evaluates bumble bee exposure to fungicides by quantifying concentrations of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in nectar and pollen collected by colonies of Bombus huntii Greene, 1860 (Hunt bumble bee) deployed in a commercial cherry Prunus avium L. orchard in the spring of 2016. Seven colonies were placed adjacent to an orchard block that was sprayed with a fungicide mixture of boscalid and pyraclostrobin and a control group of seven colonies was placed next to an unsprayed block of orchard 400 m away from the treated block. Nectar and pollen were collected daily, beginning 1 d before spray application and continuing for a total of 12 d, and analyzed for both fungicides. Fungicide concentrations varied spatially by colony and temporally by day. The highest concentrations in nectar occurred 1 and 3 d after spraying: up to 440 ng/g boscalid and 240 ng/g pyraclostrobin. Six days after application, pollen from cherry flowers contained the highest concentrations of the fungicides: up to 60,500 ng/g boscalid and 32,000 ng/g pyraclostrobin. These data can help to determine field-level fungicide concentrations in nectar and pollen and direct future work on understanding the effects of these compounds, including their interactions with important bumble bee pathogenic and beneficial symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Kuivila
- US Geological Survey, OR Water Science Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - H Judd
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Logan, UT, USA
- Biology Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - M L Hladik
- US Geological Survey, CA Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - J P Strange
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pollinating Insect Research Unit, Logan, UT, USA
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21
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Probiotic Properties and Potentiality of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains for the Biological Control of Chalkbrood Disease. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7050379. [PMID: 34066127 PMCID: PMC8151994 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascosphaera apis is an entomopathogenic fungus that affects honeybees. In stressful conditions, this fungus (due not only to its presence, but also to the combination of other biotic and abiotic stressors) can cause chalkbrood disease. In recent years, there has been increasing attention paid towards the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the honeybees' diets to improve their health, productivity and ability to resist infections by pathogenic microorganisms. The screening of 22 strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, isolated from the gastrointestinal tracts of honeybees and beebread, led to the selection of five strains possessing high antagonistic activity against A. apis. This study focused on the antifungal activity of these five strains against A. apis DSM 3116 and DSM 3117 using different matrices: cell lysate, broth culture, cell-free supernatant and cell pellet. In addition, some functional properties and the antioxidant activity of the five L. plantarum strains were evaluated. All five strains exhibited high antagonistic activity against A. apis, good surface cellular properties (extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production and biofilm formation) and antioxidant activity. Although preliminary, these results are encouraging, and in future investigations, the effectiveness of these bacteria as probiotics in honeybee nutrition will be tested in vivo in the context of an eco-friendly strategy for the biological control of chalkbrood disease.
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22
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Proesmans W, Albrecht M, Gajda A, Neumann P, Paxton RJ, Pioz M, Polzin C, Schweiger O, Settele J, Szentgyörgyi H, Thulke HH, Vanbergen AJ. Pathways for Novel Epidemiology: Plant-Pollinator-Pathogen Networks and Global Change. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:623-636. [PMID: 33865639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiple global change pressures, and their interplay, cause plant-pollinator extinctions and modify species assemblages and interactions. This may alter the risks of pathogen host shifts, intra- or interspecific pathogen spread, and emergence of novel population or community epidemics. Flowers are hubs for pathogen transmission. Consequently, the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks may be pivotal in pathogen host shifts and modulating disease dynamics. Traits of plants, pollinators, and pathogens may also govern the interspecific spread of pathogens. Pathogen spillover-spillback between managed and wild pollinators risks driving the evolution of virulence and community epidemics. Understanding this interplay between host-pathogen dynamics and global change will be crucial to predicting impacts on pollinators and pollination underpinning ecosystems and human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Proesmans
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
| | | | - Anna Gajda
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Maryline Pioz
- Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, 84140 Avignon, France
| | - Christine Polzin
- Department of Environmental Politics, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Josef Settele
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; iDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines, 4031 Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Hajnalka Szentgyörgyi
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Hans-Hermann Thulke
- Department of Ecological Modelling, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04138 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adam J Vanbergen
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
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23
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Cameron TC, Wiles D, Beddoe T. Current Status of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Technologies for the Detection of Honey Bee Pathogens. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:659683. [PMID: 33912610 PMCID: PMC8071855 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.659683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately one-third of the typical human Western diet depends upon pollination for production, and honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the primary pollinators of numerous food crops, including fruits, nuts, vegetables, and oilseeds. Regional large scale losses of managed honey bee populations have increased significantly during the last decade. In particular, asymptomatic infection of honey bees with viruses and bacterial pathogens are quite common, and co-pathogenic interaction with other pathogens have led to more severe and frequent colony losses. Other multiple environmental stress factors, including agrochemical exposure, lack of quality forage, and reduced habitat, have all contributed to the considerable negative impact upon bee health. The ability to accurately diagnose diseases early could likely lead to better management and treatment strategies. While many molecular diagnostic tests such as real-time PCR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry have been developed to detect honey bee pathogens, they are not field-deployable and thus cannot support local apiary husbandry decision-making for disease control. Here we review the field-deployable technology termed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and its application to diagnose honey bee infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy C Cameron
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Livestock Interactions With Pathogens, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Danielle Wiles
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Livestock Interactions With Pathogens, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Travis Beddoe
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Livestock Interactions With Pathogens, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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24
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Krichilsky E, Centrella M, Eitzer B, Danforth B, Poveda K, Grab H. Landscape Composition and Fungicide Exposure Influence Host-Pathogen Dynamics in a Solitary Bee. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:107-116. [PMID: 33247307 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Both ecosystem function and agricultural productivity depend on services provided by bees; these services are at risk from bee declines which have been linked to land use change, pesticide exposure, and pathogens. Although these stressors often co-occur in agroecosystems, a majority of pollinator health studies have focused on these factors in isolation, therefore limiting our ability to make informed policy and management decisions. Here, we investigate the combined impact of altered landscape composition and fungicide exposure on the prevalence of chalkbrood disease, caused by fungi in the genus Ascosphaera Olive and Spiltoir 1955 (Ascosphaeraceae: Onygenales), in the introduced solitary bee, Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski 1887) (Megachilidae: Hymenoptera). We used both field studies and laboratory assays to evaluate the potential for interactions between altered landscape composition, fungicide exposure, and Ascosphaera on O. cornifrons mortality. Chalkbrood incidence in larval O. cornifrons decreased with high open natural habitat cover, whereas Ascosphaera prevalence in adults decreased with high urban habitat cover. Conversely, high fungicide concentration and high forest cover increased chalkbrood incidence in larval O. cornifrons and decreased Ascosphaera incidence in adults. Our laboratory assay revealed an additive effect of fungicides and fungal pathogen exposure on the mortality of a common solitary bee. Additionally, we utilized phylogenetic methods and identified four species of Ascosphaera with O. cornifrons, both confirming previous reports and shedding light on new associates. Our findings highlight the impact of fungicides on bee health and underscore the importance of studying interactions among factors associated with bee decline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Centrella
- Pesticide Management Education Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Brian Eitzer
- The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Johnson-Horsfall Laboratory, New Haven, CT
| | - Bryan Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Katja Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Heather Grab
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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25
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Parasite defense mechanisms in bees: behavior, immunity, antimicrobials, and symbionts. Emerg Top Life Sci 2020; 4:59-76. [PMID: 32558901 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are linked to the decline of some bee populations; thus, understanding defense mechanisms has important implications for bee health. Recent advances have improved our understanding of factors mediating bee health ranging from molecular to landscape scales, but often as disparate literatures. Here, we bring together these fields and summarize our current understanding of bee defense mechanisms including immunity, immunization, and transgenerational immune priming in social and solitary species. Additionally, the characterization of microbial diversity and function in some bee taxa has shed light on the importance of microbes for bee health, but we lack information that links microbial communities to parasite infection in most bee species. Studies are beginning to identify how bee defense mechanisms are affected by stressors such as poor-quality diets and pesticides, but further research on this topic is needed. We discuss how integrating research on host traits, microbial partners, and nutrition, as well as improving our knowledge base on wild and semi-social bees, will help inform future research, conservation efforts, and management.
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26
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Peng G, Tong SM, Zeng D, Xia Y, Feng MG. Colony heating protects honey bee populations from a risk of contact with wide-spectrum Beauveria bassiana insecticides applied in the field. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:2627-2634. [PMID: 32096312 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The safety of fungal insecticides to apiculture is a public concern but remains poorly understood. This study seeks to evaluate whether, how and why wide-spectrum Beauveria bassiana insecticides are safe to honey bees in a novel assessment system. RESULTS Mesonotum dipping with a 108 conidia ml-1 suspension and body contact with conidial suspension in sucrose solution caused high mortalities of adult forager bees at 25 °C optimal for conidial germination and hyphal invasion. Intriguingly, colony sizes in the hives contaminated by the forager bees contacting viable and inactivated conidia at two sites (1.2 km in distance), respectively, showed similar increase percentages (31.7% versus 29.2%) during a 4-week summer period of exposure to environment. No sign of fungal infection was found within each of the monitored colonies. Neither was fungal outgrowth observed on surfaces of bee cadavers cleaned from each hive at either site. Hourly counts of cleaned cadavers from videotapes presented no significant difference in colony-cleaning behavior between the two sites. During the period, in-hive temperatures at both sites were persistently stabilized at approximately 35 °C, which abolished conidial germination and were far above the out-hive temperature range. CONCLUSION It is colony heating that protects honey bee populations from a risk of forager bees' contact with formulated conidia applied for arthropod pest control. No role was detected for colony self-cleaning behavior in protecting the bee colonies from the risk. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxiong Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sen-Miao Tong
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- College of Agricultural and Food Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, China
| | - Deyu Zeng
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuxian Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ming-Guang Feng
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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27
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Ellner SP, Ng WH, Myers CR. Individual Specialization and Multihost Epidemics: Disease Spread in Plant-Pollinator Networks. Am Nat 2020; 195:E118-E131. [PMID: 32364778 DOI: 10.1086/708272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Many parasites infect multiple species and persist through a combination of within- and between-species transmission. Multispecies transmission networks are typically constructed at the species level, linking two species if any individuals of those species interact. However, generalist species often consist of specialized individuals that prefer different subsets of available resources, so individual- and species-level contact networks can differ systematically. To explore the epidemiological impacts of host specialization, we build and study a model for pollinator pathogens on plant-pollinator networks, in which individual pollinators have dynamic preferences for different flower species. We find that modeling and analysis that ignore individual host specialization can predict die-off of a disease that is actually strongly persistent and can badly over- or underpredict steady-state disease prevalence. Effects of individual preferences remain substantial whenever mean preference duration exceeds half of the mean time from infection to recovery or death. Similar results hold in a model where hosts foraging in different habitats have different frequencies of contact with an environmental reservoir for the pathogen. Thus, even if all hosts have the same long-run average behavior, dynamic individual differences can profoundly affect disease persistence and prevalence.
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28
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CASTAGNINO GLB, MATEOS A, MEANA A, MONTEJO L, ZAMORANO ITURRALDE LV, CUTULI DE SIMÓN MT. Etiology, symptoms and prevention of chalkbrood disease: a literature review. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE SAÚDE E PRODUÇÃO ANIMAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/s1519-9940210332020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The fungus Ascosphaera apis, responsible for causing the chalkbrood disease of honey bees, is widely present in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, but has also spread to other regions of the world such as Brazil. Although it is not usually lethal for the colony, it can reduce its population, hampering its development. This study is a review on the disease that presents a broad overview of its development, identification methods as well as ways to control it. Research shows that chalkbrood is associated with several factors and is most frequently found in colonies of Apis bees during the spring, when there is excess humidity and sudden temperature changes in the hive. Other factors such as viral or bacterial infection, the presence of the ectoparasite Varroa destructor, pesticide poisoning and poor nutrition of nurse bees can also affect its incidence and severity. Field diagnosis is made based on the presence of hardened mummified brood in the pupal stage, of white or black color, in the cells and entrance. Affected cells show dead pupae covered with white mycelia, resembling cotton, or hardened, dry and brittle, resembling chalk pieces, which originated the name. To date, there are no efficient methods to reduce the damage caused by chalkbrood. Genetic selection of bees with higher hygienic behavior and disease resistance is recommended.
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29
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Rittschof CC, Rubin BER, Palmer JH. The transcriptomic signature of low aggression in honey bees resembles a response to infection. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:1029. [PMID: 31888487 PMCID: PMC6937707 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavior reflects an organism's health status. Many organisms display a generalized suite of behaviors that indicate infection or predict infection susceptibility. We apply this concept to honey bee aggression, a behavior that has been associated with positive health outcomes in previous studies. We sequenced the transcriptomes of the brain, fat body, and midgut of adult sibling worker bees who developed as pre-adults in relatively high versus low aggression colonies. Previous studies showed that this pre-adult experience impacts both aggressive behavior and resilience to pesticides. We performed enrichment analyses on differentially expressed genes to determine whether variation in aggression resembles the molecular response to infection. We further assessed whether the transcriptomic signature of aggression in the brain is similar to the neuromolecular response to acute predator threat, exposure to a high-aggression environment as an adult, or adult behavioral maturation. RESULTS Across all three tissues assessed, genes that are differentially expressed as a function of aggression significantly overlap with genes whose expression is modulated by a variety of pathogens and parasitic feeding. In the fat body, and to some degree the midgut, our data specifically support the hypothesis that low aggression resembles a diseased or parasitized state. However, we find little evidence of active infection in individuals from the low aggression group. We also find little evidence that the brain molecular signature of aggression is enriched for genes modulated by social cues that induce aggression in adults. However, we do find evidence that genes associated with adult behavioral maturation are enriched in our brain samples. CONCLUSIONS Results support the hypothesis that low aggression resembles a molecular state of infection. This pattern is most robust in the peripheral fat body, an immune responsive tissue in the honey bee. We find no evidence of acute infection in bees from the low aggression group, suggesting the physiological state characterizing low aggression may instead predispose bees to negative health outcomes when they are exposed to additional stressors. The similarity of molecular signatures associated with the seemingly disparate traits of aggression and disease suggests that these characteristics may, in fact, be intimately tied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare C Rittschof
- University of Kentucky, S-225 Agricultural Science Center North, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA.
| | - Benjamin E R Rubin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Joseph H Palmer
- Kentucky State University, 400 E. Main St., Frankfort, KY, 40601, USA
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30
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Slominski AH, Burkle LA. Solitary Bee Life History Traits and Sex Mediate Responses to Manipulated Seasonal Temperatures and Season Length. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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31
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Rothman JA, Andrikopoulos C, Cox-Foster D, McFrederick QS. Floral and Foliar Source Affect the Bee Nest Microbial Community. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 78:506-516. [PMID: 30552443 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1300-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Managed pollinators such as the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, are essential to the production of a wide variety of agricultural crops. These pollinators encounter a diverse array of microbes when foraging for food and nest-building materials on various plants. To test the hypothesis that food and nest-building source affects the composition of the bee-nest microbiome, we exposed M. rotundata adults to treatments that varied both floral and foliar source in a 2 × 2 factorial design. We used 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing to capture the bacterial and fungal diversity of the bee nests. We found that nest microbial communities were significantly different between treatments, indicating that bee nests become inoculated with environmentally derived microbes. We did not find evidence of interactions between the fungi and bacteria within our samples. Furthermore, both the bacterial and fungal communities were quite diverse and contained numerous exact sequence variants (ESVs) of known plant and bee pathogens that differed based on treatment. Our research indicates that bees deposit plant-associated microbes into their nests, including multiple plant pathogens such as smut fungi and bacteria that cause blight and wilt. The presence of plant pathogens in larval pollen provisions highlights the potential for bee nests to act as disease reservoirs across seasons. We therefore suggest that future research should investigate the ability of bees to transmit pathogens from nest to host plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Rothman
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, University of California, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of California, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Corey Andrikopoulos
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, UMC5310, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
- USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, and Systematics Research, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Diana Cox-Foster
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, UMC5310, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
- USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, and Systematics Research, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, University of California, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
- Department of Entomology, University of California, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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32
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Vilcinskas A. Pathogens associated with invasive or introduced insects threaten the health and diversity of native species. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 33:43-48. [PMID: 31358194 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Insect populations are declining even in protected areas, but the underlying causes are unclear. Here, I consider whether the factors driving the loss of insect diversity include invasive and/or introduced insects transmitting pathogens to less-resistant native species. The introduction of insects into new areas for biocontrol, to promote pollination, or for mass rearing in insect farms, threatens the health and diversity of indigenous insects by the co-introduction of entomopathogens whose spillover is difficult to control. Even less virulent pathogens or covert infections can become lethal if environmental stressors weaken the resistance of indigenous host species in an additive, potentiating or synergistic manner. More research is needed to develop effective strategies that protect the health and diversity of native insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Dep. Bioresources, Leihgesterner Weg 85, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
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