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Galante H, De Agrò M, Koch A, Kau S, Czaczkes TJ. Acute exposure to caffeine improves foraging in an invasive ant. iScience 2024; 27:109935. [PMID: 39055608 PMCID: PMC11270030 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, are a particularly concerning invasive species. Control efforts often fall short likely due to a lack of sustained bait consumption. Using neuroactives, such as caffeine, to improve ant learning and navigation could increase recruitment and consumption of toxic baits. Here, we exposed L. humile to a range of caffeine concentrations and a complex ecologically relevant task: an open landscape foraging experiment. Without caffeine, we found no effect of consecutive foraging visits on the time the ants take to reach a reward, suggesting a failure to learn the reward's location. However, under low to intermediate caffeine concentrations ants were 38% faster with each consecutive visit, implying that caffeine boosts learning. Interestingly, such improvements were lost at high doses. In contrast, caffeine had no impact on the ants' homing behavior. Adding moderate levels of caffeine to baits could improve ant's ability to learn its location, improving bait efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Galante
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Massimo De Agrò
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Alexandra Koch
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Kau
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry (RCB), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tomer J. Czaczkes
- Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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2
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Galante H, Czaczkes TJ. Invasive ant learning is not affected by seven potential neuroactive chemicals. Curr Zool 2024; 70:87-97. [PMID: 38476136 PMCID: PMC10926265 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Argentine ants Linepithema humile are one of the most damaging invasive alien species worldwide. Enhancing or disrupting cognitive abilities, such as learning, has the potential to improve management efforts, for example by increasing preference for a bait, or improving ants' ability to learn its characteristics or location. Nectar-feeding insects are often the victims of psychoactive manipulation, with plants lacing their nectar with secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and non-protein amino acids which often alter learning, foraging, or recruitment. However, the effect of neuroactive chemicals has seldomly been explored in ants. Here, we test the effects of seven potential neuroactive chemicals-two alkaloids: caffeine and nicotine; two biogenic amines: dopamine and octopamine, and three nonprotein amino acids: β-alanine, GABA and taurine-on the cognitive abilities of invasive L. humile using bifurcation mazes. Our results confirm that these ants are strong associative learners, requiring as little as one experience to develop an association. However, we show no short-term effect of any of the chemicals tested on spatial learning, and in addition no effect of caffeine on short-term olfactory learning. This lack of effect is surprising, given the extensive reports of the tested chemicals affecting learning and foraging in bees. This mismatch could be due to the heavy bias towards bees in the literature, a positive result publication bias, or differences in methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Galante
- Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tomer J Czaczkes
- Department of Zoology and Evolutionary Biology, Animal Comparative Economics Laboratory, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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3
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Motta EVS, Arnott RLW, Moran NA. Caffeine Consumption Helps Honey Bees Fight a Bacterial Pathogen. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0052023. [PMID: 37212661 PMCID: PMC10269917 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00520-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Caffeine has long been used as a stimulant by humans. Although this secondary metabolite is produced by some plants as a mechanism of defense against herbivores, beneficial or detrimental effects of such consumption are usually associated with dose. The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, can also be exposed to caffeine when foraging at Coffea and Citrus plants, and low doses as are found in the nectar of these plants seem to boost memory learning and ameliorate parasite infection in bees. In this study, we investigated the effects of caffeine consumption on the gut microbiota of honey bees and on susceptibility to bacterial infection. We performed in vivo experiments in which honey bees, deprived of or colonized with their native microbiota, were exposed to nectar-relevant concentrations of caffeine for a week, then challenged with the bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens. We found that caffeine consumption did not impact the gut microbiota or survival rates of honey bees. Moreover, microbiota-colonized bees exposed to caffeine were more resistant to infection and exhibited increased survival rates compared to microbiota-colonized or microbiota-deprived bees only exposed to the pathogen. Our findings point to an additional benefit of caffeine consumption in honey bee health by protecting against bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE The consumption of caffeine is a remarkable feature of the human diet. Common drinks, such as coffee and tea, contain caffeine as a stimulant. Interestingly, honey bees also seem to like caffeine. They are usually attracted to the low concentrations of caffeine found in nectar and pollen of Coffea plants, and consumption improves learning and memory retention, as well as protects against viruses and fungal parasites. In this study, we expanded these findings by demonstrating that caffeine can improve survival rates of honey bees infected with Serratia marcescens, a bacterial pathogen known to cause sepsis in animals. However, this beneficial effect was only observed when bees were colonized with their native gut microbiota, and caffeine seemed not to directly affect the gut microbiota or survival rates of bees. Our findings suggest a potential synergism between caffeine and gut microbial communities in protection against bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick V. S. Motta
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ryan L. W. Arnott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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4
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Bachert A, Scheiner R. The ant's weapon improves honey bee learning performance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8399. [PMID: 37225773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35540-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Formic acid is the main component of the ant's major weapon against enemies. Being mainly used as a chemical defense, the acid is also exploited for recruitment and trail marking. The repelling effect of the organic acid is used by some mammals and birds which rub themselves in the acid to eliminate ectoparasites. Beekeepers across the world rely on this effect to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Varroa mites are considered the most destructive pest of honey bees worldwide and can lead to the loss of entire colonies. Formic acid is highly effective against Varroa mites but can also kill the honeybee queen and worker brood. Whether formic acid can also affect the behavior of honey bees is unknown. We here study the effect of formic acid on sucrose responsiveness and cognition of honey bees treated at different live stages in field-relevant doses. Both behaviors are essential for survival of the honey bee colony. Rather unexpectedly, formic acid clearly improved the learning performance of the bees in appetitive olfactory conditioning, while not affecting sucrose responsiveness. This exciting side effect of formic acid certainly deserves further detailed investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Bachert
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Gießen, Schubertstraße 81, 35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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5
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Muth F, Philbin CS, Jeffrey CS, Leonard AS. Discovery of octopamine and tyramine in nectar and their effects on bumblebee behavior. iScience 2022; 25:104765. [PMID: 35942103 PMCID: PMC9356080 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104765] [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: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectar chemistry can influence the behavior of pollinators in ways that affect pollen transfer, yet basic questions about how nectar chemical diversity impacts plant-pollinator relationships remain unexplored. For example, plants’ capacity to produce neurotransmitters and endocrine disruptors may offer a means to manipulate pollinator behavior. We surveyed 15 plant species and discovered that two insect neurotransmitters, octopamine and tyramine, were widely distributed in floral nectar. We detected the highest concentration of these chemicals in Citrus, alongside the well-studied alkaloid caffeine. We explored the separate and interactive effects of these chemicals on insect pollinators in a series of behavioral experiments on bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). We found that octopamine and tyramine interacted with caffeine to alter key aspects of bee behavior relevant to plant fitness (sucrose responsiveness, long-term memory, and floral preferences). These results provide evidence for a means by which synergistic or antagonistic nectar chemistry might influence pollinators. We found octopamine and tyramine in the floral nectar of 15 plant species These neurotransmitters orchestrate insect foraging and influence bee cognition In Citrus, these chemicals occur with caffeine, well known for its effects on bees Nectar neurotransmitters interact with caffeine to alter pollinator behavior
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity Muth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin; Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Casey S. Philbin
- Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology, University of Nevada, Reno; Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Corresponding author
| | | | - Anne S. Leonard
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno; Reno, NV 89557, USA
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6
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Jones P, Agrawal AA. Caffeine and ethanol in nectar interact with flower color impacting bumblebee behavior. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03208-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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7
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Cutler GC, Amichot M, Benelli G, Guedes RNC, Qu Y, Rix RR, Ullah F, Desneux N. Hormesis and insects: Effects and interactions in agroecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:153899. [PMID: 35181361 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Insects in agroecosystems contend with many stressors - e.g., chemicals, heat, nutrient deprivation - that are often encountered at low levels. Exposure to mild stress is now well known to induce hormetic (stimulatory) effects in insects, with implications for insect management, and ecological structure and function in agroecosystems. In this review, we examine the major ecological niches insects occupy or guilds to which they belong in agroecosystems and how hormesis can manifest within and across these groups. The mechanistic underpinnings of hormesis in insects are starting to become established, explaining the many phenotypic hormetic responses observed in insect reproduction, development, and behavior. Whereas potential effects on insect populations are well supported in laboratory experiments, field-based hypothesis-driven research on hormesis is greatly lacking. Furthermore, because most ecological paradigms are founded within the context of communities, entomological agroecologists interested in hormesis need to 'level up' and test hypotheses that explore effects on species interactions, and community structure and functioning. Embedded in this charge is to continue experimentation on herbivorous pest species while shifting more focus towards insect natural enemies, pollinators, and detritivores - guilds that play crucial roles in highly functioning agroecosystems that have been understudied in hormesis research. Important areas for future insect agroecology research on hormesis are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Christopher Cutler
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada.
| | - Marcel Amichot
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, UMR ISA, 06000 Nice, France.
| | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Raul Narciso C Guedes
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil.
| | - Yanyan Qu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Beijing 100097, China.
| | - Rachel R Rix
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada.
| | - Farman Ullah
- Department of Plant Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Nicolas Desneux
- Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, UMR ISA, 06000 Nice, France.
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8
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Chen H, Wang K, Ji W, Xu H, Liu Y, Wang S, Wang Z, Gao F, Lin Z, Ji T. Metabolomic analysis of honey bees (Apis mellifera) response to carbendazim based on UPLC-MS. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 179:104975. [PMID: 34802525 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are one of the main causes of colony losses globally, posing a huge threat to the beekeeping industry. The fungicide carbendazim is commonly used on many crops worldwide, but the effects of fungicides on honey bees have received less attention than those of insecticides. Previous studies have shown that sublethal doses of carbendazim hinder growth and development and may destabilize and impede the development of honey bee colonies. The metabolome closely reflects brain activity at the functional level, allowing the effects of compounds such as fungicides to be investigated. Here, we established a model of carbendazim-treated honey bees, Apis mellifera, and used metabolomic approaches to better understand the effect of carbendazim on bee metabolic profiles. The results showed that 112 metabolites were significantly affected in carbendazim-treated bees compared to the control. Metabolites associated with energy and amino acid metabolism showed high abundance and were enriched for a wide range of pathways. In addition, the down-regulation of Aflatoxin B1exo-8,9-epoxide-GSH and glycerol diphosphate showed that carbenazim may affect the detoxification and immune system of honey bees. These results provide new insights into the interaction between fungicides and honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Chen
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Kang Wang
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Wenna Ji
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yibing Liu
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin 132108, China
| | - Fuchao Gao
- Mudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157041, China
| | - Zheguang Lin
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Ting Ji
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
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9
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Arnold SEJ, Dudenhöffer JH, Fountain MT, James KL, Hall DR, Farman DI, Wäckers FL, Stevenson PC. Bumble bees show an induced preference for flowers when primed with caffeinated nectar and a target floral odor. Curr Biol 2021; 31:4127-4131.e4. [PMID: 34324835 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Caffeine is a widely occurring plant defense chemical1,2 that occurs in the nectar of some plants, e.g., Coffea or Citrus spp., where it may influence pollinator behavior to enhance pollination.3,4 Honey bees fed caffeine form longer lasting olfactory memory associations,5 which could give plants with caffeinated nectar an adaptive advantage by inducing more visits to flowers. Caffeinated free-flying bees show enhanced learning performance6 and are more likely to revisit a caffeinated target feeder or artificial flower,7-9 although it is not clear whether improved memory of the target cues or the perception of caffeine as a reward is the cause. Here, we show that inexperienced bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) locate new food sources emitting a learned floral odor more consistently if they have been fed caffeine. In laboratory arena tests, we fed bees a caffeinated food alongside a floral odor blend (priming) and then used robotic experimental flowers10 to disentangle the effects of caffeine improving memory for learned food-associated cues versus caffeine as a reward. Inexperienced bees primed with caffeine made more initial visits to target robotic flowers emitting the target odor compared to control bees or those primed with odor alone. Caffeine-primed bees tended to improve their floral handling time faster. Although the effects of caffeine were short lived, we show that food-locating behaviors in free-flying bumble bees can be enhanced by caffeine provided in the nest. Consequently, there is potential to redesign commercial colonies to enhance bees' forage focus or even bias bees to forage on a specific crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E J Arnold
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK; Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania.
| | | | | | - Katie L James
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - David R Hall
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Dudley I Farman
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
| | | | - Philip C Stevenson
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
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10
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Hempel de Ibarra N, Rands S. Pollination: Influencing bee behaviour with caffeine. Curr Biol 2021; 31:R1090-R1092. [PMID: 34582818 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.07.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites found in floral nectar can affect the behaviour of pollinating insects, but how these changes benefit plants directly is little understood. An experimental study with bumblebees shows that recalling a caffeine-enhanced odour memory can increase flower visitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sean Rands
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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11
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Honeybee Cognition as a Tool for Scientific Engagement. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090842. [PMID: 34564282 PMCID: PMC8471026 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Global scientific literacy can be improved through widespread and effective community engagement by researchers. We propose honeybees (Apis mellifera) as a public engagement tool due to widespread awareness of colony collapse and the bees’ importance in food production. Moreover, their cognitive abilities make for engaging experiments. Their relative ease of cultivation means that studies can be performed cost-effectively, especially when partnering with local apiarists. Using a proxy for honeybee learning, a group of non-specialist high-school-aged participants obtained data suggesting that caffeine, but not dopamine, improved learning. This hands-on experience facilitated student understanding of the scientific method, factors that shape learning and the importance of learning for colony health. Abstract Apis mellifera (honeybees) are a well-established model for the study of learning and cognition. A robust conditioning protocol, the olfactory conditioning of the proboscis extension response (PER), provides a powerful but straightforward method to examine the impact of varying stimuli on learning performance. Herein, we provide a protocol that leverages PER for classroom-based community or student engagement. Specifically, we detail how a class of high school students, as part of the Ryukyu Girls Outreach Program, examined the effects of caffeine and dopamine on learning performance in honeybees. Using a modified version of the PER conditioning protocol, they demonstrated that caffeine, but not dopamine, significantly reduced the number of trials required for a successful conditioning response. In addition to providing an engaging and educational scientific activity, it could be employed, with careful oversight, to garner considerable reliable data examining the effects of varying stimuli on honeybee learning.
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12
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Wada-Katsumata A, Schal C. Olfactory Learning Supports an Adaptive Sugar-Aversion Gustatory Phenotype in the German Cockroach. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12080724. [PMID: 34442290 PMCID: PMC8397102 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Toxic baits that contain an insecticide and phagosimulatory sugars, including glucose, are most effective in German cockroach control. However, cockroaches have evolved behavioral resistance, where they perceive glucose as a deterrent and avoid eating the bait (glucose-aversion, GA), resulting in failure to control infestations. We hypothesized that the GA phenotype may be extended by associative learning of specific odors with glucose. We demonstrated that GA cockroaches associated attractive food odors, such as vanilla and chocolate, with glucose (deterrent) and learned to avoid these odors. In contrast, wild type (WT) cockroaches that associated these odors with glucose (phagostimulant) increased their preference for the odors. The aversive and appetitive memories were retained for at least three days. Generally, when toxic baits are deployed, GA cockroaches are first attracted to the bait, and they repeatedly experience its aversive taste as they reject eating the deterrent bait. The recurring non-rewarding foraging experience may contribute to the formation of an aversive olfactory memory. Even if the baits are later reformulated without aversive tastants, GA cockroaches may avoid the new bait because they associate it with aversive olfactory stimuli. Our findings will guide the rational development of baits that consider the olfactory learning abilities of cockroaches. Abstract An association of food sources with odors prominently guides foraging behavior in animals. To understand the interaction of olfactory memory and food preferences, we used glucose-averse (GA) German cockroaches. Multiple populations of cockroaches evolved a gustatory polymorphism where glucose is perceived as a deterrent and enables GA cockroaches to avoid eating glucose-containing toxic baits. Comparative behavioral analysis using an operant conditioning paradigm revealed that learning and memory guide foraging decisions. Cockroaches learned to associate specific food odors with fructose (phagostimulant, reward) within only a 1 h conditioning session, and with caffeine (deterrent, punishment) after only three 1 h conditioning sessions. Glucose acted as reward in wild type (WT) cockroaches, but GA cockroaches learned to avoid an innately attractive odor that was associated with glucose. Olfactory memory was retained for at least 3 days after three 1 h conditioning sessions. Our results reveal that specific tastants can serve as potent reward or punishment in olfactory associative learning, which reinforces gustatory food preferences. Olfactory learning, therefore, reinforces behavioral resistance of GA cockroaches to sugar-containing toxic baits. Cockroaches may also generalize their olfactory learning to baits that contain the same or similar attractive odors even if they do not contain glucose.
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Njoroge TM, Calla B, Berenbaum MR, Stone CM. Specific phytochemicals in floral nectar up-regulate genes involved in longevity regulation and xenobiotic metabolism, extending mosquito life span. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:8363-8380. [PMID: 34188892 PMCID: PMC8216986 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
During nectar feeding, mosquitoes ingest a plethora of phytochemicals present in nectar. The ecological and physiological impacts of these ingested phytochemicals on the disease vectors are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of three nectar phytochemicals-- caffeine, p-coumaric acid, and quercetin--on longevity, fecundity, and sugar-feeding behavior of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Adult females of Ae. albopictus were provided continuous access to 10% sucrose supplemented with one of the three phytochemicals and their fecundity, longevity, and the amount of sucrose consumed determined. Transcriptome response of Ae. albopictus females to p-coumaric acid and quercetin was also evaluated. Dietary quercetin and p-coumaric acid enhanced the longevity of female Ae. albopictus, while caffeine resulted in reduced sugar consumption and enhanced fecundity of gravid females. RNA-seq analyses identified 237 genes that were differentially expressed (DE) in mosquitoes consuming p-coumaric acid or quercetin relative to mosquitoes consuming an unamended sucrose solution diet. Among the DE genes, several encoding antioxidant enzymes, cytochrome P450s, and heat shock proteins were upregulated, whereas histones were downregulated. Overall, our findings show that consuming certain nectar phytochemicals can enhance adult longevity of female Asian tiger mosquitoes, apparently by differentially regulating the expression level of genes involved in longevity and xenobiotic metabolism; this has potential impacts not only on life span but also on vectorial capacity and insecticide resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresia M. Njoroge
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Bernarda Calla
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - May R. Berenbaum
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Christopher M. Stone
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
- Illinois Natural History SurveyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignChampaignILUSA
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14
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Gong Z, Gu G, Wang Y, Dong S, Tan K, Nieh JC. Floral tea polyphenols can improve honey bee memory retention and olfactory sensitivity. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 128:104177. [PMID: 33279470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Animal-pollinated plants face a common problem, how their defensive anti-herbivore compounds may impair or alter pollinator behavior. Evolution has tailored multiple solutions, which largely involve pollinator tolerance or manipulation, to the benefit of the plant, not the removal of these compounds from pollen or nectar. The tea plant, Camilla sinensis, is famous for the caffeine and tea polyphenols (TP) that it produces in its leaves. However, these compounds are also found in its nectar, which honey bees readily collect. We examined the effects of these compounds on bee foraging choices, learning, memory, and olfactory sensitivity. Foragers preferred a sucrose feeder with 100 µg or 10 µg TP/ml over a control feeder. Caffeine, but not TP, weakly increased honey bee learning. Both caffeine and TP significantly increased memory retention, even when tested 7 d after the last learning trial. In addition, TP generally elevated EAG responsiveness to alarm pheromone odors. These results demonstrate that other secondary plant compounds, not only caffeine, can attract pollinators and influence their learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Gong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Science, Xishuangbanna 666300, China
| | - Gaoying Gu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Science, Xishuangbanna 666300, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Eastern Bee Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan Province 650223 China
| | - Shihao Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China.
| | - Ken Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Center of Plant Ecology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Science, Xishuangbanna 666300, China.
| | - James C Nieh
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Hsieh EM, Berenbaum MR, Dolezal AG. Ameliorative Effects of Phytochemical Ingestion on Viral Infection in Honey Bees. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11100698. [PMID: 33066263 PMCID: PMC7602108 DOI: 10.3390/insects11100698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Virus infection is among the many stressors honey bees are experiencing in the modern agricultural landscape. Although some promising treatments are currently under development, no reliable cure currently exists. Here, we investigated the effects of various phytochemicals (plant-produced chemical compounds) on the survivorship of virus infected honey bees. Our results showed that, when consumed at natural concentrations like those found in flowers, caffeine is capable of significantly reducing the mortality of infected bees. It is important to note that caffeine did not clear the infected bees of all viruses and should, therefore, not be considered a virus cure. Rather, caffeine represents a potential antiviral therapeutic agent that should be studied further to improve understanding of virus-phytochemical interactions. Abstract Honey bee viruses are capable of causing a wide variety of devastating effects, but effective treatments have yet to be discovered. Phytochemicals represent a broad range of substances that honey bees frequently encounter and consume, many of which have been shown to improve honey bee health. However, their effect on bee viruses is largely unknown. Here, we tested the therapeutic effectiveness of carvacrol, thymol, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, and caffeine on viral infection by measuring their ability to improve survivorship in honey bees inoculated with Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) using high-throughput cage bioassays. Among these candidates, caffeine was the only phytochemical capable of significantly improving survivorship, with initial screening showing that naturally occurring concentrations of caffeine (25 ppm) were sufficient to produce an ameliorative effect on IAPV infection. Consequently, we measured the scope of caffeine effectiveness in bees inoculated and uninoculated with IAPV by performing the same type of high-throughput bioassay across a wider range of caffeine concentrations. Our results indicate that caffeine may provide benefits that scale with concentration, though the exact mechanism by which caffeine ingestion improves survivorship remains uncertain. Caffeine therefore has the potential to act as an accessible and inexpensive method of treating viral infections, while also serving as a tool to further understanding of honey bee–virus interactions at a physiological and molecular level.
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Korekar G, Kumar A, Ugale C. Occurrence, fate, persistence and remediation of caffeine: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:34715-34733. [PMID: 31811612 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06998-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) have gained attention in recent years due to their continuous discharge in natural waters. Their persistence in the environment has impacted flora, fauna and human being worldwide. One of the most common PPCPs is caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) which acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system in humans and is found in nature in about 60 plant species, especially in coffee, tea and cacao plants. Here we discuss the evidence with respect to caffeine occurrence, its persistence and remediation in light of increasing knowledge and the impact of caffeine on the environment. Daily intake of caffeine around the world is found to increase due to the frequent introduction of new caffeinated beverages as well as increased consumption of coffee, tea and carbonated soft drinks, which has led to increase in its concentration in water bodies including agricultural soil. The caffeine concentration in different water system, studied by various authors is also described. Diverse effects of the use of caffeine on several organisms including humans are also briefly presented. Therefore, urgent attention for the removal of caffeine and its derivatives is the need of the hour. Various methods described in literature for caffeine degradation/removal is also presented. Another widely used technique in environmental remediation is molecular imprinting (MIP); however, only few MIPs have been demonstrated for caffeine which is also discussed. Regular monitoring can be useful to control toxic effects of caffeine. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish Korekar
- Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440010, India
| | - Anupama Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440010, India.
| | - Chetna Ugale
- Department of Botany, Indira Mahavidyalaya Kalamb, Dist. Yavatmal, Maharashtra, 445401, India
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Identification of Immune Regulatory Genes in Apis mellifera through Caffeine Treatment. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11080516. [PMID: 32785078 PMCID: PMC7469160 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Plants and pollinators are mutually beneficial: plants provide nectar as a food source and in return their pollen is disseminated by pollinators such as honeybees. Some plants secrete chemicals to deter herbivores as a protective measure, among which is caffeine, a naturally occurring, bitter tasting, and pharmacologically active secondary compound. It can be found in low concentrations in the nectars of some plants and as such, when pollinators consume nectar, they also take in small amounts of caffeine. Whilst caffeine has been indicated as an antioxidant in both mammals and insects, the effect on insect immunity is unclear. In the present study, honeybees were treated with caffeine and the expression profiles of genes involved in immune responses were measured to evaluate the influence of caffeine on immunity. In addition, honeybees were infected with deformed wing virus (DWV) to study how caffeine affects their response against pathogens. Our results showed that caffeine can increase the expression of genes involved in immunity and reduce virus copy numbers, indicating that it has the potential to help honeybees fight against viral infection. The present study provides a valuable insight into the mechanism by which honeybees react to biotic stress and how caffeine can serve as a positive contributor, thus having a potential application in beekeeping.
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Okada J, Sugimachi S, Inoue K. Chronic and Acute Oral Administration of Caffeine Enhance Performance of Olfactory Learning in Crickets. Zoolog Sci 2020; 37:358-365. [PMID: 32729714 DOI: 10.2108/zs190133] [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: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Crickets were arbitrarily fed a caffeine-containing diet during their lifetime or were orally administered caffeine in solution once during the conditioning session. These chronically or acutely treated crickets were used to test whether there were positive effects of caffeine on their learning performance. The effects of chronic exposure to caffeine on crickets' growth were also examined by measuring their body weight and counting the number of adults that emerged from larvae. Chronic treatment with relatively high concentrations of caffeine (5 mg/g and 0.5 mg/g in the diet) impaired the growth of crickets. Mortality was higher with 5 mg/g caffeine, and the survivors could not attain the final molt (eclosion). Body weight gain and eclosion rate were also negatively influenced in the group fed 0.5 mg/g caffeine. The olfactory learning paradigm was used to examine the effects of chronic caffeine treatment. Of the caffeine concentrations tested (0.5 µg/g to 0.5 mg/g), significant improvement in long-term memory (LTM) formation was observed only with 50 µg/g caffeine. Acute effects on olfactory learning were examined after oral administration of 0.1 nM to 10 µM caffeine solutions during the conditioning session. Administration of caffeine ≥ 1 nM consistently resulted in a significant improvement in LTM formation. These results suggest that chronic exposure to caffeine enhances learning performance in crickets at a specific dose (50 µg/g in the diet), although it inhibits their growth at higher doses (≥ 0.5 mg/g). In contrast, acute oral administration of caffeine in naive crickets may enhance their learning performance even at a very low (nanomolar) concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiro Okada
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan,
| | - Seigo Sugimachi
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Koki Inoue
- Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
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Han K, Lee J, Choi BY, Jeong H, Cho JH, Kim JK. Does Improved Attention Induced by Caffeine Intake Affect Olfactory Function? Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2019; 13:52-57. [PMID: 30813710 PMCID: PMC7010495 DOI: 10.21053/ceo.2018.01424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Past several studies have proven that caffeine facilitates attentional enhancement by acting as an adenosine antagonist once it is absorbed by the body, resulting in improved psycho-behavioral function. Modern clinical olfactory function tests are usually assessed by psychophysical tests but due to a paucity of data, the influence of enhanced attention by caffeine on olfactory function still remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare results of cognitive function (attention) and olfactory function before and after caffeine administration in order to analyze effects of caffeine on olfactory function in normosmic subjects. Methods This study enrolled 49 participants of Konkuk University Hospital with a mean age of 27.7 years who had patent olfactory clefts and no olfactory dysfunction from May 2015 to February 2016. Subjects were restrained from caffeine 10 hours before the test. On day 1, participant’s subjective olfactory function was evaluated before and after uptake of either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee using visual analog scale (VAS) score, minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) measured by acoustic rhinometry, and the Korean version of Sniffin’ Stick II (KVSS II). Evaluation of participant’s attentional degree was measured by d2 test. On day 2, the same procedure was carried out with counterpart substance. The type of coffee initially administrated was randomly selected. Results After administration, caffeinated coffee resulted in significant attentional enhancement than decaffeinated coffee. Results of d2 test showed statistically significant differences in the parameters of total number of errors and omission errors. In both the caffeinated and decaffeinated groups, the patients showed slight increase in VAS score and nasal cavity area; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Also, caffeinated coffee intake compared to decaffeinated coffee intake showed no significant relevance to olfactory function. Conclusion Caffeine may significantly improve attentional congnitive function, while not have acute effects on olfactory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyujin Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiyeon Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bo Yoon Choi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hamin Jeong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Cho
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Kook Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Sugimachi S, Matsumoto Y, Mizunami M, Okada J. Effects of Caffeine on Olfactory Learning in Crickets. Zoolog Sci 2016; 33:513-519. [DOI: 10.2108/zs150209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Berenbaum MR. Does the Honey Bee "Risk Cup" Runneth Over? Estimating Aggregate Exposures for Assessing Pesticide Risks to Honey Bees in Agroecosystems. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2016; 64:13-20. [PMID: 25885594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are uniquely vulnerable to nontarget pesticide impacts because, as ubiquitous managed pollinators, they are deliberately transported into areas where crops are grown with pesticides. Moreover, attributes making them excellent managed pollinators, including large long-lived colonies and complex behavior, also make them challenging subjects for toxicity bioassays. For over 150 years, improvements in formulation and delivery of pesticides, increasing their environmental and temporal presence, have had unintended consequences for honey bees. Since 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency has used "aggregate risk"--exposure risks to all possible sources--to set tolerances; once a "risk cup" is filled, no new pesticide or use can be approved unless risks are reduced elsewhere. The EPA now recommends a modeling approach for aggregating all exposure risks for bees, with differential lifestage sensitivity and exposure probabilities. Thus, the honey bee is the first insect with its own "risk cup"--a technological innovation that may not have unintended consequences for this beleaguered beneficial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- May R Berenbaum
- Department of Entomology, 320 Morrill Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 505 South Goodwin, Urbana, Illinois 61801-3795, United States
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Meusel T, Albinus J, Welge-Luessen A, Hähner A, Hummel T. Short-term effect of caffeine on olfactory function in hyposmic patients. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2016; 273:2091-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00405-015-3879-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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DiRienzo N, McDermott DR, Pruitt JN. Testing the Effects of Biogenic Amines and Alternative Topical Solvent Types on the Behavioral Repertoire of Two Web-Building Spiders. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas DiRienzo
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior; Animal Behavior Graduate Group; University of California - Davis; Davis CA USA
| | - Donna R. McDermott
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pruitt
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
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Coelho A, Fraichard S, Le Goff G, Faure P, Artur Y, Ferveur JF, Heydel JM. Cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of caffeine in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117328. [PMID: 25671424 PMCID: PMC4324904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine), an alkaloid produced by plants, has antioxidant and insecticide properties that can affect metabolism and cognition. In vertebrates, the metabolites derived from caffeine have been identified, and their functions have been characterized. However, the metabolites of caffeine in insects remain unknown. Thus, using radiolabelled caffeine, we have identified some of the primary caffeine metabolites produced in the body of Drosophila melanogaster males, including theobromine, paraxanthine and theophylline. In contrast to mammals, theobromine was the predominant metabolite (paraxanthine in humans; theophylline in monkeys; 1, 3, 7-trimethyluric acid in rodents). A transcriptomic screen of Drosophila flies exposed to caffeine revealed the coordinated variation of a large set of genes that encode xenobiotic-metabolizing proteins, including several cytochromes P450s (CYPs) that were highly overexpressed. Flies treated with metyrapone—an inhibitor of CYP enzymes—showed dramatically decreased caffeine metabolism, indicating that CYPs are involved in this process. Using interference RNA genetic silencing, we measured the metabolic and transcriptomic effect of three candidate CYPs. Silencing of CYP6d5 completely abolished theobromine synthesis, whereas CYP6a8 and CYP12d1 silencing induced different consequences on metabolism and gene expression. Therefore, we characterized several metabolic products and some enzymes potentially involved in the degradation of caffeine. In conclusion, this pioneer approach to caffeine metabolism in insects opens novel perspectives for the investigation of the physiological effects of caffeine metabolites. It also indicates that caffeine could be used as a biomarker to evaluate CYP phenotypes in Drosophila and other insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Coelho
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
| | - Stephane Fraichard
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
| | - Gaëlle Le Goff
- INRA, CNRS, UNSA, UMR 1355, Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, F-06903, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Philippe Faure
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
| | - Yves Artur
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
| | - Jean-François Ferveur
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
- * E-mail: (JMH); (JFF)
| | - Jean-Marie Heydel
- CNRS 6265, INRA 1324, Université de Bourgogne, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, F-21000, Dijon, France
- * E-mail: (JMH); (JFF)
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Strachecka A, Krauze M, Olszewski K, Borsuk G, Paleolog J, Merska M, Chobotow J, Bajda M, Grzywnowicz K. Unexpectedly strong effect of caffeine on the vitality of western honeybees (Apis mellifera). BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2014; 79:1192-201. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297914110066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Jerković I, Tuberoso CIG, Kuś PM, Marijanović Z, Kranjac M. Screening of Coffea spp. honey by different methodologies: theobromine and caffeine as chemical markers. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra11105b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Contrasting Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on Reward and Aversive Olfactory Memories in the Honey Bee. INSECTS 2014; 5:377-98. [PMID: 26462690 PMCID: PMC4592598 DOI: 10.3390/insects5020377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 04/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Much of what we have learnt from rodent models about the essential role of epigenetic processes in brain plasticity has made use of aversive learning, yet the role of histone acetylation in aversive memory in the honey bee, a popular invertebrate model for both memory and epigenetics, was previously unknown. We examined the effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition on both aversive and reward olfactory associative learning in a discrimination proboscis extension reflex (PER) assay. We report that treatment with the HDAC inhibitors APHA compound 8 (C8), phenylbutyrate (PB) or sodium butyrate (NaB) impaired discrimination memory due to impairment of aversive memory in a dose-dependent manner, while simultaneously having no effect on reward memory. Treatment with C8 1 h before training, 1 h after training or 1 h before testing, impaired aversive but not reward memory at test. C8 treatment 1 h before training also improved aversive but not reward learning during training. PB treatment only impaired aversive memory at test when administered 1 h after training, suggesting an effect on memory consolidation specifically. Specific impairment of aversive memory (but not reward memory) by HDAC inhibiting compounds was robust, reproducible, occurred following treatment with three drugs targeting the same mechanism, and is likely to be genuinely due to alterations to memory as sucrose sensitivity and locomotion were unaffected by HDAC inhibitor treatment. This pharmacological dissection of memory highlights the involvement of histone acetylation in aversive memory in the honey bee, and expands our knowledge of epigenetic control of neural plasticity in invertebrates.
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Mustard JA. The buzz on caffeine in invertebrates: effects on behavior and molecular mechanisms. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 71:1375-82. [PMID: 24162934 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A number of recent studies from as diverse fields as plant-pollinator interactions, analyses of caffeine as an environmental pollutant, and the ability of caffeine to provide protection against neurodegenerative diseases have generated interest in understanding the actions of caffeine in invertebrates. This review summarizes what is currently known about the effects of caffeine on behavior and its molecular mechanisms in invertebrates. Caffeine appears to have similar effects on locomotion and sleep in both invertebrates and mammals. Furthermore, as in mammals, caffeine appears to have complex effects on learning and memory. However, the underlying mechanisms for these effects may differ between invertebrates and vertebrates. While caffeine's ability to cause release of intracellular calcium stores via ryanodine receptors and its actions as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor have been clearly established in invertebrates, its ability to interact with invertebrate adenosine receptors remains an important open question. Initial studies in insects and mollusks suggest an interaction between caffeine and the dopamine signaling pathway; more work needs to be done to understand the mechanisms by which caffeine influences signaling via biogenic amines. As of yet, little is known about whether other actions of caffeine in vertebrates, such as its effects on GABAA and glycine receptors, are conserved. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of caffeine remains to be elucidated. Overall behavioral responses to caffeine appear to be conserved amongst organisms; however, we are just beginning to understand the mechanisms underlying its effects across animal phyla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA,
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Li Z, Chen Y, Zhang S, Chen S, Li W, Yan L, Shi L, Wu L, Sohr A, Su S. Viral infection affects sucrose responsiveness and homing ability of forager honey bees, Apis mellifera L. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77354. [PMID: 24130876 PMCID: PMC3795060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee health is mainly affected by Varroa destructor, viruses, Nosema spp., pesticide residues and poor nutrition. Interactions between these proposed factors may be responsible for the colony losses reported worldwide in recent years. In the present study, the effects of a honey bee virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), on the foraging behaviors and homing ability of European honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were investigated based on proboscis extension response (PER) assays and radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. The pollen forager honey bees originated from colonies that had no detectable level of honey bee viruses and were manually inoculated with IAPV to induce the viral infection. The results showed that IAPV-inoculated honey bees were more responsive to low sucrose solutions compared to that of non-infected foragers. After two days of infection, around 107 copies of IAPV were detected in the heads of these honey bees. The homing ability of IAPV-infected foragers was depressed significantly in comparison to the homing ability of uninfected foragers. The data provided evidence that IAPV infection in the heads may enable the virus to disorder foraging roles of honey bees and to interfere with brain functions that are responsible for learning, navigation, and orientation in the honey bees, thus, making honey bees have a lower response threshold to sucrose and lose their way back to the hive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguo Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA, ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Shaowu Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science, Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Shenglu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenfeng Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Limin Yan
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liangen Shi
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lyman Wu
- College of Computer, Math, and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alex Sohr
- College of Computer, Math, and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Songkun Su
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- * E-mail:
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Effects of morphine on associative memory and locomotor activity in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Neurosci Bull 2013; 29:270-8. [PMID: 23385387 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-013-1308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Morphine can modulate the processes underlying memory in vertebrates. However, studies have shown various modulations by morphine: positive, negative and even neutral. The honeybee is a potential platform for evaluating the effects of drugs, especially addictive drugs, on the nervous system. However, the involvement of morphine in learning and memory in insects or other invertebrates is poorly understood. The current work evaluated whether morphine affects memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval in honeybees, using the proboscis extension response (PER) paradigm. We demonstrated that morphine treatment (5 μg/bee) before training decreased the percentage of correct PERs and the response latency related to aversive rather than rewarding odors when tested after 1 or 24 h. Morphine treatment after training also caused a decrease in this latency when tested after 24 h. Meanwhile, morphine treatment reduced the ambulation distance when tested after 30 min. Our findings suggest that morphine impairs the acquisition of short- and long-term associative memory and slightly disrupts the consolidation of long-term memory in honeybees. These negative effects cannot be explained by reduced locomotion but by impaired memory associated with aversion.
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Frost EH, Shutler D, Hillier NK. The proboscis extension reflex to evaluate learning and memory in honeybees (Apis mellifera): some caveats. Naturwissenschaften 2012; 99:677-86. [PMID: 22869163 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0955-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The proboscis extension reflex (PER) is widely used in a classical conditioning (Pavlovian) context to evaluate learning and memory of a variety of insect species. The literature is particularly prodigious for honeybees (Apis mellifera) with more than a thousand publications. Imagination appears to be the only limit to the types of challenges to which researchers subject honeybees, including all the sensory modalities and a broad diversity of environmental treatments. Accordingly, some remarkable insights have been achieved using PER. However, there are several challenges to evaluating the PER literature that warrant a careful and thorough review. We assess here variation in methods that makes interpretation of studies, even those researching the same question, tenuous. We suggest that the numerous variables that might influence experimental outcomes from PER be thoroughly detailed by researchers. Moreover, the influence of individual variables on results needs to carefully evaluated, as well as among two or more variables. Our intent is to encourage investigation of the influence of numerous variables on PER results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth H Frost
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada
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Mustard JA, Dews L, Brugato A, Dey K, Wright GA. Consumption of an acute dose of caffeine reduces acquisition but not memory in the honey bee. Behav Brain Res 2012; 232:217-24. [PMID: 22521838 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2011] [Revised: 03/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Caffeine affects several molecules that are also involved in the processes underlying learning and memory such as cAMP and calcium. However, studies of caffeine's influence on learning and memory in mammals are often contradictory. Invertebrate model systems have provided valuable insight into the actions of many neuroactive compounds including ethanol and cocaine. We use the honey bee (Apis mellifera) to investigate how the ingestion of acute doses of caffeine before, during, and after conditioning influences performance in an appetitive olfactory learning and memory task. Consumption of caffeine doses of 0.01 M or greater during or prior to conditioning causes a significant reduction in response levels during acquisition. Although bees find the taste of caffeine to be aversive at high concentrations, the bitter taste does not explain the reduction in acquisition observed for bees fed caffeine before conditioning. While high doses of caffeine reduced performance during acquisition, the response levels of bees given caffeine were the same as those of the sucrose only control group in a recall test 24h after conditioning. In addition, caffeine administered after conditioning had no affect on recall. These results suggest that caffeine specifically affects performance during acquisition and not the processes involved in the formation of early long term memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Mustard
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
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Barron AB, Maleszka J, Vander Meer RK, Robinson GE, Maleszka R. Comparing injection, feeding and topical application methods for treatment of honeybees with octopamine. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2007; 53:187-94. [PMID: 17270208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2006.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2006] [Revised: 11/28/2006] [Accepted: 11/29/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Entomologists have used a range of techniques to treat insects with neuroactive compounds, but it is not always clear whether different treatment methods are equally effective in delivering a compound to a target organ. Here, we used five different techniques to treat honeybees with 3H-octopamine (3H-OA), and analysed the distribution of the 3H radiolabelled compound within different tissues and how it changed over time. All treatment methods, including injection of the median ocellus, resulted in 3H-OA detection in all parts of the honeybee. Injection through the median ocellus was the most effective method for delivering 3H-OA to the brain. Topical application of 3H-OA dissolved in dimethylformamide (dMF) to the thorax was as effective as thoracic injections of 3H-OA in delivering 3H-OA to the brain, but topical applications to the abdomen were less so. Most of the 3H-OA applied topically remained associated with the cuticle and the tissues of the body segment to which it had been applied. For all treatment methods, 3H-OA was rapidly lost from the brain and head capsule, and accumulated in the abdomen. Our findings demonstrate the value of thoracic topical treatment with compounds dissolved in dMF as an effective non-invasive method for short-term, systemic pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Barron
- Visual Sciences and ARC Centre for Molecular Genetics of Development, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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