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Spremo J, Purać J, Čelić T, Đorđievski S, Pihler I, Kojić D, Vukašinović E. Assessment of oxidative status, detoxification capacity and immune responsiveness in honey bees with ageing. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 298:111735. [PMID: 39233113 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
The honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), as an eusocial insect species, is an important model organism in research focusing on ageing and longevity, due to prominent seasonal lifespan plasticity within the worker caste (summer and winter worker bees). In this study, we employed a screening approach to evaluate several molecular parameters, providing comprehensive insights into the antioxidative (superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, reduced glutathione and sulfhydryl group content, total antioxidative capacity), detoxifying (glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activity), and immune (phenol oxidase and glucose oxidase activity) status, as well as vitellogenin content, in the summer and winter generation of honey bees, across ageing stages and in two body compartments: the whole abdomen and the head. Summer worker bees were collected weekly for six weeks, while winter bees were collected monthly for five months. The results of our study clearly indicate a reduced overall antioxidative capacity of older groups of worker bees from both generations, while the parameters of immune responsiveness mostly contributed to the separation between the two generations based on season rather than age categories. Detoxification ability appeared to be more susceptible to environmental factors. An age-dependent increase in vitellogenin content was recorded in the abdomen, but without seasonal differences. These findings provide an excellent starting point for further investigations into age-related changes, particularly within the context of honey bee sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Spremo
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia.
| | - Jelena Purać
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Tatjana Čelić
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Srđana Đorđievski
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Ivan Pihler
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Danijela Kojić
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Elvira Vukašinović
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
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2
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Oreshkova A, Scofield S, Amdam GV. The effects of queen mandibular pheromone on nurse-aged honey bee (Apis mellifera) hypopharyngeal gland size and lipid metabolism. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292500. [PMID: 39240896 PMCID: PMC11379314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Queen honey bees (Apis mellifera) release Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP) to regulate traits in the caste of female helpers called workers. QMP signals the queen's presence and suppresses worker reproduction. In the absence of reproduction, young workers take care of the queen and her larvae (nurse tasks), while older workers forage. In nurses, QMP increases lipid stores in abdominal fat tissue (fat body) and protein content in hypopharyngeal glands (HPG). HPG are worker-specific head glands that can synthesize proteinaceous jelly used in colony nourishment. Larger HPG signifies ability to secrete proteinaceous jelly, while shrunken glands characterize foragers that do not make jelly. While it is known that QMP increases abdominal lipid stores, the mechanism is unclear: Does QMP make workers consume more pollen which provides lipids, or does QMP increase lipogenic capacity? Here, we measure abdominal lipogenic capacity as fatty acid synthase (FAS) activity while monitoring abdominal protein content and HPG size in caged workers. Cages allow us to rigorously control worker age, pheromone exposure, and diet. In our 2-factorial design, 3- vs. 8-day-old workers (age factor) were exposed to synthetic QMP or not (pheromone factor) while consuming a lipid deficient diet. We found that QMP did not influence abdominal FAS activity or protein content, but QMP still increased HPG size in the absence of dietary lipids. Our data revealed a positive correlation between abdominal protein content and HPG size. Our findings show that QMP is not a strong modulator of lipogenic capacity in caged worker bees. However, our data may reflect that QMP mobilizes abdominal protein for production of jelly, in line with previous findings on effects of honey bee Brood Pheromone. Overall, our study expands the understanding of how QMP can affect honey bee workers. Such insights are important beyond regulatory biology, as QMP is used in various aspects of beekeeping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Oreshkova
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
| | - Sebastian Scofield
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
| | - Gro V Amdam
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States of America
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway
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3
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Wu T, Choi YS, Kim DW, Wei X, Kang Y, Han B, Yang S, Gao J, Dai P. Interactive effects of chlorothalonil and Varroa destructor on Apis mellifera during adult stage. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 204:106107. [PMID: 39277411 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.106107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between environmental factors affecting honey bees is of growing concern due to their potential synergistic effects on bee health. Our study investigated the interactive impact of Varroa destructor and chlorothalonil on workers' survival, fat body morphology, and the expression of gene associated with detoxification, immunity, and nutrition metabolism during their adult stage. We found that both chlorothalonil and V. destructor significantly decreased workers' survival rates, with a synergistic effect observed when bees were exposed to both stressors simultaneously. Morphological analysis of fat body revealed significant alterations in trophocytes, particularly a reduction in vacuoles and granules after Day 12, coinciding with the transition of the bees from nursing to other in-hive work tasks. Gene expression analysis showed significant changes in detoxification, immunity, and nutrition metabolism over time. Detoxification genes, such as CYP9Q2, CYP9Q3, and GST-D1, were downregulated in response to stressor exposure, indicating a potential impairment in detoxification processes. Immune-related genes, including defensin-1, Dorsal-1, and Kayak, exhibited an initially upregulation followed by varied expression patterns, suggesting a complex immune response to stressors. Nutrition metabolism genes, such as hex 70a, AmIlp2, VGMC, AmFABP, and AmPTL, displayed dynamic expression changes, reflecting alterations in nutrient utilization and energy metabolism in response to stressors. Overall, these findings highlight the interactive and dynamic effects of environmental stressor on honey bees, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying honey bee decline. These results emphasize the need to consider the interactions between multiple stressors in honey bee research and to develop management strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on bee populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yong Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Won Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaoping Wei
- Modern Agricultural Development Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
| | - Yuxin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Pingli Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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Kim H, Maigoro AY, Lee JH, Frunze O, Kwon HW. The Improving Effects of Probiotic-Added Pollen Substitute Diets on the Gut Microbiota and Individual Health of Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera L.). Microorganisms 2024; 12:1567. [PMID: 39203409 PMCID: PMC11356693 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12081567] [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: 07/10/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) health is crucial for honey bee products and effective pollination, and it is closely associated with gut bacteria. Various factors such as reduced habitat, temperature, disease, and diet affect the health of honey bees by disturbing the homeostasis of the gut microbiota. In this study, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota of honey bees subjected to seven diets over 5 days. Lactobacillus dominated the microbiota in all diets. Cage experiments (consumption, head protein content, and vitellogenin gene expression level) were conducted to verify the effect of the diet. Through a heatmap, the Diet2 (probiotic-supplemented) group was clustered together with the Beebread and honey group, showing high consumption (177.50 ± 26.16 mg/bee), moderately higher survival duration (29.00 ± 2.83 days), protein content in the head (312.62 ± 28.71 µg/mL), and diet digestibility (48.41 ± 1.90%). Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between gut microbiota and health-related indicators in honey bees fed each diet. Based on the overall results, we identified that probiotic-supplemented diets increased gut microbiota diversity and positively affected the overall health of individual honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjee Kim
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (A.Y.M.); (J.-H.L.); (O.F.)
| | - Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (A.Y.M.); (J.-H.L.); (O.F.)
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Lee
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (A.Y.M.); (J.-H.L.); (O.F.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Olga Frunze
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (A.Y.M.); (J.-H.L.); (O.F.)
| | - Hyung-Wook Kwon
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea; (H.K.); (A.Y.M.); (J.-H.L.); (O.F.)
- Department of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
- Division of Research and Development, Insensory Inc., 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
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5
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Maya-Aguirre CA, Torres A, Gutiérrez-Castañeda LD, Salazar LM, Abreu-Villaça Y, Manhães AC, Arenas NE. Changes in the proteome of Apis mellifera acutely exposed to sublethal dosage of glyphosate and imidacloprid. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:45954-45969. [PMID: 38980489 PMCID: PMC11269427 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34185-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Uncontrolled use of pesticides has caused a dramatic reduction in the number of pollinators, including bees. Studies on the effects of pesticides on bees have reported effects on both metabolic and neurological levels under chronic exposure. In this study, variations in the differential expression of head and thorax-abdomen proteins in Africanized A. mellifera bees treated acutely with sublethal doses of glyphosate and imidacloprid were studied using a proteomic approach. A total of 92 proteins were detected, 49 of which were differentially expressed compared to those in the control group (47 downregulated and 2 upregulated). Protein interaction networks with differential protein expression ratios suggested that acute exposure of A. mellifera to sublethal doses of glyphosate could cause head damage, which is mainly associated with behavior and metabolism. Simultaneously, imidacloprid can cause damage associated with metabolism as well as, neuronal damage, cellular stress, and impairment of the detoxification system. Regarding the thorax-abdomen fractions, glyphosate could lead to cytoskeleton reorganization and a reduction in defense mechanisms, whereas imidacloprid could affect the coordination and impairment of the oxidative stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Andrés Maya-Aguirre
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida Carrera 30 N° 45-03, Bogota, D.C, Colombia
- Grupo Ciencias Básicas en Salud-CBS-FUCS, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de La Salud, Hospital Infanti L Universitario de San José, Carrera 54 No.67A-80, Bogota, D.C., Colombia
| | - Angela Torres
- Departmento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida Carrera 30 N° 45-03, Bogota, D.C., Colombia
| | - Luz Dary Gutiérrez-Castañeda
- Grupo Ciencias Básicas en Salud-CBS-FUCS, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de La Salud, Hospital Infanti L Universitario de San José, Carrera 54 No.67A-80, Bogota, D.C., Colombia
| | - Luz Mary Salazar
- Departmento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria, Avenida Carrera 30 N° 45-03, Bogota, D.C., Colombia
| | - Yael Abreu-Villaça
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-170, Brazil
| | - Alex Christian Manhães
- Laboratório de Neurofisiologia, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade Do Estado Do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20550-170, Brazil
| | - Nelson Enrique Arenas
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Campus Zaragocilla, Barrio Zaragocilla, Carrera 50a #24-63, Cartagena de Indias, Bolivar, Colombia.
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6
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Dohanik VT, Medeiros-Santana L, Santos CG, Santana WC, Serrão JE. Expression and function of the vitellogenin receptor in the hypopharyngeal glands of the honey bee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) workers. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 116:e22120. [PMID: 38739744 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The vitellogenin receptor (VgR) is essential for the uptake and transport of the yolk precursor, vitellogenin (Vg). Vg is synthesized in the fat body, released in the hemolymph, and absorbed in the ovaries, via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Besides its important role in the reproductive pathway, Vg occurs in nonreproductive worker honey bee, suggesting its participation in other pathways. The objective was to verify if the VgR occurs in the hypopharyngeal glands of Apis mellifera workers and how Vg is internalized by these cells. VgR occurrence in the hypopharyngeal glands was evaluated by qPCR analyses of VgR and immunohistochemistry in workers with different tasks. The VgR gene is expressed in the hypopharyngeal glands of workers with higher transcript levels in nurse honey bees. VgR is more expressed in 11-day-old workers from queenright colonies, compared to orphan ones. Nurse workers with developed hypopharyngeal glands present higher VgR transcripts than those with poorly developed glands. The immunohistochemistry results showed the co-localization of Vg, VgR and clathrin (protein that plays a major role in the formation of coated vesicles in endocytosis) in the hypopharyngeal glands, suggesting receptor-mediated endocytosis. The results demonstrate that VgR performs the transport of Vg to the hypopharyngeal glands, supporting the Ovary Ground Plan Hypothesis and contributing to the understanding of the role of this gland in the social context of honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luanda Medeiros-Santana
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Rio Paranaíba, Rio Paranaíba, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
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7
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Quinlan GM, Grozinger CM. Evaluating the role of social context and environmental factors in mediating overwintering physiology in honey bees (Apis mellifera). J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb247314. [PMID: 38516936 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247314] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In temperate climates, honey bees show strong phenotypic plasticity associated with seasonal changes. In summer, worker bees typically only survive for about a month and can be further classified as young nurse bees (which feed the developing brood) and older forager bees. In winter, brood production and foraging halt and the worker bees live for several months. These differences in task and longevity are reflected in their physiology, with summer nurses and long-lived winter bees typically having large fat bodies, high expression levels of vitellogenin (a longevity-, nutrition- and immune-related gene), and large provisioning glands in their head. The environmental factors (both within the colony and within the surrounding environment) that trigger this transition to long-lived winter bees are poorly understood. One theory is that winter bees are an extended nurse bee state, brought on by a reduction in nursing duties in autumn (i.e. lower brood area). We examined that theory here by assessing nurse bee physiology in both the summer and autumn, in colonies with varying levels of brood. We found that season is a better predictor of nurse bee physiology than brood area. This suggests that seasonal factors beyond brood area, such as pollen availability and colony demography, may be necessary for inducing the winter bee phenotype. This finding furthers our understanding of winter bee biology, which could have important implications for colony management for winter, a critical period for colony survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela M Quinlan
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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8
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Güneşdoğdu M, Sarıoğlu-Bozkurt A, Şekeroğlu A, Abacı SH. Changes in Vitellogenin, Abdominal Lipid Content, and Hypopharyngeal Gland Development in Honey Bees Fed Diets with Different Protein Sources. INSECTS 2024; 15:215. [PMID: 38667345 PMCID: PMC11050231 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees play an important role in the pollination of flowering plants. When honey bee colonies are deficient in pollen, one of their main nutrients, protein supplements are required. In this study, the effects of diets with six different protein sources on the physiological characteristics of worker bees (vitellogenin (Vg), abdominal lipid content (ALC), hypopharyngeal gland (HPG)) and consumption were investigated. The protein sources of the diets (diet I, …, diet VI) included pollen, spirulina dust (Arthrospira platensis Gomont), fresh egg yolk, lyophilized lactose-free skimmed milk powder, active fresh yeast, and ApiProtein. It was identified that consumption by worker bees was highest in the diet group supplemented with spirulina (diet II). Although there was no statistical difference regarding the Vg content in the hemolymph, numerically, the highest content was found in diet group IV (lyophilized lactose-free skimmed milk powder) (4.73 ± 0.03 ng/mL). ALC and HPG were highest in the group fed diet II. These results suggest that offering honey bees diets with certain protein sources can support their physiological traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Güneşdoğdu
- Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Muş Alparslan University, 49250 Muş, Türkiye
| | - Aybike Sarıoğlu-Bozkurt
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, 16059 Bursa, Türkiye;
| | - Ahmet Şekeroğlu
- Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240 Niğde, Türkiye;
| | - Samet Hasan Abacı
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Samsun, Türkiye;
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9
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Kodrík D, Čapková Frydrychová R, Hlávková D, Skoková Habuštová O, Štěrbová H. Unusual functions of insect vitellogenins: minireview. Physiol Res 2023; 72:S475-S487. [PMID: 38165752 PMCID: PMC10861248 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Insect vitellogenins are an intriguing class of complex proteins. They primarily serve as a source of energy for the developing embryo in insect eggs. Vitellogenesis is a complex hormonally and neurally controlled process that command synthesis of vitellogenin molecules and ensures their transport from the female fat bodies or ovarial cells into eggs. The representatives of all insect hormones such as juvenile hormones, ecdysteroids, and neurohormones participate in vitellogenesis, but juvenile hormones (most insect species) and ecdysteroids (mostly Diptera) play the most important roles in the process. Strikingly, not only insect females, but also males have been reported to synthesize vitellogenins indicating their further utility in the insect body. Indeed, it has recently been found that vitellogenins perform a variety of biological functions in the insect body. They participate in defense reactions against entomopathogens such as nematodes, fungi, and bacteria, as well as against venoms such as the honeybee Apis mellifera venom. Interestingly, vitellogenins are also present in the venom of the honeybee itself, albeit their exact role is unknown; they most likely increase the efficacy of the venom in the victim's body. Within the bee's body vitellogenins contribute to the lifespan regulation as anti-aging factor acting under tight social interactions and hormonal control. The current minireview covers all of these functions of vitellogenins and portrays them as biologically active substances that play a variety of significant roles in both insect females and males, and not only acting as passive energy sources for developing embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kodrík
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic.
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10
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Schilcher F, Scheiner R. New insight into molecular mechanisms underlying division of labor in honeybees. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101080. [PMID: 37391163 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees are highly organized eusocial insects displaying a distinct division of labor. Juvenile hormone (JH) has long been hypothesized to be the major driver of behavioral transitions. However, more and more experiments in recent years have suggested that the role of this hormone is not as fundamental as hypothesized. Vitellogenin, a common egg yolk precursor protein, seems to be the major regulator of division of labor in honeybees, in connection with nutrition and the neurohormone and transmitter octopamine. Here, we review the role of vitellogenin in controlling honeybee division of labor and its modulation by JH, nutrition, and the catecholamine octopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schilcher
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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11
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Daniels BC, Wang Y, Page RE, Amdam GV. Identifying a developmental transition in honey bees using gene expression data. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010704. [PMID: 37733808 PMCID: PMC10547183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In many organisms, interactions among genes lead to multiple functional states, and changes to interactions can lead to transitions into new states. These transitions can be related to bifurcations (or critical points) in dynamical systems theory. Characterizing these collective transitions is a major challenge for systems biology. Here, we develop a statistical method for identifying bistability near a continuous transition directly from high-dimensional gene expression data. We apply the method to data from honey bees, where a known developmental transition occurs between bees performing tasks in the nest and leaving the nest to forage. Our method, which makes use of the expected shape of the distribution of gene expression levels near a transition, successfully identifies the emergence of bistability and links it to genes that are known to be involved in the behavioral transition. This proof of concept demonstrates that going beyond correlative analysis to infer the shape of gene expression distributions might be used more generally to identify collective transitions from gene expression data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan C. Daniels
- School of Complex Adaptive Systems, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Ying Wang
- Banner Health Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Robert E. Page
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Gro V. Amdam
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas, Norway
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12
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Durand T, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Dubois E. Viral Co-Infections and Antiviral Immunity in Honey Bees. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051217. [PMID: 37243302 DOI: 10.3390/v15051217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, honey bees have been facing an increasing number of stressors. Beyond individual stress factors, the synergies between them have been identified as a key factor in the observed increase in colony mortality. However, these interactions are numerous and complex and call for further research. Here, in line with our need for a systemic understanding of the threats that they pose to bee health, we review the interactions between honey bee viruses. As viruses are obligate parasites, the interactions between them not only depend on the viruses themselves but also on the immune responses of honey bees. Thus, we first summarise our current knowledge of the antiviral immunity of honey bees. We then review the interactions between specific pathogenic viruses and their interactions with their host. Finally, we draw hypotheses from the current literature and suggest directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Durand
- National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environement, INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, ANSES, 06902 Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Anne Bonjour-Dalmon
- National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environement, INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, ANSES, 06902 Sophia Antipolis, France
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Powell JE, Lau P, Rangel J, Arnott R, De Jong T, Moran NA. The microbiome and gene expression of honey bee workers are affected by a diet containing pollen substitutes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286070. [PMID: 37205696 PMCID: PMC10198554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollen is the primary source of dietary protein for honey bees. It also includes complex polysaccharides in its outer coat, which are largely indigestible by bees but can be metabolized by bacterial species within the gut microbiota. During periods of reduced availability of floral pollen, supplemental protein sources are frequently provided to managed honey bee colonies. The crude proteins in these supplemental feeds are typically byproducts from food manufacturing processes and are rarely derived from pollen. Our experiments on the impact of different diets showed that a simplified pollen-free diet formulated to resemble the macronutrient profile of a monofloral pollen source resulted in larger microbial communities with reduced diversity, reduced evenness, and reduced levels of potentially beneficial hive-associated bacteria. Furthermore, the pollen-free diet sharply reduced the expression of genes central to honey bee development. In subsequent experiments, we showed that these shifts in gene expression may be linked to colonization by the gut microbiome. Lastly, we demonstrated that for bees inoculated with a defined gut microbiota, those raised on an artificial diet were less able to suppress infection from a bacterial pathogen than those that were fed natural pollen. Our findings demonstrate that a pollen-free diet significantly impacts the gut microbiota and gene expression of honey bees, indicating the importance of natural pollen as a primary protein source.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Elijah Powell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Pierre Lau
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
- USDA-ARS, Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystem Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, United States of America
| | - Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Ryan Arnott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Tyler De Jong
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
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14
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Chantaphanwattana T, Houdelet C, Sinpoo C, Voisin SN, Bocquet M, Disayathanoowat T, Chantawannakul P, Bulet P. Proteomics and Immune Response Differences in Apis mellifera and Apis cerana Inoculated with Three Nosema ceranae Isolates. J Proteome Res 2023. [PMID: 37163710 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae infects midgut epithelial cells of the Apis species and has jumped from its original host A. cerana to A. mellifera worldwide, raising questions about the response of the new host. We compared the responses of these two species to N. ceranae isolates from A. cerana, A. mellifera from Thailand and A. mellifera from France. Proteomics and transcriptomics results were combined to better understand the impact on the immunity of the two species. This is the first combination of omics analyses to evaluate the impact of N. ceranae spores from different origins and provides new insights into the differential immune responses in honeybees inoculated with N. ceranae from original A. cerana. No difference in the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) was observed in A. mellifera, whereas these peptides were altered in A. cerana compared to controls. Inoculation of A. mellifera or A. cerana with N. ceranae upregulated AMP genes and cellular-mediated immune genes but did not significantly alter apoptosis-related gene expression. A. cerana showed a stronger immune response than A. mellifera after inoculation with different N. ceranae isolates. N. ceranae from A. cerana had a strong negative impact on the health of A. mellifera and A. cerana compared to other Nosema isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thunyarat Chantaphanwattana
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Camille Houdelet
- CR University Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France
- UMR1419 Nutrition, Métabolisme, Aquaculture (NuMéA), Aquapôle INRAE, 64310 Saint Pée sur Nivelle, France
| | - Chainarong Sinpoo
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sébastien N Voisin
- Plateforme BioPark d'Archamps, 218 Avenue Marie Curie, 74160 Archamps, France
- Phylogen S.A., 62 RN113, 30620 Bernis, France
| | - Michel Bocquet
- APIMEDIA, 82 Route de Proméry, Pringy, 74370 Annecy, France
| | - Terd Disayathanoowat
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center in Deep Technology Associated with Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200 Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Philippe Bulet
- CR University Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Plateforme BioPark d'Archamps, 218 Avenue Marie Curie, 74160 Archamps, France
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15
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Jensen MA, Blatz DJ, LaLone CA. Defining the Biologically Plausible Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway: A Case Study Linking Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Activation to Colony Death. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:71-87. [PMID: 36263952 PMCID: PMC10100214 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the majority of developed adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), the taxonomic domain of applicability (tDOA) is typically narrowly defined with a single or a handful of species. Defining the tDOA of an AOP is critical for use in regulatory decision-making, particularly when considering protection of untested species. Structural and functional conservation are two elements that can be considered when defining the tDOA. Publicly accessible bioinformatics approaches, such as the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool, take advantage of existing and growing databases of protein sequence and structural information to provide lines of evidence toward structural conservation of key events (KEs) and KE relationships (KERs) of an AOP. It is anticipated that SeqAPASS results could readily be combined with data derived from empirical toxicity studies to provide evidence of both structural and functional conservation, to define the tDOA for KEs, KERs, and AOPs. Such data could be incorporated in the AOP-Wiki as lines of evidence toward biological plausibility for the tDOA. We present a case study describing the process of using bioinformatics to define the tDOA of an AOP using an AOP linking the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to colony death/failure in Apis mellifera. Although the AOP was developed to gain a particular biological understanding relative to A. mellifera health, applicability to other Apis bees, as well as non-Apis bees, has yet to be defined. The present study demonstrates how bioinformatics can be utilized to rapidly take advantage of existing protein sequence and structural knowledge to enhance and inform the tDOA of KEs, KERs, and AOPs, focusing on providing evidence of structural conservation across species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:71-87. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A. Jensen
- Department of Biology, Swenson College of Science and EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota DuluthDuluthMinnesotaUSA
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
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Daisley BA, Pitek AP, Mallory E, Chernyshova AM, Allen-Vercoe E, Reid G, Thompson GJ. Disentangling the microbial ecological factors impacting honey bee susceptibility to Paenibacillus larvae infection. Trends Microbiol 2022; 31:521-534. [PMID: 36526535 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae is a spore-forming bacterial entomopathogen and causal agent of the important honey bee larval disease, American foulbrood (AFB). Active infections by vegetative P. larvae are often deadly, highly transmissible, and incurable for colonies but, when dormant, the spore form of this pathogen can persist asymptomatically for years. Despite intensive investigation over the past century, this process has remained enigmatic. Here, we provide an up-to-date synthesis on the often overlooked microbiota factors involved in the spore-to-vegetative growth transition (corresponding with the onset of AFB disease symptoms) and offer a novel outlook on AFB pathogenesis by focusing on the 'collaborative' and 'competitive' interactions between P. larvae and other honey bee-adapted microorganisms. Furthermore, we discuss the health trade-offs associated with chronic antibiotic exposure and propose new avenues for the sustainable control of AFB via probiotic and microbiota management strategies.
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17
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Schilcher F, Hilsmann L, Ankenbrand MJ, Krischke M, Mueller MJ, Steffan-Dewenter I, Scheiner R. Honeybees are buffered against undernourishment during larval stages. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:951317. [PMID: 38468773 PMCID: PMC10926507 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.951317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The negative impact of juvenile undernourishment on adult behavior has been well reported for vertebrates, but relatively little is known about invertebrates. In honeybees, nutrition has long been known to affect task performance and timing of behavioral transitions. Whether and how a dietary restriction during larval development affects the task performance of adult honeybees is largely unknown. We raised honeybees in-vitro, varying the amount of a standardized diet (150 µl, 160 µl, 180 µl in total). Emerging adults were marked and inserted into established colonies. Behavioral performance of nurse bees and foragers was investigated and physiological factors known to be involved in the regulation of social organization were quantified. Surprisingly, adult honeybees raised under different feeding regimes did not differ in any of the behaviors observed. No differences were observed in physiological parameters apart from weight. Honeybees were lighter when undernourished (150 µl), while they were heavier under the overfed treatment (180 µl) compared to the control group raised under a normal diet (160 µl). These data suggest that dietary restrictions during larval development do not affect task performance or physiology in this social insect despite producing clear effects on adult weight. We speculate that possible effects of larval undernourishment might be compensated during the early period of adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schilcher
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lioba Hilsmann
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus J. Ankenbrand
- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB), Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Krischke
- Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biosciences, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin J. Mueller
- Julius-von-Sachs-Institute of Biosciences, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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18
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Smith ML, Davidson JD, Wild B, Dormagen DM, Landgraf T, Couzin ID. Behavioral variation across the days and lives of honey bees. iScience 2022; 25:104842. [PMID: 36039297 PMCID: PMC9418442 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104842] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In honey bee colonies, workers generally change tasks with age (from brood care, to nest work, to foraging). While these trends are well established, our understanding of how individuals distribute tasks during a day, and how individuals differ in their lifetime behavioral trajectories, is limited. Here, we use automated tracking to obtain long-term data on 4,100+ bees tracked continuously at 3 Hz, across an entire summer, and use behavioral metrics to compare behavior at different timescales. Considering single days, we describe how bees differ in space use, detection, and movement. Analyzing the behavior exhibited across their entire lives, we find consistent inter-individual differences in the movement characteristics of individuals. Bees also differ in how quickly they transition through behavioral space to ultimately become foragers, with fast-transitioning bees living the shortest lives. Our analysis framework provides a quantitative approach to describe individual behavioral variation within a colony from single days to entire lifetimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Smith
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849, USA
| | - Jacob D. Davidson
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Benjamin Wild
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - David M. Dormagen
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim Landgraf
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Iain D. Couzin
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
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Frizzera D, Ray AM, Seffin E, Zanni V, Annoscia D, Grozinger CM, Nazzi F. The Beneficial Effect of Pollen on Varroa Infested Bees Depends on Its Influence on Behavioral Maturation Genes. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:864238. [PMID: 38468781 PMCID: PMC10926424 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.864238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees collect nectar and pollen to fulfill their nutritional demands. In particular, pollen can influence longevity, the development of hypopharyngeal glands, and immune-competence of bees. Pollen can also mitigate the deleterious effects caused by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and related deformed wing virus (DWV) infections. It has been shown that V. destructor accelerates the physiological and behavioral maturation of honey bees by influencing the interaction between two core physiological factors, Vitellogenin and juvenile hormone. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of pollen on Varroa-infested bees are related to the hormonal control underpinning behavioral maturation. By analyzing the expression of genes associated to behavioral maturation in pollen-fed mite-infested bees, we show that treatment with pollen increases the lifespan of mite-infested bees by reversing the faster maturation induced by the parasite at the gene expression level. As expected, from the different immune-competence of nurse and forager bees, the lifespan extension triggered by pollen is also correlated with a positive influence of antimicrobial peptide gene expression and DWV load, further reinforcing the beneficial effect of pollen. This study lay the groundwork for future analyses of the underlying evolutionary processes and applications to improve bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Frizzera
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Allyson M. Ray
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Elisa Seffin
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Virginia Zanni
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Desiderato Annoscia
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Christina M. Grozinger
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Francesco Nazzi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (DI4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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Schilcher F, Hilsmann L, Rauscher L, Değirmenci L, Krischke M, Krischke B, Ankenbrand M, Rutschmann B, Mueller MJ, Steffan-Dewenter I, Scheiner R. In Vitro Rearing Changes Social Task Performance and Physiology in Honeybees. INSECTS 2021; 13:insects13010004. [PMID: 35055848 PMCID: PMC8779213 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The rearing of honeybee larvae in the laboratory is an important tool for studying the effects of plant protection products or pathogens on developing and adult bees, yet how rearing under artificial conditions affects the later social behavior and physiology of the honeybees is mostly unknown. We, here, show that honeybees reared in the laboratory generally had a lower probability for performing nursing or foraging tasks compared to bees reared under natural conditions in bee colonies. Nursing behavior itself appeared normal in in vitro honeybees. In contrast, bees reared in the laboratory foraged for a shorter period in life and performed fewer trips compared to bees reared in colonies. In addition, in vitro honeybees did not display the typical increase in juvenile hormone titer, which goes hand-in-hand with the initiation of foraging in colony-reared bees. Abstract In vitro rearing of honeybee larvae is an established method that enables exact control and monitoring of developmental factors and allows controlled application of pesticides or pathogens. However, only a few studies have investigated how the rearing method itself affects the behavior of the resulting adult honeybees. We raised honeybees in vitro according to a standardized protocol: marking the emerging honeybees individually and inserting them into established colonies. Subsequently, we investigated the behavioral performance of nurse bees and foragers and quantified the physiological factors underlying the social organization. Adult honeybees raised in vitro differed from naturally reared honeybees in their probability of performing social tasks. Further, in vitro-reared bees foraged for a shorter duration in their life and performed fewer foraging trips. Nursing behavior appeared to be unaffected by rearing condition. Weight was also unaffected by rearing condition. Interestingly, juvenile hormone titers, which normally increase strongly around the time when a honeybee becomes a forager, were significantly lower in three- and four-week-old in vitro bees. The effects of the rearing environment on individual sucrose responsiveness and lipid levels were rather minor. These data suggest that larval rearing conditions can affect the task performance and physiology of adult bees despite equal weight, pointing to an important role of the colony environment for these factors. Our observations of behavior and metabolic pathways offer important novel insight into how the rearing environment affects adult honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Schilcher
- Biocentre, Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (L.H.); (L.R.); (L.D.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-931-31-85373
| | - Lioba Hilsmann
- Biocentre, Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (L.H.); (L.R.); (L.D.); (R.S.)
| | - Lisa Rauscher
- Biocentre, Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (L.H.); (L.R.); (L.D.); (R.S.)
| | - Laura Değirmenci
- Biocentre, Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (L.H.); (L.R.); (L.D.); (R.S.)
| | - Markus Krischke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany; (M.K.); (M.J.M.)
| | - Beate Krischke
- Biocentre, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (B.K.); (B.R.); (I.S.-D.)
| | - Markus Ankenbrand
- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB), Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Klara-Oppenheimer-Weg 32, 97074 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Benjamin Rutschmann
- Biocentre, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (B.K.); (B.R.); (I.S.-D.)
| | - Martin J. Mueller
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany; (M.K.); (M.J.M.)
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Biocentre, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (B.K.); (B.R.); (I.S.-D.)
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Biocentre, Department of Behavioural Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; (L.H.); (L.R.); (L.D.); (R.S.)
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Strachecka A, Migdał P, Kuszewska K, Skowronek P, Grabowski M, Paleolog J, Woyciechowski M. Humoral and Cellular Defense Mechanisms in Rebel Workers of Apis mellifera. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1146. [PMID: 34827139 PMCID: PMC8615136 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The physiological state of an insect depends on efficiently functioning immune mechanisms such as cellular and humoral defenses. However, compounds participating in these mechanisms also regulate reproductive caste formation and are responsible for reproductive division of labor as well as for labor division in sterile workers. Divergent reaction of the same genotype yielding reproductive queens and worker castes led to shaping of the physiological and behavioral plasticity of sterile or reproductive workers. Rebels that can lay eggs while maintaining tasks inside and outside the colony exhibit both queen and worker traits. So, we expected that the phagocytic index, JH3 titer, and Vg concentration would be higher in rebels than in normal workers and would increase with their age. We also assumed that the numbers of oenocytes and their sizes would be greater in rebels than in normal workers. The rebels and the normal workers were collected at the age of 1, 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively. Hemolymph and fat bodies were collected for biochemical and morphological analyses. The high levels of JH, Vg, and the phagocytic index, as well as increased numbers and sizes of oenocytes in the fat body cells demonstrate the physiological and phenotypic adaptation of rebels to the eusocial life of honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Strachecka
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Paweł Migdał
- Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Karolina Kuszewska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (M.W.)
| | - Patrycja Skowronek
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Marcin Grabowski
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Jerzy Paleolog
- Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.G.); (J.P.)
| | - Michał Woyciechowski
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; (K.K.); (M.W.)
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Chen J, DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Ratti V, Kang Y. Review on mathematical modeling of honeybee population dynamics. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2021; 18:9606-9650. [PMID: 34814360 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2021471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees have an irreplaceable position in agricultural production and the stabilization of natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, honeybee populations have been declining globally. Parasites, diseases, poor nutrition, pesticides, and climate changes contribute greatly to the global crisis of honeybee colony losses. Mathematical models have been used to provide useful insights on potential factors and important processes for improving the survival rate of colonies. In this review, we present various mathematical tractable models from different aspects: 1) simple bee-only models with features such as age segmentation, food collection, and nutrient absorption; 2) models of bees with other species such as parasites and/or pathogens; and 3) models of bees affected by pesticide exposure. We aim to review those mathematical models to emphasize the power of mathematical modeling in helping us understand honeybee population dynamics and its related ecological communities. We also provide a review of computational models such as VARROAPOP and BEEHAVE that describe the bee population dynamics in environments that include factors such as temperature, rainfall, light, distance and quality of food, and their effects on colony growth and survival. In addition, we propose a future outlook on important directions regarding mathematical modeling of honeybees. We particularly encourage collaborations between mathematicians and biologists so that mathematical models could be more useful through validation with experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- Simon A. Levin Mathematical and Computational Modeling Sciences Center, Arizona State University, 1031 Palm Walk, Tempe AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson AZ 85719, USA
| | - Vardayani Ratti
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, California State University, Chico, 400 W. First Street, Chico CA 95929-0560, USA
| | - Yun Kang
- Sciences and Mathematics Faculty, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, 6073 S. Backus Mall, Mesa AZ 85212, USA
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Walton A, Toth AL. Resource limitation, intra‐group aggression and brain neuropeptide expression in a social wasp. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Walton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
| | - Amy L. Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
- Department of Entomology Iowa State University Ames IA USA
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Akülkü İ, Ghanem S, Filiztekin E, Suwannapong G, Mayack C. Age-Dependent Honey Bee Appetite Regulation Is Mediated by Trehalose and Octopamine Baseline Levels. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12100863. [PMID: 34680632 PMCID: PMC8539172 DOI: 10.3390/insects12100863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Appetite regulation is an important function necessary to maintain energetic balance, but how honey bees accomplish this could vary as they age because they go through a number of behavioral and physiological changes during development. Here, we determine if the amount of trehalose, which is a sugar found in the hemolymph of honey bees, influences appetite levels and if this interacts with the octopamine neurotransmitter in the bee brain. To accomplish this, we decreased trehalose levels in the hemolymph by injecting an inhibitor of trehalose synthesis. In addition, we increased octopamine levels in the brain by injecting it with a syringe. We found that octopamine and trehalose interact to increase appetite in the two older age classes of bees, beyond just treating the bees with octopamine. The youngest age class did not respond to either treatment. Our results suggest that older honey bees may have an alternative pathway for regulating appetite that uses sugar levels in their hemolymph to communicate to the brain how hungry they are and that octopamine is responsible for elevating appetite levels when the bee is hungry. This pathway is different from how vertebrates regulate their appetite levels based on glucose levels in the blood. Abstract There are multiple feedback mechanisms involved in appetite regulation, which is an integral part of maintaining energetic homeostasis. Older forager honey bees, in comparison to newly emerged bees and nurse bees, are known to have highly fluctuating hemolymph trehalose levels, higher appetite changes due to starvation, and higher octopamine levels in the brain. What remains unknown is if the hemolymph trehalose and octopamine levels interact with one another and how this varies as the bee ages. We manipulated trehalose and octopamine levels across age using physiological injections and found that nurse and forager bees increase their appetite levels due to increased octopamine levels in the brain. This is further enhanced by lower trehalose levels in the hemolymph. Moreover, nurse bees with high octopamine levels in the brain and low trehalose levels had the same appetite levels as untreated forager bees. Our findings suggest that the naturally higher levels of octopamine as the bee ages may result in higher sensitivity to fluctuating trehalose levels in the hemolymph that results in a more direct way of assessing the energetic state of the individual. Consequently, forager bees have a mechanism for more precise regulation of appetite in comparison to newly emerged and nurse bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- İrem Akülkü
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, 34956 İstanbul, Turkey; (İ.A.); (S.G.); (E.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Saleh Ghanem
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, 34956 İstanbul, Turkey; (İ.A.); (S.G.); (E.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Elif Filiztekin
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, 34956 İstanbul, Turkey; (İ.A.); (S.G.); (E.F.); (C.M.)
| | - Guntima Suwannapong
- Biological Science Program, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chon Buri 20131, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-3810-3088
| | - Christopher Mayack
- Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, 34956 İstanbul, Turkey; (İ.A.); (S.G.); (E.F.); (C.M.)
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25
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Page RE. Societies to genes: can we get there from here? Genetics 2021; 219:iyab104. [PMID: 34849914 PMCID: PMC8633090 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the organization and evolution of social complexity is a major task because it requires building an understanding of mechanisms operating at different levels of biological organization from genes to social interactions. I discuss here, a unique forward genetic approach spanning more than 30 years beginning with human-assisted colony-level selection for a single social trait, the amount of pollen honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) store. The goal was to understand a complex social trait from the social phenotype to genes responsible for observed trait variation. The approach combined the results of colony-level selection with detailed studies of individual behavior and physiology resulting in a mapped, integrated phenotypic architecture composed of correlative relationships between traits spanning anatomy, physiology, sensory response systems, and individual behavior that affect individual foraging decisions. Colony-level selection reverse engineered the architecture of an integrated phenotype of individuals resulting in changes in the social trait. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies combined with an exceptionally high recombination rate (60 kb/cM), and a phenotypic map, provided a genotype-phenotype map of high complexity demonstrating broad QTL pleiotropy, epistasis, and epistatic pleiotropy suggesting that gene pleiotropy or tight linkage of genes within QTL integrated the phenotype. Gene expression and knockdown of identified positional candidates revealed genes affecting foraging behavior and confirmed one pleiotropic gene, a tyramine receptor, as a target for colony-level selection that was under selection in two different tissues in two different life stages. The approach presented here has resulted in a comprehensive understanding of the structure and evolution of honey bee social organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Page
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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26
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A Machine Learning Approach to Study Demographic Alterations in Honeybee Colonies Using SDS-PAGE Fingerprinting. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061823. [PMID: 34207270 PMCID: PMC8233723 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061823] [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: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybees, as social insects, live in highly organised colonies where tasks reflect the age of individuals. As is widely known, in this context, emergent properties arise from interactions between them. The accelerated maturation of nurses into foragers, stimulated by many negative factors, may disrupt this complex equilibrium. This complexity needs a paradigm shift: from the study of a single stressor to the study of the effects exerted by multiple stressors on colony homeostasis. The aim of this research is, therefore, to study colony population disturbances by discriminating overaged nurses from proper aged nurses and precocious foragers from proper aged foragers using SDS-PAGE patterns of haemolymph proteins and a machine-learning algorithm. The KNN (K Nearest Neighbours) model fitted on the forager dataset showed remarkably good performances (accuracy 0.93, sensitivity 0.88, specificity 1.00) in discriminating precocious foragers from proper aged ones. The main strength of this innovative approach lies in the possibility of it being deployed as a preventive tool. Depopulation is an elusive syndrome in bee pathology and early detection with the method described could shed more light on the phenomenon. In addition, it enables countermeasures to revert this vicious circle.
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27
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Cardoso-Júnior CAM, Oldroyd BP, Ronai I. Vitellogenin expression in the ovaries of adult honeybee workers provides insights into the evolution of reproductive and social traits. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:277-286. [PMID: 33427366 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social insects are notable for having two female castes that exhibit extreme differences in their reproductive capacity. The molecular basis of these differences is largely unknown. Vitellogenin (Vg) is a powerful antioxidant and insulin-signalling regulator used in oocyte development. Here we investigate how Royal Jelly (the major food of honeybee queens) and queen mandibular pheromone (a major regulator of worker fertility), affect the longevity and reproductive status of honey bee workers, the expression of Vg, its receptor VgR and associated regulatory proteins. We find that Vg is expressed in the ovaries of workers and that workers fed a queen diet of Royal Jelly have increased Vg expression in the ovaries. Surprisingly, we find that expression of Vg is not associated with ovary activation in workers, suggesting that this gene has potentially acquired non-reproductive functions. Therefore, Vg expression in the ovaries of honeybee workers provides further support for the Ovarian Ground Plan Hypothesis, which argues that genes implicated in the regulation of reproduction have been co-opted to regulate behavioural differences between queens and workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A M Cardoso-Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - B P Oldroyd
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - I Ronai
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, Ecology and Evolution, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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28
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Lourenço AP, Guidugli-Lazzarini KR, de Freitas NHA, Message D, Bitondi MMG, Simões ZLP, Teixeira ÉW. Immunity and physiological changes in adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) infected with Nosema ceranae: The natural colony environment. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104237. [PMID: 33831437 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104237] [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: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a microsporidium that infects Apis mellifera, causing diverse physiological and behavioral alterations. Given the existence of individual and social mechanisms to reduce infection and fungal spread in the colony, bees may respond differently to infection depending on their rearing conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of N. ceranae in honey bee foragers naturally infected with different fungal loads in a tropical region. In addition, we explored the effects of N. ceranae artificially infected young bees placed in a healthy colony under field conditions. Honey bees naturally infected with higher loads of N. ceranae showed downregulation of genes from Toll and IMD immune pathways and antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes, but hemolymph total protein amount and Vitellogenin (Vg) titers were not affected. Artificially infected bees spread N. ceranae to the controls in the colony, but fungal loads were generally lower than those observed in cages, probably because of social immunity. Although no significant changes in mRNA levels of AMP-encoding were observed, N. ceranae artificially infected bees showed downregulation of miR-989 (an immune-related microRNA), lower vitellogenin gene expression, and decreased hemolymph Vg titers. Our results demonstrate for the first time that natural infection by N. ceranae suppresses the immune system of honey bee foragers in the field. This parasite is detrimental to the immune system of young and old bees, and disease spread, mitigation and containment will depend on the colony environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anete P Lourenço
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, Brazil.
| | - Karina R Guidugli-Lazzarini
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Nayara H A de Freitas
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Dejair Message
- Laboratório Especializado de Sanidade Apícola (LASA), Instituto Biológico, APTA, SAA-SP, Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Márcia M G Bitondi
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Zilá L P Simões
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Érica W Teixeira
- Laboratório Especializado de Sanidade Apícola (LASA), Instituto Biológico, APTA, SAA-SP, Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brazil
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29
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Korb J, Meusemann K, Aumer D, Bernadou A, Elsner D, Feldmeyer B, Foitzik S, Heinze J, Libbrecht R, Lin S, Majoe M, Monroy Kuhn JM, Nehring V, Negroni MA, Paxton RJ, Séguret AC, Stoldt M, Flatt T. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the mechanisms underpinning ageing and fecundity in social insects. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20190728. [PMID: 33678016 PMCID: PMC7938167 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The exceptional longevity of social insect queens despite their lifelong high fecundity remains poorly understood in ageing biology. To gain insights into the mechanisms that might underlie ageing in social insects, we compared gene expression patterns between young and old castes (both queens and workers) across different lineages of social insects (two termite, two bee and two ant species). After global analyses, we paid particular attention to genes of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling (IIS)/target of rapamycin (TOR)/juvenile hormone (JH) network, which is well known to regulate lifespan and the trade-off between reproduction and somatic maintenance in solitary insects. Our results reveal a major role of the downstream components and target genes of this network (e.g. JH signalling, vitellogenins, major royal jelly proteins and immune genes) in affecting ageing and the caste-specific physiology of social insects, but an apparently lesser role of the upstream IIS/TOR signalling components. Together with a growing appreciation of the importance of such downstream targets, this leads us to propose the TI-J-LiFe (TOR/IIS-JH-Lifespan and Fecundity) network as a conceptual framework for understanding the mechanisms of ageing and fecundity in social insects and beyond. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Korb
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
| | - Karen Meusemann
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, Acton 2601, Australia
| | - Denise Aumer
- Developmental Zoology, Molecular Ecology Research Group, Hoher Weg 4, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Abel Bernadou
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Elsner
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberg, Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, D-60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen Heinze
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Romain Libbrecht
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Silu Lin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
| | - Megha Majoe
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - José Manuel Monroy Kuhn
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
| | - Volker Nehring
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
| | - Matteo A. Negroni
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Alice C. Séguret
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstraße 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Marah Stoldt
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Flatt
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - the So-Long consortium
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Institute of Biology I (Zoology), University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg (Breisgau), Germany
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO National Research Collections Australia, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, Acton 2601, Australia
- Developmental Zoology, Molecular Ecology Research Group, Hoher Weg 4, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Zoology/Evolutionary Biology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Molecular Ecology, Senckenberg, Georg-Voigt-Straße 14-16, D-60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IOME), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstraße 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Castelli L, Balbuena S, Branchiccela B, Zunino P, Liberti J, Engel P, Antúnez K. Impact of Chronic Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Glyphosate on Honey Bee Immunity, Gut Microbiota and Infection by Pathogens. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040845. [PMID: 33920750 PMCID: PMC8071123 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate is the most used pesticide around the world. Although different studies have evidenced its negative effect on honey bees, including detrimental impacts on behavior, cognitive, sensory and developmental abilities, its use continues to grow. Recent studies have shown that it also alters the composition of the honey bee gut microbiota. In this study we explored the impact of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of glyphosate on the honey bee gut microbiota and its effects on the immune response, infection by Nosema ceranae and Deformed wing virus (DWV) and honey bee survival. Glyphosate combined with N. ceranae infection altered the structure and composition of the honey bee gut microbiota, for example by decreasing the relative abundance of the core members Snodgrassella alvi and Lactobacillus apis. Glyphosate increased the expression of some immune genes, possibly representing a physiological response to mitigate its negative effects. However, this response was not sufficient to maintain honey bee health, as glyphosate promoted the replication of DWV and decreased the expression of vitellogenin, which were accompanied by a reduced life span. Infection by N. ceranae also alters honey bee immunity although no synergistic effect with glyphosate was observed. These results corroborate previous findings suggesting deleterious effects of widespread use of glyphosate on honey bee health, and they contribute to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying a global decline of pollination services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreley Castelli
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Sofía Balbuena
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Belén Branchiccela
- Sección Apicultura, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Colonia 70002, Uruguay;
| | - Pablo Zunino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Joanito Liberti
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (J.L.); (P.E.)
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (J.L.); (P.E.)
| | - Karina Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +598-2-4871616
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Habenstein J, Schmitt F, Liessem S, Ly A, Trede D, Wegener C, Predel R, Rössler W, Neupert S. Transcriptomic, peptidomic, and mass spectrometry imaging analysis of the brain in the ant Cataglyphis nodus. J Neurochem 2021; 158:391-412. [PMID: 33704768 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral flexibility is an important cornerstone for the ecological success of animals. Social Cataglyphis nodus ants with their age-related polyethism characterized by age-related behavioral phenotypes represent a prime example for behavioral flexibility. We propose neuropeptides as powerful candidates for the flexible modulation of age-related behavioral transitions in individual ants. As the neuropeptidome of C. nodus was unknown, we collected a comprehensive peptidomic data set obtained by transcriptome analysis of the ants' central nervous system combined with brain extract analysis by Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and direct tissue profiling of different regions of the brain by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. In total, we identified 71 peptides with likely bioactive function, encoded on 49 neuropeptide-, neuropeptide-like, and protein hormone prepropeptide genes, including a novel neuropeptide-like gene (fliktin). We next characterized the spatial distribution of a subset of peptides encoded on 16 precursor proteins with high resolution by MALDI MS imaging (MALDI MSI) on 14 µm brain sections. The accuracy of our MSI data were confirmed by matching the immunostaining patterns for tachykinins with MSI ion images from consecutive brain sections. Our data provide a solid framework for future research into spatially resolved qualitative and quantitative peptidomic changes associated with stage-specific behavioral transitions and the functional role of neuropeptides in Cataglyphis ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Habenstein
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Schmitt
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sander Liessem
- Department of Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alice Ly
- Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dennis Trede
- SCiLS, Zweigniederlassung Bremen der Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christian Wegener
- Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Neurobiology and Genetics, Würzburg Insect Research, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Predel
- Department of Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Neupert
- Department of Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
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32
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Kennedy A, Herman J, Rueppell O. Reproductive activation in honeybee ( Apis mellifera) workers protects against abiotic and biotic stress. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20190737. [PMID: 33678021 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Social insect reproductives exhibit exceptional longevity instead of the classic trade-off between somatic maintenance and reproduction. Even normally sterile workers experience a significant increase in life expectancy when they assume a reproductive role. The mechanisms that enable the positive relation between the antagonistic demands of reproduction and somatic maintenance are unclear. To isolate the effect of reproductive activation, honeybee workers were induced to activate their ovaries. These reproductively activated workers were compared to controls for survival and gene expression patterns after exposure to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus or the oxidative stressor paraquat. Reproductive activation increased survival, indicating better immunity and oxidative stress resistance. After qPCR analysis confirmed our experimental treatments at the physiological level, whole transcriptome analysis revealed that paraquat treatment significantly changed the expression of 1277 genes in the control workers but only two genes in reproductively activated workers, indicating that reproductive activation preemptively protects against oxidative stress. Significant overlap between genes that were upregulated by reproductive activation and in response to paraquat included prominent members of signalling pathways and anti-oxidants known to affect ageing. Thus, while our results confirm a central role of vitellogenin, they also point to other mechanisms to explain the molecular basis of the lack of a cost of reproduction and the exceptional longevity of social insect reproductives. Thus, socially induced reproductive activation preemptively protects honeybee workers against stressors, explaining their longevity. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and sociality: why, when and how does sociality change ageing patterns?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Kennedy
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27403, USA
| | - Jacob Herman
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27403, USA
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27403, USA
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33
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Wild B, Dormagen DM, Zachariae A, Smith ML, Traynor KS, Brockmann D, Couzin ID, Landgraf T. Social networks predict the life and death of honey bees. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1110. [PMID: 33597518 PMCID: PMC7889932 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21212-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In complex societies, individuals' roles are reflected by interactions with other conspecifics. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) generally change tasks as they age, but developmental trajectories of individuals can vary drastically due to physiological and environmental factors. We introduce a succinct descriptor of an individual's social network that can be obtained without interfering with the colony. This 'network age' accurately predicts task allocation, survival, activity patterns, and future behavior. We analyze developmental trajectories of multiple cohorts of individuals in a natural setting and identify distinct developmental pathways and critical life changes. Our findings suggest a high stability in task allocation on an individual level. We show that our method is versatile and can extract different properties from social networks, opening up a broad range of future studies. Our approach highlights the relationship of social interactions and individual traits, and provides a scalable technique for understanding how complex social systems function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wild
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - David M Dormagen
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Kirsten S Traynor
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Global Biosocial Complexity Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, FL, USA
| | - Dirk Brockmann
- Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Iain D Couzin
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Tim Landgraf
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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34
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Koubová J, Sábová M, Brejcha M, Kodrík D, Čapková Frydrychová R. Seasonality in telomerase activity in relation to cell size, DNA replication, and nutrients in the fat body of Apis mellifera. Sci Rep 2021; 11:592. [PMID: 33436732 PMCID: PMC7803764 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79912-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In honeybees (Apis mellifera), the rate of aging is modulated through social interactions and according to caste differentiation and the seasonal (winter/summer) generation of workers. Winter generation workers, which hatch at the end of summer, have remarkably extended lifespans as an adaptation to the cold season when the resources required for the growth and reproduction of colonies are limited and the bees need to maintain the colony until the next spring. In contrast, the summer bees only live for several weeks. To better understand the lifespan differences between summer and winter bees, we studied the fat bodies of honeybee workers and identified several parameters that fluctuate in a season-dependent manner. In agreement with the assumption that winter workers possess greater fat body mass, our data showed gradual increases in fat body mass, the size of the fat body cells, and Vg production as the winter season proceeded, as well as contrasting gradual decreases in these parameters in the summer season. The differences in the fat bodies between winter and summer bees are accompanied by respective increases and decreases in telomerase activity and DNA replication in the fat bodies. These data show that although the fat bodies of winter bees differ significantly from those of summer bees, these differences are not a priori set when bees hatch at the end of summer or in early autumn but instead gradually evolve over the course of the season, depending on environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justina Koubová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Sábová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslav Brejcha
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Kodrík
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radmila Čapková Frydrychová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. .,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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35
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Anton S, Rössler W. Plasticity and modulation of olfactory circuits in insects. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 383:149-164. [PMID: 33275182 PMCID: PMC7873004 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03329-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory circuits change structurally and physiologically during development and adult life. This allows insects to respond to olfactory cues in an appropriate and adaptive way according to their physiological and behavioral state, and to adapt to their specific abiotic and biotic natural environment. We highlight here findings on olfactory plasticity and modulation in various model and non-model insects with an emphasis on moths and social Hymenoptera. Different categories of plasticity occur in the olfactory systems of insects. One type relates to the reproductive or feeding state, as well as to adult age. Another type of plasticity is context-dependent and includes influences of the immediate sensory and abiotic environment, but also environmental conditions during postembryonic development, periods of adult behavioral maturation, and short- and long-term sensory experience. Finally, plasticity in olfactory circuits is linked to associative learning and memory formation. The vast majority of the available literature summarized here deals with plasticity in primary and secondary olfactory brain centers, but also peripheral modulation is treated. The described molecular, physiological, and structural neuronal changes occur under the influence of neuromodulators such as biogenic amines, neuropeptides, and hormones, but the mechanisms through which they act are only beginning to be analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Anton
- IGEPP, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Rennes, INRAE, 49045, Angers, France.
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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36
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Fine JD. Evaluation and comparison of the effects of three insect growth regulators on honey bee queen oviposition and egg eclosion. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 205:111142. [PMID: 32829209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are highly valued pollinators that help to ensure national food security in the United States, but reports of heavy annual losses to managed colonies have caused concerns and prompted investigations into the causes of colony losses. One factor that can negatively affect honey bee health and survival is agrochemical exposure. Investigations into the sublethal effects of agrochemicals on important metrics of colony health such as reproduction and queen fecundity has been limited by the availability of targeted methods to study honey bee queens. This work investigates the effects of three insect growth regulators (IGR), a class of agrochemicals known to target pathways involved in insect reproduction, on honey bee queen oviposition, egg hatching, and worker hypopharyngeal development in order to quantify their effects on the fecundity of mated queens. The reported results demonstrate that none of the IGRs affected oviposition, but all three affected egg eclosion. Worker bees consuming methoxyfenozide had significantly larger hypopharyngeal glands at two weeks of age than bees not fed this compound. The results suggest that although IGRs may not exhibit direct toxic effects on adult honey bees, they can affect larval eclosion from eggs and the physiology of workers, which may contribute to colony population declines over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia D Fine
- Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 3026 Bee Biology Rd., Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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37
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Awde DN, Skandalis A, Richards MH. Vitellogenin expression corresponds with reproductive status and caste in a primitively eusocial bee. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 127:104113. [PMID: 32890626 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (vg) expression is consistently associated with variation in insect phenotypes, particularly egg-laying. Primitively eusocial species, such as eusocial sweat bees, have behaviourally totipotent castes, in which each female is capable of high levels of ovarian development. Few studies have investigated vg expression patterns in primitively eusocial insects, and only one study has focused on a primitively eusocial bee. Here we use a primitively eusocial sweat bee, Lasioglossum laevissimum, and Real Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to investigate the relationship between vg expression, castes, and variation in phenotypes associated with castes differences. These assays showed that females with high ovarian development had the highest levels of vg expression, and that vg expression levels reflected the reproductive status of females first and caste second. This is in contrast to vg expression patterns observed in advanced eusocial queens and workers, which differ in vg expression based on caste and have caste-specific vg expression patterns. Furthermore, future queens (gynes) do not have ovarian development and had similar vg expression levels to early spring foundresses, which do have ovarian development, supporting Vg's function as a transporter of lipids and amino acids before diapause.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N Awde
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, KY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, ON, Canada.
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38
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Thimmegowda GG, Mullen S, Sottilare K, Sharma A, Mohanta R, Brockmann A, Dhandapany PS, Olsson SB. A field-based quantitative analysis of sublethal effects of air pollution on pollinators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:20653-20661. [PMID: 32778582 PMCID: PMC7456092 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009074117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
While the impact of air pollution on human health is well studied, mechanistic impacts of air pollution on wild systems, including those providing essential ecosystem services, are largely unknown, but directly impact our health and well-being. India is the world's largest fruit producer, second most populous country, and contains 9 of the world's 10 most polluted cities. Here, we sampled Giant Asian honey bees, Apis dorsata, at locations with varying air pollution levels in Bangalore, India. We observed significant correlations between increased respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) deposition and changes in bee survival, flower visitation, heart rate, hemocyte levels, and expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, stress, and immunity. Lab-reared Drosophila melanogaster exposed to these same sites also exhibited similar molecular and physiological differences. Our study offers a quantitative analysis on the current impacts of air pollution on insects, and indicates the urgency for more nonhuman studies to accurately assess the effects of pollution on our natural world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetha G Thimmegowda
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India 560065;
| | - Susan Mullen
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | - Ankit Sharma
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore, India 560065
| | - Rishika Mohanta
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India 560065
| | - Axel Brockmann
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India 560065
| | - Perundurai S Dhandapany
- Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bangalore, India 560065
- The Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239
- Department of Medicine and Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Shannon B Olsson
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India 560065;
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39
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Cini A, Bordoni A, Cappa F, Petrocelli I, Pitzalis M, Iovinella I, Dani FR, Turillazzi S, Cervo R. Increased immunocompetence and network centrality of allogroomer workers suggest a link between individual and social immunity in honeybees. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8928. [PMID: 32488140 PMCID: PMC7265547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65780-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The significant risk of disease transmission has selected for effective immune-defense strategies in insect societies. Division of labour, with individuals specialized in immunity-related tasks, strongly contributes to prevent the spread of diseases. A trade-off, however, may exist between phenotypic specialization to increase task efficiency and maintenance of plasticity to cope with variable colony demands. We investigated the extent of phenotypic specialization associated with a specific task by using allogrooming in the honeybee, Apis mellifera, where worker behaviour might lower ectoparasites load. We adopted an integrated approach to characterize the behavioural and physiological phenotype of allogroomers, by analyzing their behavior (both at individual and social network level), their immunocompetence (bacterial clearance tests) and their chemosensory specialization (proteomics of olfactory organs). We found that allogroomers have higher immune capacity compared to control bees, while they do not differ in chemosensory proteomic profiles. Behaviourally, they do not show differences in the tasks performed (other than allogrooming), while they clearly differ in connectivity within the colonial social network, having a higher centrality than control bees. This demonstrates the presence of an immune-specific physiological and social behavioural specialization in individuals involved in a social immunity related task, thus linking individual to social immunity, and it shows how phenotypes may be specialized in the task performed while maintaining an overall plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Adele Bordoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Federico Cappa
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Iacopo Petrocelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Martina Pitzalis
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Immacolata Iovinella
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
- CISM, Mass Spectrometry Centre, Università di Firenze, Via U. Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Stefano Turillazzi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Rita Cervo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
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40
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The honey bee (Apis mellifera L., 1758) and the seasonal adaptation of productions. Highlights on summer to winter transition and back to summer metabolic activity. A review. Livest Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
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41
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Heneberg P, Bogusch P, Astapenková A, Řezáč M. Neonicotinoid insecticides hinder the pupation and metamorphosis into adults in a crabronid wasp. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7077. [PMID: 32341495 PMCID: PMC7184726 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63958-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neonicotinoid insecticides are associated with a decline in the diversity and distribution of bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata). The effects of neonicotinoids on the metamorphosis of aculeates have never been addressed in detail; however, recent evidence suggests that neonicotinoids induce wing abnormalities. We hypothesized that the metamorphosis success of bees and wasps differs in response to contact exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid insecticides or in response to combined exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides and benzimidazole fungicides. We treated prepupae of the model crabronid wasp Pemphredon fabricii with field-realistic concentrations of four neonicotinoids, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam, and/or with the benzimidazole fungicide thiabendazole. Treatment with acetamiprid or imidacloprid decreased the pupation rates to only 39% and 32%, respectively. Treatment with thiacloprid or thiamethoxam did not affect the pupation rate when applied alone, but the subsequent treatment of thiacloprid- or thiamethoxam-treated prepupae with thiabendazole led to significant decreases in pupation rates. A high concentration of acetamiprid, which severely affected the pupation rates, had moderate effects on metamorphosis into adults, resulting in 53% metamorphosis success (as opposed to 95% metamorphosis success in the water-treated group). However, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam treatment resulted in only 5%-10% metamorphosis success into adults. Overall survival decreased in response to treatment with any of the neonicotinoids or benzimidazoles or their combinations, with extremely low survival (<2%) following combined treatment with imidacloprid and thiabendazole or thiamethoxam and thiabendazole. In conclusion, neonicotinoids alter insect metamorphosis success, which can be further potentiated by their combination with other agrochemicals, such as benzimidazoles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Heneberg
- Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Bogusch
- University of Hradec Králové, Faculty of Science, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Astapenková
- University of Hradec Králové, Faculty of Science, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Řezáč
- Crop Research Institute, Functional Biodiversity Group, Prague, Czech Republic
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42
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Canciani M, Arnellos A, Moreno A. Revising the Superorganism: An Organizational Approach to Complex Eusociality. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2653. [PMID: 31849768 PMCID: PMC6901679 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Eusociality is broadly defined as: colonies consisting of overlapping generations, cooperative brood care, and a reproductive division of labor where sterile (or non-reproductive) workers help the reproductive members. Colonies of many complex eusocial insect species (e.g., ants, bees, termites) exhibit traits, at the collective level, that are more analogous to biological individuals rather than to groups. Indeed, due to this, colonies of the most complex species are typically a unit of selection, which has led many authors to once again apply the concept of the superorganism to eusocial insects. However, unlike Wheeler, who originally employed the concept from a physiological and evolutionary perspective, today the superorganism is typically understood only from an evolutionary perspective, using group selection. This is because of the widely held view that eusocial colonies are self-organized systems. According to this view, even the most complex eusocial systems can be explained by appealing to a set of local interactions between parts of an initially disordered system (i.e., self-organization), without the need of any hierarchical control. In this paper, we challenge the mainstream view that hierarchical control and regulation does not occur, or is not necessary, in complex eusocial colonies. Using a case study of honey bees (Apis mellifera), we develop an alternative to the self-organization approach that focuses on the hierarchical nature of the organization of complex eusocial systems—that we refer to as the hierarchical-organizational approach. In addition, we analyze how colonies of eusocial insects show a complex set of interactions between the different organisms that bring forth a new cohesive collective organization, and how in turn the constitutive entities of this collective organization are transformed in this process. This paper argues that an inter-identity (namely the superorganism) emerges at the collective level in complex eusocial colonies, such as honey bees, due to the hierarchically organized network of interactions within the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Canciani
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Argyris Arnellos
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.,Complex Systems and Service Design Laboratory, Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece
| | - Alvaro Moreno
- Department of Logic and Philosophy of Science, IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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43
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Genetics in the Honey Bee: Achievements and Prospects toward the Functional Analysis of Molecular and Neural Mechanisms Underlying Social Behaviors. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10100348. [PMID: 31623209 PMCID: PMC6835989 DOI: 10.3390/insects10100348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The European honey bee is a model organism for studying social behaviors. Comprehensive analyses focusing on the differential expression profiles of genes between the brains of nurse bees and foragers, or in the mushroom bodies—the brain structure related to learning and memory, and multimodal sensory integration—has identified candidate genes related to honey bee behaviors. Despite accumulating knowledge on the expression profiles of genes related to honey bee behaviors, it remains unclear whether these genes actually regulate social behaviors in the honey bee, in part because of the scarcity of genetic manipulation methods available for application to the honey bee. In this review, we describe the genetic methods applied to studies of the honey bee, ranging from classical forward genetics to recently developed gene modification methods using transposon and CRISPR/Cas9. We then discuss future functional analyses using these genetic methods targeting genes identified by the preceding research. Because no particular genes or neurons unique to social insects have been found yet, further exploration of candidate genes/neurons correlated with sociality through comprehensive analyses of mushroom bodies in the aculeate species can provide intriguing targets for functional analyses, as well as insight into the molecular and neural bases underlying social behaviors.
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44
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Shen Y, Chen YZ, Lou YH, Zhang CX. Vitellogenin and Vitellogenin-Like Genes in the Brown Planthopper. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1181. [PMID: 31620015 PMCID: PMC6759490 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenin (Vg) is precursor of vitellin. Here, we identified a Vg (NlVg) and two Vg-likes (NlVg-like1 and NlVg-like2) in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Phylogenetic analyses showed that NlVg-like1 and NlVg-like2 are not clustered with the conventional insect Vgs associated with vitellogenesis. Temporo-spatial expression analyses showed that the NlVg and NlVg-like2 transcript levels increased significantly 24 h after emergence and were primarily expressed in female adults. However, NlVg-like1 was expressed during all stages, and in both genders. Tissue-specific analyses showed that all three genes were most highly expressed in the fat body. The injection of double-stranded RNA targeting NlVg showed that NlVg is essential not only for oocyte development but also for nymph development. The knockdown of NlVg-like1 in female adults resulted in failure to hatch or death before eggshell emergence in 18% of offspring embryos, suggesting that NlVg-like1 plays an important role during late embryogenesis. Approximately 65% of eggs laid by females that were treated with double-stranded RNA targeting NlVg-like2 failed to hatch, indicating that NlVg-like2 plays a role in nutrition absorption during oocyte, or embryonic development. Our results illustrate the structural and functional differences among the Vg and Vg-like genes and provide potential targets for RNA-interference-based insect pest management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Zhi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Han Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Christen V, Krebs J, Fent K. Fungicides chlorothanolin, azoxystrobin and folpet induce transcriptional alterations in genes encoding enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and metabolism in honey bees (Apis mellifera) at sublethal concentrations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2019; 377:215-226. [PMID: 31170570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.05.056] [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: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Fungicides are highly used for plant protection but their molecular and chronic effects are poorly known. Here, we analyse transcriptional effects in the brain of honey bees of three frequently applied fungicides, azoxystrobin, chlorothanolin and folpet, after oral exposure for 24, 48 and 72 h. Among transcripts assessed were genes encoding proteins for immune and hormone system regulation, oxidative phosphorylation, metabolism, and acetylcholine receptor alpha 1. Azoxystrobin and folpet induced minor alterations, including down-regulation of hbg-3 by azoxystrobin and induction of ndufb-7 by folpet. Chlorothanolin induced strong transcriptional down-regulation of genes encoding enzymes related to oxidative phosphorylation and metabolism, including cyp9q1, cyp9q2 and cyp9q3, acetylcholine receptor alpha 1 and hbg-3 and ilp-1, which are linked to hormonal regulation and behavioural transition of honey bees. Exposures to chlorothanolin in different seasonal times showed different responsiveness; responses were faster and often stronger in April than in June. Chlorothanolin caused the strongest effects and affected transcriptional abundance of genes related to energy production, metabolism and the endocrine system. Disturbed energy production may reduce foraging activity and hormonal dysregulation, such as the transition of nurse bees to foragers. Further analyses are needed to further substantiate potential adverse effects of chlorothanolin in bees on the physiological level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Christen
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Langackerstrasse 30, CH-4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Jana Krebs
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Langackerstrasse 30, CH-4132, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Karl Fent
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Langackerstrasse 30, CH-4132, Muttenz, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollution Dynamics, CH-8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Kim S, Kim K, Lee JH, Han SH, Lee SH. Differential expression of acetylcholinesterase 1 in response to various stress factors in honey bee workers. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10342. [PMID: 31316163 PMCID: PMC6637154 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46842-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The honey bee acetylcholinesterase 1 (AmAChE1) has been suggested to be related to stress response as judged from its elevated expression level under brood rearing-suppressed conditions. To further investigate the involvement of AmAChE1 expression in the stress response and its physiological functions, we analyzed altered expression profiles of AmAChE1 induced by diverse stress factors. In addition, transcription profiles of several heat shock protein (Hsp) genes (hsps) and the vitellogenin (Vg) gene (vg) known as general stress markers were investigated as positive references. Among the tested stress conditions, AmAChE1 expression was induced under the brood rearing-suppressed, crowding and heat shock conditions. The hsps, particularly hsp70 and hsp90, responded to seven of nine stress conditions tested, confirming that hsp expression profiles can serve as a general stress marker. Taken together, AmAChE1 expression is not suitable for using as a stress marker due to its limited response. Nevertheless, AmAChE1 expression appears to be connected, at least in part, to heat shock response and other pathways. Considering that AmAChE1 likely regulates the ACh titer particularly in non-neuronal tissues, thereby modulating the signal cascades mediated by mAChR, the AmAChE1 expression profile under different conditions likely provides important information on its physiological roles in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghyeon Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyungmun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Ho Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung Hee Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Si Hyeock Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. .,Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
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Appetite is correlated with octopamine and hemolymph sugar levels in forager honeybees. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:609-617. [PMID: 31190093 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01352-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Insects have rapidly changing energy demands, so they primarily rely on hemolymph and other carbohydrates to carry out life activities. However, how gustatory responsiveness and hemolymph sugar levels coordinate with one another to maintain energetic homeostasis in insects remains largely unknown for the highly social honeybee that goes through large physiological and behavioral changes. The potential role of biogenic amines and neuropeptides in the connection between the regulation of appetite and fluctuating sugar levels in the hemolymph, due to starvation, as the bee ages, was investigated. The largest appetite increase due to the starvation treatment was within the forager age class and this corresponded with an increase in octopamine levels in the brain along with a decline in hemolymph sugar levels. Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) was found in very small quantities in the brain and there were no significant changes in response to starvation treatment. Our findings suggest that the particularly dynamic levels of hemolymph sugar levels may serve as a monitor of the forager honeybee energetic state. Therefore, there may be a pathway in forager bees via octopamine responsible for their precise precipitous regulation of appetite, but to determine cause and effect relationships further investigation is needed.
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Lourenço AP, Martins JR, Torres FAS, Mackert A, Aguiar LR, Hartfelder K, Bitondi MMG, Simões ZLP. Immunosenescence in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) is caused by intrinsic senescence and behavioral physiology. Exp Gerontol 2019; 119:174-183. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Christen V, Vogel MS, Hettich T, Fent K. A Vitellogenin Antibody in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera): Characterization and Application as Potential Biomarker for Insecticide Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2019; 38:1074-1083. [PMID: 30714192 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The insect yolk precursor vitellogenin is a lipoglycoprotein synthesized and stored in the fat body and secreted into the hemolymph. In honey bees, vitellogenin displays crucial functions in hormone signaling, behavioral transition of nurse bees to foragers, stress resistance, and longevity in workers. Plant protection products such as neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, and organophosphates alter the transcriptional expression of vitellogenin. To assess plant protection product-induced alterations on the protein level, we developed a rabbit polyclonal vitellogenin antibody. After characterization, we assessed its specificity and vitellogenin levels in different tissues of worker bees. The vitellogenin antibody recognized full-length 180-kDa vitellogenin and the lighter fragment of 150 kDa in fat body, hemolymph, and brain. In hemolymph, a band of approximately 75 kDa was detected. Subsequent mass spectrometric analysis (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) confirmed the 180- and 150-kDa bands as vitellogenin. Subsequently, we evaluated vitellogenin expression in brain, fat body, and hemolymph on 24-h exposure of bees to 3 ng/bee to the neonicotinoid clothianidin. Full-length vitellogenin was upregulated 3-fold in the fat body, and the 150-kDa fragment was upregulated in the brain of exposed honey bees, whereas no alteration occurred in the hemolymph. Upregulation of the vitellogenin protein by the neonicotinoid clothianidin is in line with the previously shown induction of its transcript. We conclude that vitellogenin might serve as a potential biomarker for neonicotinoid and other pesticide exposure in bees. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;00:1-10. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Christen
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Maren Susanne Vogel
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Timm Hettich
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Karl Fent
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollution Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Zürich, Switzerland
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50
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Mello TRP, Aleixo AC, Pinheiro DG, Nunes FMF, Cristino AS, Bitondi MMG, Barchuk AR, Simões ZLP. Hormonal control and target genes of ftz-f1 expression in the honeybee Apis mellifera: a positive loop linking juvenile hormone, ftz-f1, and vitellogenin. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:145-159. [PMID: 30270498 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ftz-f1 is an orphan member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. A 20-hydroxyecdysone pulse allows ftz-f1 gene expression, which then regulates the activity of downstream genes involved in major developmental progression events. In honeybees, the expression of genes like vitellogenin (vg), prophenoloxidase and juvenile hormone-esterase during late pharate-adult development is known to be hormonally controlled in both queens and workers by increasing juvenile hormone (JH) titres in the presence of declining levels of ecdysteroids. Since Ftz-f1 is known for mediating intracellular JH signalling, we hypothesized that ftz-f1 could mediate JH action during the pharate-adult development of honeybees, thus controlling the expression of these genes. Here, we show that ftz-f1 has caste-specific transcription profiles during this developmental period, with a peak coinciding with the increase in JH titre, and that its expression is upregulated by JH and downregulated by ecdysteroids. RNAi-mediated knock down of ftz-f1 showed that the expression of genes essential for adult development (e.g. vg and cuticular genes) depends on ftz-f1 expression. Finally, a double-repressor hypothesis-inspired vg gene knock-down experiment suggests the existence of a positive molecular loop between JH, ftz-f1 and vg.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R P Mello
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A C Aleixo
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - D G Pinheiro
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - F M F Nunes
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A S Cristino
- Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - M M G Bitondi
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A R Barchuk
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e do Desenvolvimento, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, UNIFAL-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Z L P Simões
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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