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Power K, Cilia G, Ragusa E, Rizzo R, Bortolotti L, Maiolino P. Occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis and trypanosomatids in Vespa orientalis linneus 1771. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108168. [PMID: 39004165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Vespa orientalis is spreading across the Italian and European territories leading to new interactions among species, which could lead to the transmission of pathogens between species. Detection of honey bee viruses in V. orientalis has already been revealed in both adults and larvae, while no information is available regarding parasitic occurrence. Sixty adult hornets collected across apiaries in the South of Italy were subjected to cytological, histopathological and biomolecular examination to evaluate the occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, and Crithidia bombi. Cytological examination revealed the presence of Nosema spores in 38.33% of individuals while histopathological analysis showed the presence of L. passim-like elements in the rectum of two examined specimens and the presence of fungal hyphae in the small intestine of another hornet. Biomolecular investigation revealed that N. ceranae was the most prevalent pathogen (50.0%), followed by A. apis (6.66%), L. passim (6.66%) and C. bombi (6.0%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Ernesto Ragusa
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Rizzo
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 90145 Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
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2
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Bieber BV, Lockett SG, Glasser SK, St Clair FA, Portillo NO, Adler LS, Povelones ML. Genetic modification of the bee parasite Crithidia bombi for improved visualization and protein localization. Exp Parasitol 2024; 262:108789. [PMID: 38762201 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108789] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Crithidia bombi is a trypanosomatid parasite that infects several species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.), by adhering to their intestinal tract. Crithidia bombi infection impairs learning and reduces survival of workers and the fitness of overwintering queens. Although there is extensive research on the ecology of this host-pathogen system, we understand far less about the mechanisms that mediate internal infection dynamics. Crithidia bombi infects hosts by attaching to the hindgut via the flagellum, and one previous study found that a nectar secondary compound removed the flagellum, preventing attachment. However, approaches that allow more detailed observation of parasite attachment and growth would allow us to better understand factors mediating this host-pathogen relationship. We established techniques for genetic manipulation and visualization of cultured C. bombi. Using constructs established for Crithidia fasciculata, we successfully generated C. bombi cells expressing ectopic fluorescent transgenes using two different selectable markers. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic modification of this species. We also introduced constructs that label the mitochondrion and nucleus of the parasite, showing that subcellular targeting signals can function across parasite species to highlight specific organelles. Finally, we visualized fluorescently tagged parasites in vitro in both their swimming and attached forms, and in vivo in bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) hosts. Expanding our cell and molecular toolkit for C. bombi will help us better understand how factors such as host diet, immune system, and physiology mediate outcomes of infection by these common parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah G Lockett
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Sonja K Glasser
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Faith A St Clair
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA
| | - Neida O Portillo
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Megan L Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
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Yuan X, Kadowaki T. Protein subcellular relocalization and function of duplicated flagellar calcium binding protein genes in honey bee trypanosomatid parasite. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011195. [PMID: 38437202 PMCID: PMC10939215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011195] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The honey bee trypanosomatid parasite, Lotmaria passim, contains two genes that encode the flagellar calcium binding protein (FCaBP) through tandem duplication in its genome. FCaBPs localize in the flagellum and entire body membrane of L. passim through specific N-terminal sorting sequences. This finding suggests that this is an example of protein subcellular relocalization resulting from gene duplication, altering the intracellular localization of FCaBP. However, this phenomenon may not have occurred in Leishmania, as one or both of the duplicated genes have become pseudogenes. Multiple copies of the FCaBP gene are present in several Trypanosoma species and Leptomonas pyrrhocoris, indicating rapid evolution of this gene in trypanosomatid parasites. The N-terminal flagellar sorting sequence of L. passim FCaBP1 is in close proximity to the BBSome complex, while that of Trypanosoma brucei FCaBP does not direct GFP to the flagellum in L. passim. Deletion of the two FCaBP genes in L. passim affected growth and impaired flagellar morphogenesis and motility, but it did not impact host infection. Therefore, FCaBP represents a duplicated gene with a rapid evolutionary history that is essential for flagellar structure and function in a trypanosomatid parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuye Yuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Jiangsu Province, China
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Yuan X, Sun J, Kadowaki T. Aspartyl protease in the secretome of honey bee trypanosomatid parasite contributes to infection of bees. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:60. [PMID: 38341595 PMCID: PMC10859015 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06126-7] [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: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The exoproteome, which consists of both secreted proteins and those originating from cell surfaces and lysed cells, is a critical component of trypanosomatid parasites, facilitating interactions with host cells and gut microbiota. However, its specific roles in the insect hosts of these parasites remain poorly understood. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive characterization of the exoproteome in Lotmaria passim, a trypanosomatid parasite infecting honey bees, under culture conditions. We further investigated the functions of two conventionally secreted proteins, aspartyl protease (LpAsp) and chitinase (LpCht), as representative models to elucidate the role of the secretome in L. passim infection of honey bees. RESULTS Approximately 48% of L. passim exoproteome proteins were found to share homologs with those found in seven Leishmania spp., suggesting the existence of a core exoproteome with conserved functions in the Leishmaniinae lineage. Bioinformatics analyses suggested that the L. passim exoproteome may play a pivotal role in interactions with both the host and its microbiota. Notably, the deletion of genes encoding two secretome proteins revealed the important role of LpAsp, but not LpCht, in L. passim development under culture conditions and its efficiency in infecting the honey bee gut. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the exoproteome as a valuable resource for unraveling the mechanisms employed by trypanosomatid parasites to infect insect hosts by interacting with the gut environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuye Yuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianying Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
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Erban T, Parizkova K, Sopko B, Talacko P, Markovic M, Jarosova J, Votypka J. Imidacloprid increases the prevalence of the intestinal parasite Lotmaria passim in honey bee workers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:166973. [PMID: 37699488 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166973] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
A challenge in bee protection is to assess the risks of pesticide-pathogen interactions. Lotmaria passim, a ubiquitous unicellular parasite in honey bees, is considered harmful under specific conditions. Imidacloprid causes unpredictable side effects. Research indicates that both L. passim and imidacloprid may affect the physiology, behavior, immunity, microbiome and lifespan of honey bees. We designed cage experiments to test whether the infection of L. passim is affected by a sublethal dose of imidacloprid. Workers collected at the time of emergence were exposed to L. passim and 2.5 μg/L imidacloprid in the coexposure treatment group. First, samples of bees were taken from cages since they were 5 days old and 3 days postinfection, i.e., after finishing an artificial 24 h L. passim infection. Additional bees were collected every two additional days. In addition, bees frozen at the time of emergence and collected from the unexposed group were analyzed. Abdomens were analyzed using qPCR to determine parasite load, while corresponding selected heads were subjected to a label-free proteomic analysis. Our results show that bees are free of L. passim at the time of emergence. Furthermore, imidacloprid considerably increased the prevalence as well as parasite loads in individual bees. This means that imidacloprid facilitates infection, enabling faster parasite spread in a colony and potentially to surrounding colonies. The proteomic analysis of bee heads showed that imidacloprid neutralized the increased transferrin 1 expression by L. passim. Importantly, this promising marker has been previously observed to be upregulated by infections, including gut parasites. This study contributes to understanding the side effects of imidacloprid and demonstrates that a single xenobiotic/pesticide compound can interact with the gut parasite. Our methodology can be used to assess the effects of different compounds on L. passim.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Erban
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne CZ-161 06, Czechia.
| | - Kamila Parizkova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 1594/7, Prague 2 CZ-128 00, Czechia
| | - Bruno Sopko
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne CZ-161 06, Czechia
| | - Pavel Talacko
- Proteomics Core Facility, Faculty of Science, BIOCEV, Charles University, Prumyslova 595, Vestec CZ-252 50, Czechia
| | - Martin Markovic
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne CZ-161 06, Czechia
| | - Jana Jarosova
- Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations in Plants, Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 263, Prague 6-Lysolaje CZ-165 02, Czechia
| | - Jan Votypka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 1594/7, Prague 2 CZ-128 00, Czechia; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 1160/31, Ceske Budejovice CZ-37005, Czechia
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6
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MacInnis CI, Luong LT, Pernal SF. A tale of two parasites: Responses of honey bees infected with Nosema ceranae and Lotmaria passim. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22515. [PMID: 38110440 PMCID: PMC10728187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49189-9] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae and Lotmaria passim are two commonly encountered digestive tract parasites of the honey bee that have been associated with colony losses in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Though honey bees can be co-infected with these parasites, we still lack basic information regarding how they impact bee health at the individual and colony level. Using locally-isolated parasite strains, we investigated the effect of single and co-infections of these parasites on individual honey bee survival, and their responsiveness to sucrose. Results showed that a single N. ceranae infection is more virulent than both single L. passim infections and co-infections. Honey bees singly infected with N. ceranae reached < 50% survival eight days earlier than those inoculated with L. passim alone, and four days earlier than those inoculated with both parasites. Honey bees infected with either one, or both, parasites had increased responsiveness to sucrose compared to uninfected bees, which could correspond to higher levels of hunger and increased energetic stress. Together, these findings suggest that N. ceranae and L. passim pose threats to bee health, and that the beekeeping industry should monitor for both parasites in an effort correlate pathogen status with changes in colony-level productivity and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney I MacInnis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada.
| | - Lien T Luong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada.
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7
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Rudelli C, Isani G, Andreani G, Tedesco P, Galuppi R. Detection of Lotmaria passim in honeybees from Emilia Romagna (Italy) based on a culture method. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:108007. [PMID: 37839581 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108007] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Lotmaria passim is considered an emerging field of study in honeybee pathology, since it can threaten the health of the colony leading to a higher mortality rate. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the diffusion of this trypanosomatid in Italy. In this study, we highlight the presence of L. passim in the province of Bologna through its culture isolation from honeybee guts and microscopic observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Rudelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Andreani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Perla Tedesco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Roberta Galuppi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
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8
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Buendía-Abad M, Martín-Hernández R, Higes M. Trypanosomatids in honey bee colonies in Spain: A new specific qPCR method for specific quantification of Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae and Crithidia bombi. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:108004. [PMID: 37839582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108004] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Bee trypanosomatids have not been widely studied due to the original belief that these organisms were not pathogenic to honey bees. However, trypanosomatids have been linked to increased winter mortality in honey bee colonies in recent years and it has been shown that these pathogens can shorten a honey bee worker's lifespan in laboratory conditions. These studies found that this mortality corresponded to dose-dependent infection. Although Lotmaria passim is the most prevalent species worldwide, the natural load in colonies remains poorly investigated. Here we describe a new highly specific and sensitive qPCR method that allows the differentiation and quantification of the parasitic load of each of the three most common trypanosomatid species described to date in honey bee colonies: L. passim, Crithidia mellificae, and Crithidia bombi. We have used this new method to analyze honey bee colonies in central Spain and confirm that L. passim is the most common species and the one with higher parasitic loads in the colonies, which increased over the years, being higher in spring than in autumn. Crithidia mellificae was present along the study, with the highest prevalence in autumn 2019 and lately it was only found in non-quantifiable loads. Crithidia bombi was not detected in any of the colonies analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Buendía-Abad
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF - Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Desarrollo Rural de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain.
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF - Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Desarrollo Rural de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (Increcyt-Feder), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, 02001 Albacete, Spain.
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF - Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Desarrollo Rural de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain.
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9
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Palmer-Young EC, Markowitz LM, Huang WF, Evans JD. High temperatures augment inhibition of parasites by a honey bee gut symbiont. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0102323. [PMID: 37791764 PMCID: PMC10617414 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01023-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature affects growth, metabolism, and interspecific interactions in microbial communities. Within animal hosts, gut bacterial symbionts can provide resistance to parasitic infections. Both infection and populations of symbionts can be shaped by the host body temperature. However, the effects of temperature on the antiparasitic activities of gut symbionts have seldom been explored. The Lactobacillus-rich gut microbiota of facultatively endothermic honey bees is subject to seasonal and ontogenetic changes in host temperature that could alter the effects of symbionts against parasites. We used cell cultures of a Lactobacillus symbiont and an important trypanosomatid gut parasite of honey bees to test the potential for temperature to shape parasite-symbiont interactions. We found that symbionts showed greater heat tolerance than parasites and chemically inhibited parasite growth via production of acids. Acceleration of symbiont growth and acid production at high temperatures resulted in progressively stronger antiparasitic effects across a temperature range typical of bee colonies. Consequently, the presence of symbionts reduced both the peak growth rate and heat tolerance of parasites. Substantial changes in parasite-symbiont interactions were evident over a temperature breadth that parallels changes in diverse animals exhibiting infection-related fevers and the amplitude of circadian temperature variation typical of endothermic birds and mammals, implying the frequent potential for temperature to alter symbiont-mediated resistance to parasites in endo- and ectothermic hosts. Results suggest that the endothermic behavior of honey bees could enhance the impacts of gut symbionts on parasites, implicating thermoregulation as a reinforcer of core symbioses and possibly microbiome-mediated antiparasitic defense. IMPORTANCE Two factors that shape the resistance of animals to infection are body temperature and gut microbiota. However, temperature can also alter interactions among microbes, raising the question of whether and how temperature changes the antiparasitic effects of gut microbiota. Honey bees are agriculturally important hosts of diverse parasites and infection-mitigating gut microbes. They can also socially regulate their body temperatures to an extent unusual for an insect. We show that high temperatures found in honey bee colonies augment the ability of a gut bacterial symbiont to inhibit the growth of a common bee parasite, reducing the parasite's ability to grow at high temperatures. This suggests that fluctuations in colony and body temperatures across life stages and seasons could alter the protective value of bees' gut microbiota against parasites, and that temperature-driven changes in gut microbiota could be an underappreciated mechanism by which temperature-including endothermy and fever-alters animal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey M. Markowitz
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
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10
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Zhang BX, Liu FF, Liu F, Sun YX, Rao XJ. Dual RNA Sequencing of Beauveria bassiana-Infected Spodoptera frugiperda Reveals a Fungal Protease with Entomopathogenic and Antiphytopathogenic Activities. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:12757-12774. [PMID: 37602431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c02356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Insect pests and phytopathogens significantly impact crop yield and quality. The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda and the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum cause substantial economic losses in crops like barley and wheat. However, the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana shows limited efficacy against FAW, and its antiphytopathogenic activities against F. graminearum remain unclear. Here, dual RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes in B. bassiana-infected FAW larvae. We found that the BbAorsin gene was significantly upregulated at 36 and 48 h post-infection. BbAorsin encodes a serine-carboxyl protease and is mainly expressed in blastospores and hyphae. Overexpression of BbAorsin in B. bassiana ARSEF2860 enhanced virulence against Galleria mellonella and FAW larvae and inhibited F. graminearum growth. The recombinant BbAorsin protein induced apoptosis and necrosis in FAW hemocytes and inhibited F. graminearum spore germination. These findings shed light on transcriptomic mechanisms governing insect-pathogen interactions, which could aid in developing dual-functional entomopathogens and anti-phytopathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang-Xian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Hefei 230036, China
- Department of Scientific Research, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China
| | - Fang-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Yan-Xia Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xiang-Jun Rao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Hefei 230036, China
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11
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The Activity of Red Nigerian Propolis and Some of Its Components against Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020622. [PMID: 36677679 PMCID: PMC9860874 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Propolis is a resin that is gathered by bees from exudates produced by various plants. Its exact chemical composition depends on the plants available near the hive. Bees use propolis to coat the surfaces of the hive, where it acts as an anti-infective. Regardless of the chemical composition of propolis, it is always anti-protozoal, probably because protozoan parasites, particularly Lotmarium passim, are widespread in bee populations. The protozoa Trypanosoma brucei and T. congolense cause disease in humans and/or animals. The existing drugs for treating these diseases are old and resistance is an increasingly severe problem. The many types of propolis present a rich source of anti-trypanosomal compounds-from a material gathered by bees in an environmentally friendly way. In the current work, red Nigerian propolis from Rivers State, Nigeria was tested against T. brucei and T. congolense and found to be highly active (EC50 1.66 and 4.00 µg/mL, respectively). Four isoflavonoids, vestitol, neovestitol, 7-methylvestitol and medicarpin, were isolated from the propolis. The isolated compounds were also tested against T. brucei and T. congolense, and vestitol displayed the highest activity at 3.86 and 4.36 µg/mL, respectively. Activities against drug-resistant forms of T. brucei and T. congolense were similar to those against wild type.
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12
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Palmer-Young EC, Markowitz LM, Grubbs K, Zhang Y, Corona M, Schwarz R, Chen Y, Evans JD. Antiparasitic effects of three floral volatiles on trypanosomatid infection in honey bees. J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 194:107830. [PMID: 36174749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomatid gut parasites are common in pollinators and costly for social bees. The recently described honey bee trypanosomatid Lotmaria passim is widespread, abundant, and correlated with colony losses in some studies. The potential for amelioration of infection by antimicrobial plant compounds has been thoroughly studied for closely related trypanosomatids of humans and is an area of active research in bumble bees, but remains relatively unexplored in honey bees. We recently identified several floral volatiles that inhibited growth of L. passim in vitro. Here, we tested the dose-dependent effects of four such compounds on infection, mortality, and food consumption in parasite-inoculated honey bees. We found that diets containing the monoterpenoid carvacrol and the phenylpropanoids cinnamaldehyde and eugenol at >10-fold the inhibitory concentrations for cell cultures reduced infection, with parasite numbers decreased by >90% for carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde and >99% for eugenol; effects of the carvacrol isomer thymol were non-significant. However, both carvacrol and eugenol also reduced bee survival, whereas parasite inoculation did not, indicating costs of phytochemical exposure that could exceed those of infection itself. To our knowledge, this is the first controlled screening of phytochemicals for effects on honey bee trypanosomatid infection, identifying potential treatments for managed bees afflicted with a newly characterized, cosmopolitan intestinal parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey M Markowitz
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA; Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kyle Grubbs
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Miguel Corona
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Ryan Schwarz
- Department of Biology, Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, USA
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
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13
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Zhang S, Huang J, Wang Q, You M, Xia X. Changes in the Host Gut Microbiota during Parasitization by Parasitic Wasp Cotesia vestalis. INSECTS 2022; 13:760. [PMID: 36135461 PMCID: PMC9506224 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Parasites attack the host insects and possibly impact the host-gut microbiota, which leads to provision of a suitable host environment for parasites' development. However, little is known about whether and how the parasitic wasp Cotesia vestalis alters the gut microbiota of the host Plutella xylostella. In this study, 16S rDNA microbial profiling, combined with a traditional isolation and culture method, were used to assess changes in the bacterial microbiome of parasitized and non-parasitized hosts at different developmental stages of C. vestalis larvae. Parasitization affected both the diversity and structure of the host-gut microbiota, with a significant reduction in richness on the sixth day post parasitization (6 DPP) and significant differences in bacterial structure between parasitized and non-parasitized hosts on the third day. The bacterial abundance of host-gut microbiota changed significantly as the parasitization progressed, resulting in alteration of potential functional contribution. Notably, the relative abundance of the predominant family Enterobacteriaceae was significantly decreased on the third day post-parasitization. In addition, the results of traditional isolation and culture of bacteria indicated differences in the bacterial composition between the three DPP and CK3 groups, as with 16S microbial profiling. These findings shed light on the interaction between a parasitic wasp and gut bacteria in the host insect during parasitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jieling Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qiuping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Cilia G, Tafi E, Zavatta L, Caringi V, Nanetti A. The Epidemiological Situation of the Managed Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies in the Italian Region Emilia-Romagna. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9080437. [PMID: 36006352 PMCID: PMC9412502 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent decades witnessed the collapse of honey bee colonies at a global level. The major drivers of this collapse include both individual and synergic pathogen actions, threatening the colonies’ survival. The need to define the epidemiological pattern of the pathogens that are involved has led to the establishment of monitoring programs in many countries, Italy included. In this framework, the health status of managed honey bees in the Emilia–Romagna region (northern Italy) was assessed, throughout the year 2021, on workers from 31 apiaries to investigate the presence of major known and emerging honey bee pathogens. The prevalence and abundance of DWV, KBV, ABPV, CBPV, Nosema ceranae, and trypanosomatids (Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, Crithidia bombi) were assessed by molecular methods. The most prevalent pathogen was DWV, followed by CBPV and N. ceranae. Trypanosomatids were not found in any of the samples. Pathogens had different peaks in abundance over the months, showing seasonal trends that were related to the dynamics of both bee colonies and Varroa destructor infestation. For some of the pathogens, a weak but significant correlation was observed between abundance and geographical longitude. The information obtained in this study increases our understanding of the epidemiological situation of bee colonies in Emilia–Romagna and helps us to implement better disease prevention and improved territorial management of honey bee health.
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Diet Supplementation Helps Honey Bee Colonies in Combat Infections by Enhancing their Hygienic Behaviour. ACTA VET-BEOGRAD 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/acve-2022-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The hygienic behavior in honey bees is a complex polygenic trait that serves as a natural defense mechanism against bacterial and fungal brood diseases and Varroa destructor mites infesting brood cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a dietary amino acids and vitamins supplement “BEEWELL AminoPlus” on hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera colonies combating microsporidial and viral infections. The experiment was performed during a one-year period on 40 colonies alloted to five groups: one supplemented and infected with Nosema ceranae and four viruses (Deformed wing virus - DWV, Acute bee paralysis virus - ABPV, Chronic bee paralysis virus - CBPV and Sacbrood virus – SBV), three not supplemented, but infected with N. ceranae and/ or viruses, and one negative control group. Beside the l isted pathogens, honey bee trypanosomatids were also monitored in all groups.
The supplement “BEEWELL AminoPlus” induced a significant and consistent increase of the hygienic behavior in spite of the negative effects of N. ceranae and viral infections. N. ceranae and viruses significantly and consistently decreased hygienic behavior, but also threatened the survival of bee colonies. The tested supplement showed anti-Nosema effect, since the N. ceranae infection level significantly and consistently declined only in the supplemented group. Among infected groups, only the supplemented one remained Lotmaria passim-free throughout the study. In conclusion, diet supplementation enhances hygienic behavior of honey bee colonies and helps them fight the most common infections of honey bees.
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16
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Giacomini JJ, Moore N, Adler LS, Irwin RE. Sunflower pollen induces rapid excretion in bumble bees: Implications for host-pathogen interactions. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 137:104356. [PMID: 35016876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Host diet can have a profound effect on host-pathogen interactions, including indirect effects on pathogens mediated through host physiology. In bumble bees (Bombus impatiens), the consumption of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen dramatically reduces infection by the gut protozoan pathogen Crithidia bombi. One hypothesis for the medicinal effect of sunflower pollen is that consumption changes host gut physiological function, causing rapid excretion that flushes C. bombi from the system. We tested the effect of pollen diet and C. bombi infection on gut transit properties using a 2x2 factorial experiment in which bees were infected with C. bombi or not and fed sunflower or wildflower pollen diet. We measured several non-mutually exclusive physiological processes that underlie the insect excretory system, including gut transit time, bi-hourly excretion rate, the total number of excretion events and the total volume of excrement. Sunflower pollen significantly reduced gut transit time in uninfected bees, and increased the total number of excretion events and volume of excrement by 66 % and 68 %, respectively, in both infected and uninfected bees. Here we show that a sunflower pollen diet can affect host physiology gut function, causing more rapid and greater excretion. These results provide important insight into a mechanism that could underlie the medicinal effect of sunflower pollen for bumble bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Giacomini
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA.
| | - Nicholas Moore
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003 USA
| | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA
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17
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Palmer-Young EC, Raffel TR, Evans JD. Hot and sour: parasite adaptations to honeybee body temperature and pH. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211517. [PMID: 34847766 PMCID: PMC8634619 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Host temperature and gut chemistry can shape resistance to parasite infection. Heat and acidity can limit trypanosomatid infection in warm-blooded hosts and could shape infection resistance in insects as well. The colony-level endothermy and acidic guts of social bees provide unique opportunities to study how temperature and acidity shape insect-parasite associations. We compared temperature and pH tolerance between three trypanosomatid parasites from social bees and a related trypanosomatid from poikilothermic mosquitoes, which have alkaline guts. Relative to the mosquito parasites, all three bee parasites had higher heat tolerance that reflected body temperatures of hosts. Heat tolerance of the honeybee parasite Crithidia mellificae was exceptional for its genus, implicating honeybee endothermy as a plausible filter of parasite establishment. The lesser heat tolerance of the emerging Lotmaria passim suggests possible spillover from a less endothermic host. Whereas both honeybee parasites tolerated the acidic pH found in bee intestines, mosquito parasites tolerated the alkaline conditions found in mosquito midguts, suggesting that both gut pH and temperature could structure host-parasite specificity. Elucidating how host temperature and gut pH affect infection-and corresponding parasite adaptations to these factors-could help explain trypanosomatids' distribution among insects and invasion of mammals.
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18
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Olgar Y, Durak A, Bitirim CV, Tuncay E, Turan B. Insulin acts as an atypical KCNQ1/KCNE1-current activator and reverses long QT in insulin-resistant aged rats by accelerating the ventricular action potential repolarization through affecting the β 3 -adrenergic receptor signaling pathway. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:1353-1371. [PMID: 34632595 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Insufficient-heart function is associated with myocardial insulin resistance in the elderly, particularly associated with long-QT, in a dependency on dysfunctional KCNQ1/KCNE1-channels. So, we aimed to examine the contribution of alterations in KCNQ1/KCNE1-current (IKs ) to the aging-related remodeling of the heart as well as the role of insulin treatment on IKs in the aged rats. Prolonged late-phase action potential (AP) repolarization of ventricular cardiomyocytes from insulin-resistant 24-month-old rats was significantly reversed by in vitro treatment of insulin or PKG inhibitor (in vivo, as well) via recovery in depressed IKs . Although the protein level of either KCNQ1 or KCNE1 in cardiomyocytes was not affected with aging, PKG level was significantly increased in those cells. The inhibited IKs in β3 -ARs-stimulated cells could be reversed with a PKG inhibitor, indicating the correlation between PKG-activation and β3 -ARs activation. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of aged rats, characterized by β3 -ARs activation, with either insulin or a PKG inhibitor for 2 weeks provided significant recoveries in IKs , prolonged late phases of APs, prolonged QT-intervals, and low heart rates without no effect on insulin resistance. In vivo insulin treatment provided also significant recovery in increased PKG and decreased PIP2 level, without the insulin effect on the KCNQ1 level in β3 -ARs overexpressed cells. The inhibition of IKs in aged-rat cardiomyocytes seems to be associated with activated β3 -ARs dependent remodeling in the interaction between KCNQ1 and KCNE1. Significant recoveries in ventricular-repolarization of insulin-treated aged cardiomyocytes via recovery in IKs strongly emphasize two important issues: (1) IKs can be a novel target in aging-associated remodeling in the heart and insulin may be a cardioprotective agent in the maintenance of normal heart function during the aging process. (2) This study is one of the first to demonstrate insulin's benefits on long-QT in insulin-resistant aged rats by accelerating the ventricular AP repolarization through reversing the depressed IKs via affecting the β3 -ARs signaling pathway and particularly affecting activated PKG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf Olgar
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Durak
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Erkan Tuncay
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Belma Turan
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey
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19
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Tsvetkov N, MacPhail VJ, Colla SR, Zayed A. Conservation genomics reveals pesticide and pathogen exposure in the declining bumble bee Bombus terricola. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4220-4230. [PMID: 34181797 PMCID: PMC8457087 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, many pollinators have experienced large population declines, which threaten food security and the stability of natural ecosystems. Bumble bees are particularly important because their ability to “buzz” pollinate and tolerate cooler conditions make them critical pollinators for certain plants and regions. Here, we apply a conservation genomics approach to study the vulnerable Bombus terricola. We sequenced RNA from 30 worker abdomens, 18 of which were collected from agricultural sites and 12 of which were collected from nonagricultural sites. We found transcriptional signatures associated with exposure to insecticides, with gene expression patterns suggesting that bumble bees were exposed to neonicotinoids and/or fipronil—two compounds known to negatively impact bees. We also found transcriptional signatures associated with pathogen infections. In addition to the transcriptomic analysis, we carried out a metatranscriptomic analysis and detected five pathogens in the abdomens of workers, three of which are common in managed honey bee and bumble bee colonies. Our conservation genomics study provides functional support for the role of pesticides and pathogen spillover in the decline of B. terricola. We demonstrate that conservation genomics is an invaluable tool which allows researchers to quantify the effects of multiple stressors that impact pollinator populations in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria J MacPhail
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila R Colla
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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20
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Genome Analysis of Endotrypanum and Porcisia spp., Closest Phylogenetic Relatives of Leishmania, Highlights the Role of Amastins in Shaping Pathogenicity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030444. [PMID: 33804709 PMCID: PMC8004069 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While numerous genomes of Leishmania spp. have been sequenced and analyzed, an understanding of the evolutionary history of these organisms remains limited due to the unavailability of the sequence data for their closest known relatives, Endotrypanum and Porcisia spp., infecting sloths and porcupines. We have sequenced and analyzed genomes of three members of this clade in order to fill this gap. Their comparative analyses revealed only minute differences from Leishmaniamajor genome in terms of metabolic capacities. We also documented that the number of genes under positive selection on the Endotrypanum/Porcisia branch is rather small, with the flagellum-related group of genes being over-represented. Most significantly, the analysis of gene family evolution revealed a substantially reduced repertoire of surface proteins, such as amastins and biopterin transporters BT1 in the Endotrypanum/Porcisia species when compared to amastigote-dwelling Leishmania. This reduction was especially pronounced for δ-amastins, a subfamily of cell surface proteins crucial in the propagation of Leishmania amastigotes inside vertebrate macrophages and, apparently, dispensable for Endotrypanum/Porcisia, which do not infect such cells.
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21
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Buendía-Abad M, Higes M, Martín-Hernández R, Barrios L, Meana A, Fernández Fernández A, Osuna A, De Pablos LM. Workflow of Lotmaria passim isolation: Experimental infection with a low-passage strain causes higher honeybee mortality rates than the PRA-403 reference strain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 14:68-74. [PMID: 33532238 PMCID: PMC7829110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The impact of trypanosomatid parasites on honeybee health may represent a major threat to bee colonies worldwide. However, few axenic isolates have been generated to date and with no details on cell culture passages, a parameter that could influence parasite virulence. To address this question, a trypanosomatid isolation protocol was developed and a new strain was obtained, named L. passim C1. Using experimental infection of worker honeybees, we compared the virulence and mortality rates of the ATCC PRA-403 reference strain and C1 strain, the latter showing higher virulence from 10 days post-infection onward. This study highlights the impact of cell culture passages on the pathogenicity of L. passim in honeybees, providing new evidence of its negative effects on honeybee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Buendía-Abad
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain.,Institute of Human Resources for Science and Technology (INCRECYT-FEDER), Science and Technology Park Foundation from Castilla - La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Statistics Department, Computing Center SGAI-CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Meana
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández Fernández
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel De Pablos
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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22
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Gómez-Moracho T, Buendía-Abad M, Benito M, García-Palencia P, Barrios L, Bartolomé C, Maside X, Meana A, Jiménez-Antón MD, Olías-Molero AI, Alunda JM, Martín-Hernández R, Higes M. Experimental evidence of harmful effects of Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim on honey bees. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:1117-1124. [PMID: 32822679 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The trypanosomatids Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim are very prevalent in honey bee colonies and potentially contribute to colony losses that currently represent a serious threat to honey bees. However, potential pathogenicity of these trypanosomatids remains unclear and since studies of infection are scarce, there is little information about the virulence of their different morphotypes. Hence, we first cultured C. mellificae and L. passim (ATCC reference strains) in six different culture media to analyse their growth rates and to obtain potentially infective morphotypes. Both C. mellificae and L. passim grew in five of the media tested, with the exception of M199. These trypanosomatids multiplied fastest in BHI medium, in which they reached a stationary phase after around 96 h of growth. Honey bees inoculated with either Crithidia or Lotmaria died faster than control bees and their mortality was highest when they were inoculated with 96 h cultured L. passim. Histological and Electron Microscopy analyses revealed flagellated morphotypes of Crithidia and Lotmaria in the lumen of the ileum, and adherent non-flagellated L. passim morphotypes covering the epithelium, although no lesions were evident. These data indicate that parasitic forms of these trypanosomatids obtained from the early stationary growth phase infect honey bees. Therefore, efficient infection can be achieved to study their intra-host development and to assess the potential pathogenicity of these trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Gómez-Moracho
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition (CRCA), Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), University Paul Sabatier, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - María Buendía-Abad
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - María Benito
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Pilar García-Palencia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Consejo Superior Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), SGAI, Departamento de Estadística, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain; Grupo de Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Xulio Maside
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain; Grupo de Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Dolores Jiménez-Antón
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Isabel Olías-Molero
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José María Alunda
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain; Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-FEDER), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla - La Mancha, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain.
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Impact of Mixed Infections of Gut Parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae on the Lifespan and Immune-related Biomarkers in Apis mellifera. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11070420. [PMID: 32650366 PMCID: PMC7412077 DOI: 10.3390/insects11070420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Lotmaria passim currently appears to be the predominant trypanosome in honey bees worldwide. Although, the specific effects of L. passim by single or mixed with other gut parasites such as Nosema ceranae on honey bees’ health is still unclear. We consequently measured bees’ survival, parasite loads, the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and vitellogenin gene. Thus, (1) bees naturally infected with L. passim, (2) healthy bees inoculated with Nosema ceranae, (3) bees naturally infected with L. passim and inoculated with N. ceranae and (4) healthy bees (control) were maintained under controlled conditions. Honey bees infected with N. ceranae or with mixed infections of L. passim and N. ceranae had significantly lower survival rates than the control group at 20 days post-inoculation (dpi). A competitive suppression was also detected, provided that the L. passim load was significantly affected by the presence of N. ceranae at 15 dpi. Expressions of the AMPs defensin and hymenoptaecin rapidly (two hours post-inoculation) increased in bees infected with N. ceranae and mixed infections. However, this effect was not continuous. In fact, expressions of abaecin, defensin, hymenoptaecin and vitellogenin decreased drastically at 15 dpi in bees with both single and mixed infections. The decrease in the expression of AMPs and vitellogenin throughout this period was consistent with the reduced survivals observed in this study, indicating that mixed infections of L. passim and N. ceranae, and even into a scenario of competition between them, may have a synergic effect on the survival and immune-related gene expressions (biomarkers) of worker bees.
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Abstract
Recent declines of wild pollinators and infections in honey, bumble and other bee species have raised concerns about pathogen spillover from managed honey and bumble bees to other pollinators. Parasites of honey and bumble bees include trypanosomatids and microsporidia that often exhibit low host specificity, suggesting potential for spillover to co-occurring bees via shared floral resources. However, experimental tests of trypanosomatid and microsporidial cross-infectivity outside of managed honey and bumble bees are scarce. To characterize potential cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites, we inoculated three trypanosomatids and one microsporidian into five potential hosts – including four managed species – from the apid, halictid and megachilid bee families. We found evidence of cross-infection by the trypanosomatids Crithidia bombi and C. mellificae, with evidence for replication in 3/5 and 3/4 host species, respectively. These include the first reports of experimental C. bombi infection in Megachile rotundata and Osmia lignaria, and C. mellificae infection in O. lignaria and Halictus ligatus. Although inability to control amounts inoculated in O. lignaria and H. ligatus hindered estimates of parasite replication, our findings suggest a broad host range in these trypanosomatids, and underscore the need to quantify disease-mediated threats of managed social bees to sympatric pollinators.
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