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Macpherson CV, Daisley BA, Mallory E, Allen-Vercoe E. The untapped potential of cell culture in disentangling insect-microbial relationships. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2024; 3:20. [PMID: 38841412 PMCID: PMC11149091 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell culture is a powerful technique for the investigation of molecular mechanisms fundamental to health and disease in a diverse array of organisms. Cell lines offer several advantages, namely their simplistic approach and high degree of reproducibility. One field where cell culture has proven particularly useful is the study of the microbiome, where cell culture has led to the illumination of microbial influences on host immunity, nutrition, and physiology. Thus far, researchers have focused cell culture work predominantly on humans, but the growing field of insect microbiome research stands to benefit greatly from its application. Insects constitute one of Earth's most diverse and ancient life forms and, just as with humans, possess microbiomes with great significance to their health. Insects, which play critical roles in supporting food security and ecological stability, are facing increasing threats from agricultural intensification, climate change, and pesticide use. As the microbiome is closely tied to host health, gaining a more robust understanding is of increasing importance. In this review, we assert that the cultivation and utilization of insect gut cell lines in microbiome research will bridge critical knowledge gaps essential for informing insect management practices in a world under pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, ON, Canada
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2
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Nekoei S, Rezvan M, Khamesipour F, Mayack C, Molento MB, Revainera PD. A systematic review of honey bee (Apis mellifera, Linnaeus, 1758) infections and available treatment options. Vet Med Sci 2023. [PMID: 37335585 PMCID: PMC10357250 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Honey bees and honeycomb bees are very valuable for wild flowering plants and economically important crops due to their role as pollinators. However, these insects confront many disease threats (viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi) and large pesticide concentrations in the environment. Varroa destructor is the most prevalent disease that has had the most negative effects on the fitness and survival of different honey bees (Apis mellifera and A. cerana). Moreover, honey bees are social insects and this ectoparasite can be easily transmitted within and across bee colonies. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide a survey of the diversity and distribution of important bee infections and possible management and treatment options, so that honey bee colony health can be maintained. METHODS We used PRISMA guidelines throughout article selection, published between January 1960 and December 2020. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Ovid databases were searched. RESULTS We have collected 132 articles and retained 106 articles for this study. The data obtained revealed that V. destructor and Nosema spp. were found to be the major pathogens of honey bees worldwide. The impact of these infections can result in the incapacity of forager bees to fly, disorientation, paralysis, and death of many individuals in the colony. We find that both hygienic and chemical pest management strategies must be implemented to prevent, reduce the parasite loads and transmission of pathogens. The use of an effective miticide (fluvalinate-tau, coumaphos and amitraz) now seems to be an essential and common practice required to minimise the impact of Varroa mites and other pathogens on bee colonies. New, alternative biofriendly control methods, are on the rise, and could be critical for maintaining honey bee hive health and improving honey productivity. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that critical health control methods be adopted globally and that an international monitoring system be implemented to determine honey bee colony safety, regularly identify parasite prevalence, as well as potential risk factors, so that the impact of pathogens on bee health can be recognised and quantified on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Nekoei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rezvan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Faham Khamesipour
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Christopher Mayack
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Bioengineering, Sabanci University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Marcelo Beltrão Molento
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology Program, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Pablo Damián Revainera
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Lattorff HMG. Group Size Buffers against Energetic Stress in Honeybee Workers (Apis mellifera). STRESSES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/stresses3020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Individuals of the Western honeybee species, Apis mellifera, live in large groups of thousands of worker bees, a queen, and a few drones. Workers interact frequently with related individuals while performing various tasks. Although it is well understood why and under which conditions sociality can evolve, the consequences for individuals living in permanent groups are less well understood. As individuals of solitary species become stressed when kept at high density, it might be the opposite in obligate social species. Here, I use an experimental laboratory set-up to study the effect of varying group sizes on the magnitude and within-group variance of stress responses towards energetic and heat stress. While only a weak difference was found in the magnitude of an energetic stress response as a function of group size, the within-group variance showed a statistically significant positive relationship with group size for the glucose/trehalose ratio, a marker for energetic stress. The heat stress marker, hsp70AB gene expression, did not show any relationship to group size. Individuals of obligate social species seem to benefit from adaptations to permanent group living, e.g., buffering against stress, especially at a higher density of individuals. The consequences of infections and immune system activation in isolated individuals are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Michael G. Lattorff
- Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät I, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Wei X, Zheng J, Evans JD, Huang Q. Transgenerational genomic analyses reveal allelic oscillation and purifying selection in a gut parasite Nosema ceranae. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:927892. [PMID: 36386715 PMCID: PMC9664190 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.927892] [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: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Standing genetic variation is the predominant source acted on by selection. Organisms with high genetic diversity generally show faster responses toward environmental change. Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite of honey bees, infecting midgut epithelial cells. High genetic diversity has been found in this parasite, but the mechanism for the parasite to maintain this diversity remains unclear. This study involved continuous inoculation of N. ceranae to honey bees. We found that the parasites slowly increased genetic diversity over three continuous inoculations. The number of lost single nucleotide variants (SNVs) was balanced with novel SNVs, which were mainly embedded in coding regions. Classic allele frequency oscillation was found at the regional level along the genome, and the associated genes were enriched in apoptosis regulation and ATP binding. The ratio of synonymous and non-synonymous substitution suggests a purifying selection, and our results provide novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics in microsporidian parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu Wei
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China,Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jialan Zheng
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Qiang Huang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China,Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China,*Correspondence: Qiang Huang,
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5
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Zhu F, Xiao S, Qin X, Liu Q, Li H, Ming D, Bai X. Identification and subcellular localization of NbIAP in the microsporidian Nosema bombycis. J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 195:107846. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Wei X, Evans JD, Chen Y, Huang Q. Spillover and genome selection of the gut parasite Nosema ceranae between honey bee species. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1026154. [PMID: 36304932 PMCID: PMC9592821 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1026154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a honey bee gut parasite that has recently spilled to another honey bee host through trading. The impact of infection on the native host is minor, which is substantial in the novel host. In this study, artificial inoculation simulated the parasite transmission from the native to the novel host. We found that the parasite initiated proliferation earlier in the novel host than in the native host. Additionally, parasite gene expression was significantly higher when infecting the novel host compared with the native host, leading to a significantly higher number of spores. Allele frequencies were similar for spores of parasites infecting both native and novel hosts. This suggests that the high number of spores found in the novel host was not caused by a subset of more fit spores from native hosts. Native hosts also showed a higher number of up-regulated genes in response to infection when compared with novel hosts. Our data further showed that native hosts suppressed parasite gene expression and arguably sacrificed cells to limit the parasite. The results provide novel insights into host defenses and gene selection during a parasite spillover event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu Wei
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Qiang Huang,
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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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Recent Advances in the Biocontrol of Nosemosis in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.). J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050424. [PMID: 35628680 PMCID: PMC9145624 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosemosis is a disease triggered by the single-celled spore-forming fungi Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, which can cause extensive colony losses in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Fumagillin is an effective antibiotic treatment to control nosemosis, but due to its toxicity, it is currently banned in many countries. Accordingly, in the beekeeping sector, there is a strong demand for alternative ecological methods that can be used for the prevention and therapeutic control of nosemosis in honey bee colonies. Numerous studies have shown that plant extracts, RNA interference (RNAi) and beneficial microbes could provide viable non-antibiotic alternatives. In this article, recent scientific advances in the biocontrol of nosemosis are summarized.
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Fan Y, Wang J, Yu K, Zhang W, Cai Z, Sun M, Hu Y, Zhao X, Xiong C, Niu Q, Chen D, Guo R. Comparative Transcriptome Investigation of Nosema ceranae Infecting Eastern Honey Bee Workers. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13030241. [PMID: 35323539 PMCID: PMC8952433 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary At present, interaction between Nosema ceranae and Apis cerana is poorly understood, though A. cerana is the original host for N. ceranae. Here, comparative investigation was conducted using transcriptome data from N. ceranae infecting Apis cerana cerana workers at seven days post inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi (NcT1 and NcT2 groups) as well as N. ceranae spores (NcCK group). There were 1411, 604, and 38 DEGs identified in NcCK vs. NcT1, NcCK vs. NcT2, and NcT1 vs. NcT2 comparison groups. Additionally, 10 upregulated genes and nine downregulated ones were shared by above-mentioned comparison groups. GO classification and KEGG pathway analysis suggested that these DEGs were engaged in a number of key functional terms and pathways such as cell part and glycolysis. Further analysis indicated that most of virulence factor-encoding genes were upregulated, while a few were downregulated during the fungal infection. Findings in this current work provide a basis for clarifying the molecular mechanism udnerlying N. ceranae infection and host-microsporidian interaction during bee nosemosis. Abstract Apis cerana is the original host for Nosema ceranae, a widespread fungal parasite resulting in honey bee nosemosis, which leads to severe losses to the apiculture industry throughout the world. However, knowledge of N. ceranae infecting eastern honey bees is extremely limited. Currently, the mechanism underlying N. ceranae infection is still largely unknown. Based on our previously gained high-quality transcriptome datasets derived from N. ceranae spores (NcCK group), N. ceranae infecting Apis cerana cerana workers at seven days post inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi (NcT1 and NcT2 groups), comparative transcriptomic investigation was conducted in this work, with a focus on virulence factor-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Microscopic observation showed that the midguts of A. c. cerana workers were effectively infected after inoculation with clean spores of N. ceranae. In total, 1411, 604, and 38 DEGs were identified from NcCK vs. NcT1, NcCK vs. NcT2, and NcT1 vs. NcT2 comparison groups. Venn analysis showed that 10 upregulated genes and nine downregulated ones were shared by the aforementioned comparison groups. The GO category indicated that these DEGs were involved in a series of functional terms relevant to biological process, cellular component, and molecular function such as metabolic process, cell part, and catalytic activity. Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis suggested that the DEGs were engaged in an array of pathways of great importance such as metabolic pathway, glycolysis, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, expression clustering analysis demonstrated that the majority of genes encoding virulence factors such as ricin B lectins and polar tube proteins displayed apparent upregulation, whereas a few virulence factor-associated genes such as hexokinase gene and 6-phosphofructokinase gene presented downregulation during the fungal infection. Finally, the expression trend of 14 DEGs was confirmed by RT-qPCR, validating the reliability of our transcriptome datasets. These results together demonstrated that an overall alteration of the transcriptome of N. ceranae occurred during the infection of A. c. cerana workers, and most of the virulence factor-related genes were induced to activation to promote the fungal invasion. Our findings not only lay a foundation for clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying N. ceranae infection of eastern honey bee workers and microsporidian–host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanchan Fan
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Jie Wang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Kejun Yu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Wende Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Zongbing Cai
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Minghui Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Ying Hu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Xiao Zhao
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Cuiling Xiong
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
| | - Qingsheng Niu
- Jilin Province Institute of Apicultural Science, Jilin 132000, China;
| | - Dafu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
- Apitherapy Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (R.G.); Tel./Fax: +86-0591-87640197 (R.G.)
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.F.); (J.W.); (K.Y.); (W.Z.); (Z.C.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (X.Z.); (C.X.)
- Apitherapy Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (D.C.); (R.G.); Tel./Fax: +86-0591-87640197 (R.G.)
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Abstract
Nosemosis is a serious microsporidian disease of adult European honey bees caused by the spore-forming unicellular fungi Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. In this paper we describe the currently known techniques for nosemosis prevention and control including Good Beekeeping Practices (GBPs) and biosecurity measures (BMBs). Topics such as queen renewal, nosema-resistant bees and hygienic and control methods are described. Strong efforts are currently provided to find more a sustainable solution than the use of antibiotics. So far, it seems that the best way to approach nosemosis is given by an “integrated pest management strategy”, which foresees the contemporary application of different, specific GBPs and BMBs.
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Snow JW. Nosema apis and N. ceranae Infection in Honey bees: A Model for Host-Pathogen Interactions in Insects. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:153-177. [PMID: 35544003 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_7] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There has been increased focus on the role of microbial attack as a potential cause of recent declines in the health of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. The Nosema species, N. apis and N. ceranae, are microsporidian parasites that are pathogenic to honey bees, and infection by these species has been implicated as a key factor in honey bee losses. Honey bees infected with both Nosema spp. display significant changes in their biology at the cellular, tissue, and organismal levels impacting host metabolism, immune function, physiology, and behavior. Infected individuals lead to colony dysfunction and can contribute to colony disease in some circumstances. The means through which parasite growth and tissue pathology in the midgut lead to the dramatic physiological and behavioral changes at the organismal level are only partially understood. In addition, we possess only a limited appreciation of the elements of the host environment that impact pathogen growth and development. Critical for answering these questions is a mechanistic understanding of the host and pathogen machinery responsible for host-pathogen interactions. A number of approaches are already being used to elucidate these mechanisms, and promising new tools may allow for gain- and loss-of-function experiments to accelerate future progress.
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Reproductive Potential Impacts Body Maintenance Parameters and Global DNA Methylation in Honeybee Workers ( Apis mellifera L.). INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12111021. [PMID: 34821822 PMCID: PMC8617817 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The queens and sterile workers arise from genetically identical eggs but as imagoes, they differ in their life span, DNA methylation, and their functions. In the absence of the queen, the larvae develop into rebels, i.e., workers with increased reproductive potential. We assumed that since rebels are similar to the queen in many anatomical and behavioral features, they live longer and have lower levels of global DNA methylation, even when infected, e.g., by Nosema spp. Rebels always lived longer in comparison in normal workers and unexpectedly extended longevity of normal workers when they were together, similarly as the presence of a queen did. Rebels became infected more easily but tolerated the infection better. They also had lower level of global DNA methylation than normal workers. These features expand possibilities of the use of honeybees as a model for studies on senescence, nosemosis, eusocial evolution, and epigenetics. Abstract The widely accepted hypothesis in life history evolution about the trade-off between fecundity and longevity is not confirmed by long-living and highly fecund queens in eusocial insects. The fact that the queens and facultatively sterile workers usually arise from genetically identical eggs but differ in DNA methylation makes them a good model for studies on senescence, eusocial evolution, and epigenetics. Therefore, honeybees seem to be especially useful here because of long living rebel-workers (RW) with high reproductive potential recently described. Longevity, ovariole number, nosema tolerance, and global DNA methylation have been assayed in normal workers (NW) versus RW in hives and cages. RW always lived longer than NW and unexpectedly extended longevity of NW when they were together, similarly as the presence of a queen did. RW lived longer despite the fact that they had higher Nosema spore load; surprisingly they became infected more easily but tolerated the infection better. Global DNA methylation increased with age, being lower in RW than in NW. Therefore, RW are queen-like considering global DNA methylation and the link between fecundity, longevity, and body maintenance. Presented features of RW expands possibilities of the use of honeybees as a model for studies on senescence, nosemosis, eusocial evolution, and epigenetics.
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Kaczmarek A, Boguś MI. Fungi of entomopathogenic potential in Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota, and in fungal allies of the Oomycota and Microsporidia. IMA Fungus 2021; 12:29. [PMID: 34635188 PMCID: PMC8504053 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-021-00074-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between entomopathogenic fungi and their insect hosts is a classic example of the co-evolutionary arms race between pathogen and target host. The present review describes the entomopathogenic potential of Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota fungi, and two groups of fungal allies: Oomycota and Microsporidia. The Oomycota (water moulds) are considered as a model biological control agent of mosquito larvae. Due to their shared ecological and morphological similarities, they had long been considered a part of the fungal kingdom; however, phylogenetic studies have since placed this group within the Straminipila. The Microsporidia are parasites of economically-important insects, including grasshoppers, lady beetles, bumblebees, colorado potato beetles and honeybees. They have been found to display some fungal characteristics, and phylogenetic studies suggest that they are related to fungi, either as a basal branch or sister group. The Blastocladiomycota and Chytridiomycota, named the lower fungi, historically were described together; however, molecular phylogenetic and ultrastructural research has classified them in their own phylum. They are considered parasites of ants, and of the larval stages of black flies, mosquitoes and scale insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kaczmarek
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mieczysława I Boguś
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
- Biomibo, Strzygłowska 15, 04-872, Warsaw, Poland
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Naree S, Benbow ME, Suwannapong G, Ellis JD. Mitigating Nosema ceranae infection in western honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers using propolis collected from honey bee and stingless bee (Tetrigona apicalis) hives. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 185:107666. [PMID: 34530028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107666] [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: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Beekeepers need sustainable control options to treat Nosema ceranae infection in colonies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) they manage. Propolis is a natural product derived from plant resins and contains chemical compounds with potential antimicrobial activity against N. ceranae. Here, we determined the efficacy of propolis from A. mellifera (USA) and Tetrigona apicalis (stingless bees, Thailand) colonies as treatments for N. ceranae infection in honey bee workers. Newly emerged bees were individually fed 2 μL of 50% (w/v) sucrose solution containing 1 × 105N. ceranae spores. Following this, the infected bees were treated with 50% propolis extracted from A. mellifera or T. apicalis hives and fed in 50% sucrose solution (v/v). All bees were maintained at 34 ± 2 °C and 55 ± 5% RH. Dead bees were counted daily for 30 d to calculate survival. We also determined infection rate (# infected bees/100 bees), infectivity (number of spores per bee) and protein content in the hypopharyngeal glands and hemolymph on 7, 14, and 21 d post infection as measures of bee health. Propolis from both bee species significantly reduced bee mortality, infection rate and infectivity compared with those of untreated bees and led to significantly greater protein contents in hypopharyngeal glands and hemolymph in treated bees than in untreated ones (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, propolis from A. mellifera and T. apicalis colonies shows promise as a control against N. ceranae infection in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchai Naree
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chon Buri 20131 Thailand
| | - Mark E Benbow
- Department of Entomology and Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Guntima Suwannapong
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chon Buri 20131 Thailand
| | - James D Ellis
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
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15
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Xing W, Zhou D, Long Q, Sun M, Guo R, Wang L. Immune Response of Eastern Honeybee Worker to Nosema ceranae Infection Revealed by Transcriptomic Investigation. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12080728. [PMID: 34442293 PMCID: PMC8396959 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Currently, knowledge regarding Apis cerana–Nosema ceranae interaction is very limited, though A. cerana is the original host of N. ceranae. Apis cerana cerana is a subspecies of A. cerana and a major bee species used in the beekeeping industry in China and other countries. Here, the effective infection of A. c. cerana workers by N. ceranae was verified, followed by transcriptomic investigation of host responses. Furthermore, immune responses between A. c. cerana and Apis mellifera ligustica were deeply compared and discussed. In total, 1127 and 957 N. ceranae-responsive genes were identified in the infected midguts at 7 d post-inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi, respectively. Additionally, DEGs in workers’ midguts at both 7 dpi and 10 dpi were associated with six cellular immune pathways and three humoral immune pathways. Noticeably, one up-regulated gene was enriched in the NF-κB signaling pathway in the midgut at 10 dpi. Further analysis indicated that different cellular and humoral immune responses were employed by A. c. cerana and A. m. ligustica workers to combat N. ceranae. Our findings provide a foundation for clarifying the mechanisms regulating the immune response of A. c. cerana workers to N. ceranae invasion and developing new approaches to control bee microsporidiosis. Abstract Here, a comparative transcriptome investigation was conducted based on high-quality deep sequencing data from the midguts of Apis cerana cerana workers at 7 d post-inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi with Nosema ceranae and corresponding un-inoculated midguts. PCR identification and microscopic observation of paraffin sections confirmed the effective infection of A. c. cerana worker by N. ceranae. In total, 1127 and 957 N. ceranae-responsive genes were identified in the infected midguts at 7 dpi and 10 dpi, respectively. RT-qPCR results validated the reliability of our transcriptome data. GO categorization indicated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were respectively engaged in 34 and 33 functional terms associated with biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Additionally, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that DEGs at 7 dpi and 10 dpi could be enriched in 231 and 226 pathways, respectively. Moreover, DEGs in workers’ midguts at both 7 dpi and 10 dpi were involved in six cellular immune pathways such as autophagy and phagosome and three humoral immune pathways such as the Toll/Imd signaling pathway and Jak-STAT signaling pathway. In addition, one up-regulated gene (XM_017055397.1) was enriched in the NF-κB signaling pathway in the workers’ midgut at 10 dpi. Further investigation suggested the majority of these DEGs were engaged in only one immune pathway, while a small number of DEGs were simultaneously involved in two immune pathways. These results together demonstrated that the overall gene expression profile in host midgut was altered by N. ceranae infection and some of the host immune pathways were induced to activation during fungal infection, whereas some others were suppressed via host–pathogen interaction. Our findings offer a basis for clarification of the mechanism underlying the immune response of A. c. cerana workers to N. ceranae infection, but also provide novel insights into eastern honeybee-microsporodian interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Xing
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;
| | - Dingding Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (D.Z.); (Q.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Qi Long
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (D.Z.); (Q.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Minghui Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (D.Z.); (Q.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (D.Z.); (Q.L.); (M.S.)
- Apitherapy Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +86-0591-8764-0197
| | - Limei Wang
- Dongying Vocational Institute, Dongying 257000, China;
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16
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Henriques D, Lopes AR, Chejanovsky N, Dalmon A, Higes M, Jabal-Uriel C, Le Conte Y, Reyes-Carreño M, Soroker V, Martín-Hernández R, Pinto MA. A SNP assay for assessing diversity in immune genes in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). Sci Rep 2021; 11:15317. [PMID: 34321557 PMCID: PMC8319136 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94833-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
With a growing number of parasites and pathogens experiencing large-scale range expansions, monitoring diversity in immune genes of host populations has never been so important because it can inform on the adaptive potential to resist the invaders. Population surveys of immune genes are becoming common in many organisms, yet they are missing in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), a key managed pollinator species that has been severely affected by biological invasions. To fill the gap, here we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a wide range of honey bee immune genes and developed a medium-density assay targeting a subset of these genes. Using a discovery panel of 123 whole-genomes, representing seven A. mellifera subspecies and three evolutionary lineages, 180 immune genes were scanned for SNPs in exons, introns (< 4 bp from exons), 3' and 5´UTR, and < 1 kb upstream of the transcription start site. After application of multiple filtering criteria and validation, the final medium-density assay combines 91 quality-proved functional SNPs marking 89 innate immune genes and these can be readily typed using the high-sample-throughput iPLEX MassARRAY system. This medium-density-SNP assay was applied to 156 samples from four countries and the admixture analysis clustered the samples according to their lineage and subspecies, suggesting that honey bee ancestry can be delineated from functional variation. In addition to allowing analysis of immunogenetic variation, this newly-developed SNP assay can be used for inferring genetic structure and admixture in the honey bee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Henriques
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Ana R Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | - Anne Dalmon
- INRAE, Unité Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - 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
| | - Clara Jabal-Uriel
- 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
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, Unité Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | | | - Victoria Soroker
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | - 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, 02006, Albacete, Spain
| | - M Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal.
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17
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Glavinic U, Stevanovic J, Ristanic M, Rajkovic M, Davitkov D, Lakic N, Stanimirovic Z. Potential of Fumagillin and Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract to Reduce Nosema ceranae in Honey Bees. INSECTS 2021; 12:282. [PMID: 33806001 PMCID: PMC8064457 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Depending on the infection level and colony strength, Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian endoparasite of the honey bee may have significant consequences on the health, reproduction and productivity of bee colonies. Despite exerting some side effects, fumagillin is most often used for Nosema control. In this study, in a cage experiment, N. ceranae infected bees were treated with fumagillin or the extract of Agaricus blazei mushroom, a possible alternative for Nosema control. Bee survival, Nosema spore loads, the expression levels of immune-related genes and parameters of oxidative stress were observed. Fumagillin treatment showed a negative effect on monitored parameters when applied preventively to non-infected bees, while a noticeable anti-Nosema effect and protection from Nosema-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress were proven in Nosema-infected bees. However, a protective effect of the natural A. blazei extract was detected, without any side effects but with immunostimulatory activity in the preventive application. The results of this research suggest the potential of A. blazei extract for Nosema control, which needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uros Glavinic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Jevrosima Stevanovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Marko Ristanic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Milan Rajkovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Dajana Davitkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Nada Lakic
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Statistics, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Zoran Stanimirovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
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18
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Lannutti L, Mira A, Basualdo M, Rodriguez G, Erler S, Silva V, Gisder S, Genersch E, Florin-Christensen M, Schnittger L. Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and a direct LAMP for the specific detection of Nosema ceranae, a parasite of honey bees. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3947-3956. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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19
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Jousse C, Dalle C, Abila A, Traikia M, Diogon M, Lyan B, El Alaoui H, Vidau C, Delbac F. A combined LC-MS and NMR approach to reveal metabolic changes in the hemolymph of honeybees infected by the gut parasite Nosema ceranae. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 176:107478. [PMID: 33027624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is an emerging and invasive gut pathogen in Apis mellifera and is considered as a factor contributing to the decline of honeybee populations. Here, we used a combined LC-MS and NMR approach to reveal the metabolomics changes in the hemolymph of honeybees infected by this obligate intracellular parasite. For metabolic profiling, hemolymph samples were collected from both uninfected and N. ceranae-infected bees at two time points, 2 days and 10 days after the experimental infection of emergent bees. Hemolymph samples were individually analyzed by LC-MS, whereas each NMR spectrum was obtained from a pool of three hemolymphs. Multivariate statistical PLS-DA models clearly showed that the age of bees was the parameter with the strongest effect on the metabolite profiles. Interestingly, a total of 15 biomarkers were accurately identified and were assigned as candidate biomarkers representative of infection alone or combined effect of age and infection. These biomarkers included carbohydrates (α/β glucose, α/β fructose and hexosamine), amino acids (histidine and proline), dipeptides (Glu-Thr, Cys-Cys and γ-Glu-Leu/Ile), metabolites involved in lipid metabolism (choline, glycerophosphocholine and O-phosphorylethanolamine) and a polyamine compound (spermidine). Our study demonstrated that this untargeted metabolomics-based approach may be useful for a better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of the honeybee infection by N. ceranae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Jousse
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Sigma-Clermont, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Plateforme d'Exploration du Métabolisme, Université Clermont Auvergne & I.N.R.A site de Theix, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - Céline Dalle
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Sigma-Clermont, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Plateforme d'Exploration du Métabolisme, Université Clermont Auvergne & I.N.R.A site de Theix, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Angélique Abila
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Sigma-Clermont, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Plateforme d'Exploration du Métabolisme, Université Clermont Auvergne & I.N.R.A site de Theix, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Mounir Traikia
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Sigma-Clermont, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Plateforme d'Exploration du Métabolisme, Université Clermont Auvergne & I.N.R.A site de Theix, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marie Diogon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement", F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bernard Lyan
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Sigma-Clermont, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Plateforme d'Exploration du Métabolisme, Université Clermont Auvergne & I.N.R.A site de Theix, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Hicham El Alaoui
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement", F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Cyril Vidau
- ITSAP, UMT PrADE, Inra - Acta, 228 route de l'aérodrome, F-84000 Avignon, France(1)
| | - Frédéric Delbac
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement", F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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20
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Han Y, Gao H, Xu J, Luo J, Han B, Bao J, Pan G, Li T, Zhou Z. Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Against Microsporidia Infection in Mammals. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1468. [PMID: 32670257 PMCID: PMC7332555 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular and eukaryotic pathogens that can infect immunocompromised and immunocompetent mammals, including humans. Both innate and adaptive immune systems play important roles against microsporidian infection. The innate immune system can partially eliminate the infection by immune cells, such as gamma delta T cell, natural killer cells (NKs), macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), and present the pathogens to lymphocytes. The innate immune cells can also prime and enhance the adaptive immune response via surface molecules and secreted cytokines. The adaptive immune system is critical to eliminate microsporidian infection by activating cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and humoral immune responses, and feedback regulation of the innate immune mechanism. In this review, we will discuss the cellular and molecular responses and functions of innate and adaptive immune systems against microsporidian infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinze Han
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hailong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinzhi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Jialing Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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21
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Suhonen J, Ilvonen JJ, Nyman T, Sorvari J. Brood parasitism in eusocial insects (Hymenoptera): role of host geographical range size and phylogeny. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 374:20180203. [PMID: 30967081 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecific brood parasitism is common in many animal systems. Brood parasites enter the nests of other species and divert host resources for producing their own offspring, which can lead to strong antagonistic parasite-host coevolution. Here, we look at commonalities among social insect species that are victims of brood parasites, and use phylogenetic data and information on geographical range size to predict which species are most probably to fall victims to brood parasites in the future. In our analyses, we focus on three eusocial hymenopteran groups and their brood parasites: (i) bumblebees, (ii) Myrmica ants, and (iii) vespine and polistine wasps. In these groups, some, but not all, species are parasitized by obligate workerless inquilines that only produce reproductive-caste descendants. We find phylogenetic signals for geographical range size and the presence of parasites in bumblebees, but not in ants and wasps. Phylogenetic logistic regressions indicate that the probability of being attacked by one or more brood parasite species increases with the size of the geographical range in bumblebees, but the effect is statistically only marginally significant in ants. However, non-phylogenetic logistic regressions suggest that bumblebee species with the largest geographical range sizes may have a lower likelihood of harbouring social parasites than do hosts with medium-sized ranges. Our results provide new insights into the ecology and evolution of host-social parasite systems, and indicate that host phylogeny and geographical range size can be used to predict threats posed by social parasites, as well to design efficient conservation measures for both hosts and their parasites. This article is part of the theme issue 'The coevolutionary biology of brood parasitism: from mechanism to pattern'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Suhonen
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Turku , 20014 Turku , Finland
| | - Jaakko J Ilvonen
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Turku , 20014 Turku , Finland
| | - Tommi Nyman
- 2 Department of Ecosystems in the Barents Region, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research , Svanhovd Research Station, 9925 Svanvik , Norway.,3 Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland , PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu , Finland
| | - Jouni Sorvari
- 4 Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland , PO Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio , Finland
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22
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Peghaire E, Moné A, Delbac F, Debroas D, Chaucheyras-Durand F, El Alaoui H. A Pediococcus strain to rescue honeybees by decreasing Nosema ceranae- and pesticide-induced adverse effects. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 163:138-146. [PMID: 31973850 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees ensure a key ecosystemic service by pollinating many agricultural crops and wild plants. However, since few decades, managed bee colonies have declined worldwide. This phenomenon is considered to be multifactorial, with a strong emphasis on both parasites and pesticides. Infection by the parasite Nosema ceranae and exposure to pesticides can contribute to adverse effects, resulting in a perturbation of the honeybee physiology. We thus hypothesized that probiotic treatment could be promising to treat or prevent these disturbances. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics on N. ceranae-infected and intoxicated honeybees (by the insecticide thiamethoxam and the fungicide boscalid). For this purpose, experiments were conducted with five probiotics. Among them, Pediococcus acidilactici (PA) showed the best protective effect against the parasite and pesticides. PA significantly improved the infected honeybee lifespan as prophylactic and curative treatments (respectively 2.3 fold and 1.7 fold). Furthermore, the exposure to pesticides induced an increase of honeybee mortality compared with the control group (p < .001) that was restored by the PA treatment. Despite its beneficial effect on honeybee lifespan, the PA administration did not induce changes in the gut bacterial communities (neither in abundance or diversity). N. ceranae and the pesticides were shown to deregulate genes involved in honeybee development (vitellogenin), immunity (serine protease 40, defensin) and detoxification system (glutathione peroxidase-like 2, catalase), and these effects were corrected by the PA treatment. This study highlights the promising use of PA to protect honeybees from both pathogens and pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Peghaire
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, F-63000S Clermont-ferrand, France
| | - Anne Moné
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, F-63000S Clermont-ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Delbac
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, F-63000S Clermont-ferrand, France
| | - Didier Debroas
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, F-63000S Clermont-ferrand, France
| | | | - Hicham El Alaoui
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, F-63000S Clermont-ferrand, France.
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23
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Shumkova R, Neov B, Georgieva A, Teofanova D, Radoslavov G, Hristov P. Resistance of native honey bees from Rhodope Mountains and lowland regions of Bulgaria to Nosema ceranae and viral pathogens. BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.15547/bjvm.2201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L., Hymenoptera: Apidae) is a species of fundamental economic, agricultural and environmental importance. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of some parasitic and viral pathogens in local honey bees from the Rodope Mountains and plain regions. To achieve this goal, molecular screening for two of the most distributed Nosema spp. and molecular identification of six honey bee viruses – Deformed wing virus (DWV), Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), Sacbrood virus (SBV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and Black queen cell virus (BQCV) was performed. Molecular analysis was carried out on 168 honey bee samples from apiaries situated in three different parts of the country where a mix of different honey bee subspecies were reared. In South Bulgaria (the Rhodope Mountains), a local honey bee called Apis mellifera rodopica (a local ecotype of A. m. macedonica) was bred, while in the other two regions (plains) different introduced subspecies existed. The results showed that the samples from the lowland regions in the country were outlined with the highest prevalence (70.5%) of N. ceranae, while those from the mountainous parts had the lowest rate (5.2%). Four of the honey bee viruses were identified – DWV (10/5.9%), followed by SBV (6/3.6%) and ABPV (2/1.2%), and one case of BQCV. In conclusion, the local honey bee A. m. rodopica (despite the higher number of samples) has shown lower prevalence of both nosemosis and viral infections. Therefore, this honey bee has to be preserved as a part of the national biodiversity.
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Urbieta-Magro A, Higes M, Meana A, Barrios L, Martín-Hernández R. Age and Method of Inoculation Influence the Infection of Worker Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera) by Nosema ceranae. INSECTS 2019; 10:E417. [PMID: 31766667 PMCID: PMC6956240 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent, global honey bee pathogen. Apis mellifera is considered to be a relatively recent host for this microsporidia, which raises questions as to how it affects its host's physiology, behavior and longevity, both at the individual and colony level. As such, honey bees were inoculated with fresh purified spores of this pathogen, both individually (Group A) or collectively (Group B) and they were studied from 0 to 15 days post-emergence (p.e.) to evaluate the effect of bee age and the method of inoculation at 7 days post-infection. The level of infection was analyzed individually by qPCR by measuring the relative amount of the N. ceranae polar tubule protein 3 (PTP3) gene. The results show that the bee's age and the method of infection directly influence parasite load, and thus, early disease development. Significant differences were found regarding bee age at the time of infection, whereby the youngest bees (new-born and 1 day p.e.) developed the highest parasite load, with this load decreasing dramatically in bees infected at 2 days p.e. before increasing again in bees infected at 3-4 days p.e. The parasite load in bees infected when older than 4 days p.e. diminished as they aged. When the age cohort data was pooled and grouped according to the method of infection, a significantly higher mean concentration and lower variation in N. ceranae infection was evident in Group A, indicating greater variation in experimental infection when spores were administered collectively to bees through their food. In summary, these data indicate that both biological and experimental factors should be taken into consideration when comparing data published in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Urbieta-Magro
- 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, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
| | - 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, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Laura Barrios
- Statistics Department, Computing Center SGAI-CSIC, 28006 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, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-FEDER), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla—La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
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Chen D, Du Y, Chen H, Fan Y, Fan X, Zhu Z, Wang J, Xiong C, Zheng Y, Hou C, Diao Q, Guo R. Comparative Identification of MicroRNAs in Apis cerana cerana Workers' Midguts in Responseto Nosema ceranae Invasion. INSECTS 2019; 10:E258. [PMID: 31438582 PMCID: PMC6780218 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Here, the expression profiles and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) in the midguts of Apis cerana cerana workers at 7 d and 10 d post-inoculation (dpi) with N. ceranae were investigated via small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics. Five hundred and twenty nine (529) known miRNAs and 25 novel miRNAs were identified in this study, and the expression of 16 predicted miRNAs was confirmed by Stem-loop RT-PCR. A total of 14 DEmiRNAs were detected in the midgut at 7 dpi, including eight up-regulated and six down-regulated miRNAs, while 12 DEmiRNAs were observed in the midgut at 10 dpi, including nine up-regulated and three down-regulated ones. Additionally, five DEmiRNAs were shared, while nine and seven DEmiRNAs were specifically expressed in midguts at 7 dpi and 10 dpi. Gene ontology analysis suggested some DEmiRNAs and corresponding target mRNAs were involved in various functions including immune system processes and response to stimulus. KEGG pathway analysis shed light on the potential functions of some DEmiRNAs in regulating target mRNAs engaged in material and energy metabolisms, cellular immunity and the humoral immune system. Further investigation demonstrated a complex regulation network between DEmiRNAs and their target mRNAs, with miR-598-y, miR-252-y, miR-92-x and miR-3654-y at the center. Our results can facilitate future exploration of the regulatory roles of miRNAs in host responses to N. ceranae, and provide potential candidates for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying eastern honeybee-microsporidian interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafu Chen
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yu Du
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huazhi Chen
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yuanchan Fan
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaoxue Fan
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhu
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jie Wang
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Cuiling Xiong
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yanzhen Zheng
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Chunsheng Hou
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Qingyun Diao
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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Chen D, Chen H, Du Y, Zhou D, Geng S, Wang H, Wan J, Xiong C, Zheng Y, Guo R. Genome-Wide Identification of Long Non-Coding RNAs and Their Regulatory Networks Involved in Apis mellifera ligustica Response to Nosema ceranae Infection. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10080245. [PMID: 31405016 PMCID: PMC6723323 DOI: 10.3390/insects10080245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a diverse class of transcripts that structurally resemble mRNAs but do not encode proteins, and lncRNAs have been proven to play pivotal roles in a wide range of biological processes in animals and plants. However, knowledge of expression patterns and potential roles of honeybee lncRNA response to Nosema ceranae infection is completely unknown. Here, we performed whole transcriptome strand-specific RNA sequencing of normal midguts of Apis mellifera ligustica workers (Am7CK, Am10CK) and N. ceranae-inoculated midguts (Am7T, Am10T), followed by comprehensive analyses using bioinformatic and molecular approaches. A total of 6353 A. m. ligustica lncRNAs were identified, including 4749 conserved lncRNAs and 1604 novel lncRNAs. These lncRNAs had minimal sequence similarities with other known lncRNAs in other species; however, their structural features were similar to counterparts in mammals and plants, including shorter exon and intron length, lower exon number, and lower expression level, compared with protein-coding transcripts. Further, 111 and 146 N. ceranae-responsive lncRNAs were identified from midguts at 7-days post-inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi compared with control midguts. Twelve differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were shared by Am7CK vs. Am7T and Am10CK vs. Am10T comparison groups, while the numbers of unique DElncRNAs were 99 and 134, respectively. Functional annotation and pathway analysis showed that the DElncRNAs may regulate the expression of neighboring genes by acting in cis and trans fashion. Moreover, we discovered 27 lncRNAs harboring eight known miRNA precursors and 513 lncRNAs harboring 2257 novel miRNA precursors. Additionally, hundreds of DElncRNAs and their target miRNAs were found to form complex competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, suggesting that these DElncRNAs may act as miRNA sponges. Furthermore, DElncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed and investigated, the results demonstrated that a portion of the DElncRNAs were likely to participate in regulating the host material and energy metabolism as well as cellular and humoral immune host responses to N. ceranae invasion. Our findings revealed here offer not only a rich genetic resource for further investigation of the functional roles of lncRNAs involved in the A. m. ligustica response to N. ceranae infection, but also a novel insight into understanding the host-pathogen interaction during honeybee microsporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafu Chen
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Huazhi Chen
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yu Du
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Dingding Zhou
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Sihai Geng
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Haipeng Wang
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jieqi Wan
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Cuiling Xiong
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yanzhen Zheng
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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Hsu HW, Chiu MC, Shih CJ, Matsuura K, Yang CCS. Apoptosis as a primary defense mechanism in response to viral infection in invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Virology 2019; 531:255-259. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Huang Q, Li W, Chen Y, Retschnig-Tanner G, Yanez O, Neumann P, Evans JD. Dicer regulates Nosema ceranae proliferation in honeybees. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:74-85. [PMID: 30171639 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite that infects the honeybee midgut epithelium. The protein-coding gene Dicer is lost in most microsporidian genomes but is present in N. ceranae. By feeding infected honeybees with small interfering RNA targeting the N. ceranae gene coding Dicer (siRNA-Dicer), we found that N. ceranae spore loads were significantly reduced. In addition, over 10% of total parasite protein-coding genes showed significantly divergent expression profiles after siRNA-Dicer treatment. Parasite genes for cell proliferation, ABC transporters and hexokinase were downregulated at 3 days postinfection, a key point in the middle of parasite replication cycles. In addition, genes involved in metabolic pathways of honeybees and N. ceranae showed significant co-expression. Furthermore, the siRNA-Dicer treatment partly reversed the expression patterns of honeybee genes. The honeybee gene mucin-2-like showed significantly upregulation in the siRNA-Dicer group compared with the infection group continually at 4, 5 and 6 days postinfection, suggesting that the siRNA-Dicer feeding promoted the strength of the mucus barrier resulted from interrupted parasite proliferation. As the gene Dicer broadly regulates N. ceranae proliferation and honeybee metabolism, our data suggest the RNA interference pathway is an important infection strategy for N. ceranae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Huang
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
- Honey Bee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - W Li
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East, Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Y Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East, Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - G Retschnig-Tanner
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - O Yanez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, Bern, Switzerland
| | - P Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, Bern, Switzerland
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - J D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East, Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
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Fungal Diseases of Honey Bees: Current Status and Future Perspective. Fungal Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-18586-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Vittaforma corneae (Phylum Microsporidia) inhibit staurosporine-induced apoptosis in human THP-1 macrophages in vitro. Parasitology 2018; 146:569-579. [PMID: 30486909 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Obligately intracellular microsporidia regulate their host cell life cycles, including apoptosis, but this has not been evaluated in phagocytic host cells such as macrophages that can facilitate infection but also can be activated to kill microsporidia. We examined two biologically dissimilar human-infecting microsporidia species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Vittaforma corneae, for their effects on staurosporine-induced apoptosis in the human macrophage-differentiated cell line, THP1. Apoptosis was measured after exposure of THP-1 cells to live and dead mature organisms via direct fluorometric measurement of Caspase 3, colorimetric and fluorometric TUNEL assays, and mRNA gene expression profiles using Apoptosis RT2 Profiler PCR Array. Both species of microsporidia modulated the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. In particular, live E. cuniculi spores inhibited staurosporine-induced apoptosis as well as suppressed pro-apoptosis genes and upregulated anti-apoptosis genes more broadly than V. corneae. Exposure to dead spores induced an opposite effect. Vittaforma corneae, however, also induced inflammasome activation via Caspases 1 and 4. Of the 84 apoptosis-related genes assayed, 42 (i.e. 23 pro-apoptosis, nine anti-apoptosis, and 10 regulatory) genes were more affected including those encoding members of the Bcl2 family, caspases and their regulators, and members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor R superfamily.
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Rodríguez-García C, Evans JD, Li W, Branchiccela B, Li JH, Heerman MC, Banmeke O, Zhao Y, Hamilton M, Higes M, Martín-Hernández R, Chen YP. Nosemosis control in European honey bees, Apis mellifera, by silencing the gene encoding Nosema ceranae polar tube protein 3. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.184606. [PMID: 30135088 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.184606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is homologous in sequence to the silenced gene and is conserved in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms. The RNAi mechanism has provided unique opportunities for combating honey bee diseases caused by various parasites and pathogens. Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite of European honey bees, Apis mellifera, and has been associated with honey bee colony losses in some regions of the world. Here we explored the possibility of silencing the expression of a N. ceranae putative virulence factor encoding polar tube protein 3 (ptp3) which is involved in host cell invasion as a therapeutic strategy for controlling Nosema parasites in honey bees. Our studies showed that the oral ingestion of a dsRNA corresponding to the sequences of N. ceranae ptp3 could effectively suppress the expression of the ptp3 gene in N. ceranae-infected bees and reduce Nosema load. In addition to the knockdown of ptp3 gene expression, ingestion of ptp3-dsRNA also led to improved innate immunity in bees infected with N. ceranae along with an improvement in physiological performance and lifespan compared with untreated control bees. These results strongly suggest that RNAi-based therapeutics hold real promise for the effective treatment of honey bee diseases in the future, and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rodríguez-García
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.,Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental, IRIAF, Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, 19180, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Wenfeng Li
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Belén Branchiccela
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Department of Microbiology, Avda Italia 3318, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jiang Hong Li
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Matthew C Heerman
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Olubukola Banmeke
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Yazhou Zhao
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Michele Hamilton
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental, IRIAF, Consejería de Agricultura 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, IRIAF, Consejería de Agricultura 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 Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Bldg 306, BARC-East, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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Impact of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae on the gut epithelium renewal of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. J Invertebr Pathol 2018; 159:121-128. [PMID: 30268675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The invasive microsporidian species, Nosema ceranae, causes nosemosis in honeybees and is suspected to be involved in Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) declines worldwide. The midgut of honeybees is the site of infection; the microsporidium can disturb the functioning of this organ and, thus, the bee physiology. Host defense against pathogens is not limited to resistance (i.e. the immune response) but also involves resilience. This process implies that the host can tolerate and repair damage inflicted by the infection- by the pathogen itself or by an excessive host immune response. Enterocyte damage caused by N. ceranae can be compensated by proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that are under the control of multiple pathways. In the present study, we investigated the impact of N. ceranae on honeybee epithelium renewal by following the mitotic index of midgut stem cells during a 22-day N. ceranae infection. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunostaining experiments were performed to follow the parasite proliferation/progression in the intestinal tissue, especially in the ISCs as they are key cells for the midgut homeostasis. We also monitored the transcriptomic profile of 7 genes coding for key proteins involved in pathways implicated in the gut epithelium renewal and homeostasis. We have shown for the first time that N. ceranae can negatively alter the gut epithelium renewal rate and disrupt some signaling pathways involved in the gut homeostasis. This alteration is correlated to a reduced longevity of N. ceranae-infected honeybees and we can assume that honeybee susceptibility to N. ceranae could be due to an impaired ability to repair gut damage.
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Martín-Hernández R, Bartolomé C, Chejanovsky N, Le Conte Y, Dalmon A, Dussaubat C, García-Palencia P, Meana A, Pinto MA, Soroker V, Higes M. Nosema ceranaeinApis mellifera: a 12 years postdetectionperspective. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:1302-1329. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola. Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental de Marchamalo, (CIAPA-IRIAF), 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
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos Humanos, IDIS, 15782 Santiago de Compostela; Galicia Spain
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center; Rishon LeZion Israel
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement; F-84000 Avignon France
| | - Anne Dalmon
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement; F-84000 Avignon France
| | | | | | - Aranzazu Meana
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | - M. Alice Pinto
- Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança; 5300-253 Bragança Portugal
| | - Victoria Soroker
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center; Rishon LeZion Israel
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola. Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental de Marchamalo, (CIAPA-IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha; Marchamalo Spain
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Evans JD, Huang Q. Interactions Among Host-Parasite MicroRNAs During Nosema ceranae Proliferation in Apis mellifera. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:698. [PMID: 29692768 PMCID: PMC5902570 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified microRNA (miRNA) from Nosema ceranae and found that knockdowns of transcripts for the parasite protein Dicer greatly reduce parasite reproduction. In order to study parasitic miRNA functions and identify candidate target genes, we fed honey bees infected with N. ceranae with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the N. ceranae gene Dicer. We then deep-sequenced honey bee and N. ceranae miRNAs daily across a full 6-day proliferation cycle. We found seven honey bee and five N. ceranae miRNAs that were significantly differently expressed between the infection and siRNA-Dicer groups. N. ceranae miRNA showed potentially strong impacts on the N. ceranae transcriptome, where over 79% of the total protein coding genes were significantly correlated with one or more miRNAs. N. ceranae miRNAs also can regulate honey bee metabolism and immune response, given parasitic miRNAs were secreted into the cytoplasm. Our results suggest that N. ceranae miRNAs regulate both parasite and host gene expression, providing new insights for microsporidia parasitism evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Qiang Huang
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Paris L, El Alaoui H, Delbac F, Diogon M. Effects of the gut parasite Nosema ceranae on honey bee physiology and behavior. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 26:149-154. [PMID: 29764655 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The common and widespread parasite Nosema ceranae is considered a major threat to the Western honey bee at both the individual and colony levels. Several studies demonstrated that infection by this parasite may affect physiology, behavior, and survival of honey bees. N. ceranae infection impairs midgut integrity and alters the energy demand in honey bees. The infection can also significantly suppress the bee immune response and modify pheromone production in worker and queen honey bees leading to precocious foraging. However, the presence of N. ceranae is not systematically associated with colony weakening and honey bee mortality. This variability depends upon parasite or host genetics, nutrition, climate or interactions with other stressors such as environmental contaminants or other parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurianne Paris
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Hicham El Alaoui
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Delbac
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
| | - Marie Diogon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Infection dynamics of Nosema ceranae in honey bee midgut and host cell apoptosis. J Invertebr Pathol 2018; 154:1-4. [PMID: 29550404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is an intracellular microsporidian parasite that infects epithelial cells of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) midgut. Previous studies have shown that Nosema may alter cell renewal and apoptosis in honey bees. We found that the amount of apoptotic cells progressively declines from the anterior towards posterior regions of the midgut in Nosema-infected sensitive bees. There was no such pattern in the infected Nosema tolerant honey bees and controls. These data provide additional evidence that N. ceranae appears to alter apoptosis in its host cells for its own advantage.
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Sinpoo C, Paxton RJ, Disayathanoowat T, Krongdang S, Chantawannakul P. Impact of Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis on individual worker bees of the two host species (Apis cerana and Apis mellifera) and regulation of host immune response. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 105:1-8. [PMID: 29289505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are obligate intracellular microsporidian parasites infecting midgut epithelial cells of host adult honey bees, originally Apis mellifera and Apis cerana respectively. Each microsporidia cross-infects the other host and both microsporidia nowadays have a worldwide distribution. In this study, cross-infection experiments using both N. apis and N. ceranae in both A. mellifera and A. cerana were carried out to compare pathogen proliferation and impact on hosts, including host immune response. Infection by N. ceranae led to higher spore loads than by N. apis in both host species, and there was greater proliferation of microsporidia in A. mellifera compared to A. cerana. Both N. apis and N. ceranae were pathogenic in both host Apis species. N. ceranae induced subtly, though not significantly, higher mortality than N. apis in both host species, yet survival of A. cerana was no different to that of A. mellifera in response to N. apis or N. ceranae. Infections of both host species with N. apis and N. ceranae caused significant up-regulation of AMP genes and cellular mediated immune genes but did not greatly alter apoptosis-related gene expression. In this study, A. cerana enlisted a higher immune response and displayed lower loads of N. apis and N. ceranae spores than A. mellifera, suggesting it may be better able to defend itself against microsporidia infection. We caution against over-interpretation of our results, though, because differences between host and parasite species in survival were insignificant and because size differences between microsporidia species and between host Apis species may alternatively explain the differential proliferation of N. ceranae in A. mellifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chainarong Sinpoo
- Bee Protection Laboratory (BeeP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand; Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Robert J Paxton
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Terd Disayathanoowat
- Bee Protection Laboratory (BeeP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand
| | - Sasiprapa Krongdang
- Bee Protection Laboratory (BeeP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand; Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory (BeeP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand; Center of Excellence in Bioresources for Agriculture, Industry and Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; International College of Digital Innovation, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
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38
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Alleman A, Feldmeyer B, Foitzik S. Comparative analyses of co-evolving host-parasite associations reveal unique gene expression patterns underlying slavemaker raiding and host defensive phenotypes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1951. [PMID: 29386535 PMCID: PMC5792630 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20262-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition to parasitism is a drastic shift in lifestyle, involving rapid changes in gene structure, function, and expression. After the establishment of antagonistic relationships, parasites and hosts co-evolve through reciprocal adaptations, often resulting in evolutionary arms-races. Repeated evolution of social parasitism and slavery among Temnothorax ants allows us to examine those gene expression patterns that characterize slavemaker raiding and reciprocal host defensive phenotypes. Previous behavioural studies have established that raiding strategies between Temnothorax slavemakers diverge, while host defense portfolios shift similarly under parasite pressure. We are the first to confirm this at the molecular level, revealing that slavemaking species exhibit a wider variety of genes with species-specific patterns of expression within their raiding phenotypes, whereas expression similarity is commonly found during the non-raiding phenotype. Host species response to slavemaker aggression, however, is indicated by strong changes in the expression of a relatively few number genes. Additionally, the expression of individual genes such as Acyl-CoA-Delta(11) desaturase and Trypsin-7 is strongly associated with the raiding phenotype of all three slavemaking species. Here, we provide novel insight into the gene expression patterns associated with raiding and nest defense behavior in Temnothorax ants, suggesting lineage-specific evolutionary patterns among both slavemakers and hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Alleman
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, Mainz, 55128, Germany.
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johannes von Müller Weg 6, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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39
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Paris L, Roussel M, Pereira B, Delbac F, Diogon M. Disruption of oxidative balance in the gut of the western honeybee Apis mellifera exposed to the intracellular parasite Nosema ceranae and to the insecticide fipronil. Microb Biotechnol 2017; 10:1702-1717. [PMID: 28736933 PMCID: PMC5658624 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The causes underlying the increased mortality of honeybee colonies remain unclear and may involve multiple stressors acting together, including both pathogens and pesticides. Previous studies suggested that infection by the gut parasite Nosema ceranae combined with chronic exposure to sublethal doses of the insecticide fipronil generated an increase in oxidative stress in the midgut of honeybees. To explore the impact of these two stressors on oxidative balance, we experimentally infected bees with N. ceranae and/or chronically exposed to fipronil at low doses for 22 days, and we measured soluble reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS damage by quantifying both protein and lipid oxidation in the midgut. Our results revealed a disruption of the oxidative balance, with a decrease in both the amount of ROS and ROS damage in the presence of the parasite alone. However, protein oxidation was significantly increased in the N. ceranae/fipronil combination, revealing an increase in oxidative damage and suggesting higher fipronil toxicity in infected bees. Furthermore, our results highlighted a temporal order in the appearance of oxidation events in the intestinal cells and revealed that all samples tended to undergo protein oxidation during ageing, regardless of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurianne Paris
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Michaël Roussel
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno Pereira
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Unité de Biostatistiques, DRCI, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Delbac
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marie Diogon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGE, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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40
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Branchiccela B, Arredondo D, Higes M, Invernizzi C, Martín-Hernández R, Tomasco I, Zunino P, Antúnez K. Characterization of Nosema ceranae Genetic Variants from Different Geographic Origins. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2017; 73:978-987. [PMID: 27837253 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0880-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, large-scale colony losses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) have been reported and the infection with the microsporidia Nosema ceranae has been involved. However, the effect of N. ceranae at the colony level and its role in colony losses vary in different geographic areas. This difference may be related to the presence of multiple N. ceranae genetic variants resulting in different biological consequences. In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 75 N. ceranae samples obtained from 13 countries and Hawaii through inter-sequence single repetition (ISSR) and evaluated if two of these genetic variants triggered different immune responses when infecting Apis mellifera iberiensis. The genetic diversity analysis showed that 41% of the samples had the same DNA amplification pattern, including samples from most European countries except Spain, while the remaining samples showed high variability. Infection assays were performed to analyze the infection levels and the immune response of bees infected with N. ceranae from Spain and Uruguay. The infected bees presented similar infection levels, and both isolates downregulated the expression of abaecin, confirming the ability of the microsporidia to depress the immune response. Only N. ceranae from Uruguay downregulated the expression level of imd compared to control bees. On the other hand, both genetic variants triggered different expression levels of lysozyme. As imd and lysozyme play important roles in the response to pathogens, these results could reflect differences in the biological consequences of N. ceranae variants in A. mellifera infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Branchiccela
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - D Arredondo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - M Higes
- Bee Pathology Laboratory, Regional Apicultural Center, Guadalajara, Spain
| | - C Invernizzi
- Sección Etología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - R Martín-Hernández
- Bee Pathology Laboratory, Regional Apicultural Center, Guadalajara, Spain
| | - I Tomasco
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - P Zunino
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - K Antúnez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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41
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Doublet V, Poeschl Y, Gogol-Döring A, Alaux C, Annoscia D, Aurori C, Barribeau SM, Bedoya-Reina OC, Brown MJF, Bull JC, Flenniken ML, Galbraith DA, Genersch E, Gisder S, Grosse I, Holt HL, Hultmark D, Lattorff HMG, Le Conte Y, Manfredini F, McMahon DP, Moritz RFA, Nazzi F, Niño EL, Nowick K, van Rij RP, Paxton RJ, Grozinger CM. Unity in defence: honeybee workers exhibit conserved molecular responses to diverse pathogens. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:207. [PMID: 28249569 PMCID: PMC5333379 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3597-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organisms typically face infection by diverse pathogens, and hosts are thought to have developed specific responses to each type of pathogen they encounter. The advent of transcriptomics now makes it possible to test this hypothesis and compare host gene expression responses to multiple pathogens at a genome-wide scale. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of multiple published and new transcriptomes using a newly developed bioinformatics approach that filters genes based on their expression profile across datasets. Thereby, we identified common and unique molecular responses of a model host species, the honey bee (Apis mellifera), to its major pathogens and parasites: the Microsporidia Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, RNA viruses, and the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, which transmits viruses. RESULTS We identified a common suite of genes and conserved molecular pathways that respond to all investigated pathogens, a result that suggests a commonality in response mechanisms to diverse pathogens. We found that genes differentially expressed after infection exhibit a higher evolutionary rate than non-differentially expressed genes. Using our new bioinformatics approach, we unveiled additional pathogen-specific responses of honey bees; we found that apoptosis appeared to be an important response following microsporidian infection, while genes from the immune signalling pathways, Toll and Imd, were differentially expressed after Varroa/virus infection. Finally, we applied our bioinformatics approach and generated a gene co-expression network to identify highly connected (hub) genes that may represent important mediators and regulators of anti-pathogen responses. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis generated a comprehensive overview of the host metabolic and other biological processes that mediate interactions between insects and their pathogens. We identified key host genes and pathways that respond to phylogenetically diverse pathogens, representing an important source for future functional studies as well as offering new routes to identify or generate pathogen resilient honey bee stocks. The statistical and bioinformatics approaches that were developed for this study are broadly applicable to synthesize information across transcriptomic datasets. These approaches will likely have utility in addressing a variety of biological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Doublet
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
| | - Yvonne Poeschl
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andreas Gogol-Döring
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Cédric Alaux
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Desiderato Annoscia
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Christian Aurori
- Institute of Life Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Seth M Barribeau
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Oscar C Bedoya-Reina
- Center for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
- Present address: MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
- Present address: MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark J F Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - James C Bull
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - David A Galbraith
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
| | - Elke Genersch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gisder
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Ivo Grosse
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Holly L Holt
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, The Monarch Joint Venture, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Dan Hultmark
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - H Michael G Lattorff
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Present address: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Environmental Health Theme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Fabio Manfredini
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Dino P McMahon
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department for Materials and Environment, BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robin F A Moritz
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Francesco Nazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Elina L Niño
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Katja Nowick
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Computer Science, TFome Research Group, Bioinformatics Group, Interdisciplinary Center of Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert J Paxton
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA
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Martín-Hernández R, Higes M, Sagastume S, Juarranz Á, Dias-Almeida J, Budge GE, Meana A, Boonham N. Microsporidia infection impacts the host cell's cycle and reduces host cell apoptosis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170183. [PMID: 28152065 PMCID: PMC5289437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites can alter the cellular machinery of host cells to create a safe haven for their survival. In this regard, microsporidia are obligate intracellular fungal parasites with extremely reduced genomes and hence, they are strongly dependent on their host for energy and resources. To date, there are few studies into host cell manipulation by microsporidia, most of which have focused on morphological aspects. The microsporidia Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are worldwide parasites of honey bees, infecting their ventricular epithelial cells. In this work, quantitative gene expression and histology were studied to investigate how these two parasites manipulate their host’s cells at the molecular level. Both these microsporidia provoke infection-induced regulation of genes involved in apoptosis and the cell cycle. The up-regulation of buffy (which encodes a pro-survival protein) and BIRC5 (belonging to the Inhibitor Apoptosis protein family) was observed after infection, shedding light on the pathways that these pathogens use to inhibit host cell apoptosis. Curiously, different routes related to cell cycle were modified after infection by each microsporidia. In the case of N. apis, cyclin B1, dacapo and E2F2 were up-regulated, whereas only cyclin E was up-regulated by N. ceranae, in both cases promoting the G1/S phase transition. This is the first report describing molecular pathways related to parasite-host interactions that are probably intended to ensure the parasite’s survival within the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental, IRIAF, 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 Albacete, Albacete, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental, IRIAF, Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Soledad Sagastume
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental, IRIAF, Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Ángeles Juarranz
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joyce Dias-Almeida
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Giles E. Budge
- Fera, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom
- Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Neil Boonham
- Fera, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom
- Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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43
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Kurze C, Dosselli R, Grassl J, Le Conte Y, Kryger P, Baer B, Moritz RFA. Differential proteomics reveals novel insights into Nosema-honey bee interactions. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 79:42-49. [PMID: 27784614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Host manipulation is a common strategy by parasites to reduce host defense responses, enhance development, host exploitation, reproduction and, ultimately, transmission success. As these parasitic modifications can reduce host fitness, increased selection pressure may result in reciprocal adaptations of the host. Whereas the majority of studies on host manipulation have explored resistance against parasites (i.e. ability to prevent or limit an infection), data describing tolerance mechanisms (i.e. ability to limit harm of an infection) are scarce. By comparing differential protein abundance, we provide evidence of host-parasite interactions in the midgut proteomes of N. ceranae-infected and uninfected honey bees from both Nosema-tolerant and Nosema-sensitive lineages. We identified 16 proteins out of 661 protein spots that were differentially abundant between experimental groups. In general, infections of Nosema resulted in an up-regulation of the bee's energy metabolism. Additionally, we identified 8 proteins that were differentially abundant between tolerant and sensitive honey bees regardless of the Nosema infection. Those proteins were linked to metabolism, response to oxidative stress and apoptosis. In addition to bee proteins, we also identified 3 Nosema ceranae proteins. Interestingly, abundance of two of these Nosema proteins were significantly higher in infected Nosema-sensitive honeybees relative to the infected Nosema-tolerant lineage. This may provide a novel candidate for studying the molecular interplay between N. ceranae and its honey bee host in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Kurze
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Biology/Molecular Ecology, Hoher Weg 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; The University of Western Australia, Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Pennsylvania State University, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, W249 Millennium Science Complex, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Ryan Dosselli
- The University of Western Australia, Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Julia Grassl
- The University of Western Australia, Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon Cedex 9, France
| | - Per Kryger
- Aarhus University, Department of Agroecology/Section of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Flakkebjerg, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark
| | - Boris Baer
- The University of Western Australia, Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Robin F A Moritz
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Biology/Molecular Ecology, Hoher Weg 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; German Institute for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Bio City, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; University of Pretoria, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
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Kurze C, Routtu J, Moritz RF. Parasite resistance and tolerance in honeybees at the individual and social level. ZOOLOGY 2016; 119:290-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Holt HL, Grozinger CM. Approaches and Challenges to Managing Nosema (Microspora: Nosematidae) Parasites in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 109:1487-503. [PMID: 27340190 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tow103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The microsporidia Nosema apis (Zander) and Nosema ceranae (Fries) are common intestinal parasites in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. Though globally prevalent, there are mixed reports of Nosema infection costs, with some regions reporting high parasite virulence and colony losses, while others REPORT high Nosema prevalence but few costs. Basic and applied studies are urgently needed to help beekeepers effectively manage Nosema spp., ideally through an integrated pest management approach that allows beekeepers to deploy multiple strategies to control Nosema when Nosema is likely to cause damage to the colonies, rather than using prophylactic treatments. Beekeepers need practical and affordable technologies that facilitate disease diagnosis and science-backed guidelines that recommend when, if at all, to treat infections. In addition, new treatment methods are needed, as there are several problems associated with the chemical use of fumagillin (the only currently extensively studied, but not globally available treatment) to control Nosema parasites. Though selective breeding of Nosema-resistant or tolerant bees may offer a long-term, sustainable solution to Nosema management, other treatments are needed in the interim. Furthermore, the validation of alternative treatment efficacy in field settings is needed along with toxicology assays to ensure that treatments do not have unintended, adverse effects on honey bees or humans. Finally, given variation in Nosema virulence, development of regional management guidelines, rather than universal guidelines, may provide optimal and cost-effective Nosema management, though more research is needed before regional plans can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly L Holt
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, 3A Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802 Current Affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, The University of Minnesota, Skok Hall, St. Paul, MN, 55108
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 1A Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802
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Nosema spp. infections cause no energetic stress in tolerant honeybees. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2381-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4988-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Huang Q, Chen YP, Wang RW, Cheng S, Evans JD. Host-Parasite Interactions and Purifying Selection in a Microsporidian Parasite of Honey Bees. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147549. [PMID: 26840596 PMCID: PMC4739525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To clarify the mechanisms of Nosema ceranae parasitism, we deep-sequenced both honey bee host and parasite mRNAs throughout a complete 6-day infection cycle. By time-series analysis, 1122 parasite genes were significantly differently expressed during the reproduction cycle, clustering into 4 expression patterns. We found reactive mitochondrial oxygen species modulator 1 of the host to be significantly down regulated during the entire infection period. Our data support the hypothesis that apoptosis of honey bee cells was suppressed during infection. We further analyzed genome-wide genetic diversity of this parasite by comparing samples collected from the same site in 2007 and 2013. The number of SNP positions per gene and the proportion of non-synonymous substitutions per gene were significantly reduced over this time period, suggesting purifying selection on the parasite genome and supporting the hypothesis that a subset of N. ceranae strains might be dominating infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, 650223, China
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, United States of America
- * E-mail: (QH); (JDE)
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, United States of America
| | - Rui Wu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming, 650223, China
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China
- * E-mail: (QH); (JDE)
| | - Shang Cheng
- Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, Chongqing, 402460, China
| | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, Maryland, 20705, United States of America
- * E-mail: (QH); (JDE)
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