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Ligonniere S, Raymond V, Goven D. Use of double-stranded RNA targeting β2 divergent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit to control pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum at larval and adult stages. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:896-904. [PMID: 37816139 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the use of the RNA interference technology (RNAi) has emerged as one of the new strategies for species-specific control of insect pests. Its specificity depends on the distinctiveness of the target gene sequence for a given species. In this work, we assessed in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (A. pisum) the use of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that targets the β2 divergent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit (dsRNA-β2), which shares low sequence identity with other subunits, to control populations of this pest at different developmental stages. Because nAChRs are targeted by neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid, we also assessed the effect of dsRNA-β2 coupled to this insecticide on aphid survival. Finally, because the effect of a control agent on beneficial insect must be considered before any use of new pest management strategies, the acute toxicity of dsRNA-β2 combined with imidacloprid was evaluated on honeybee Apis mellifera. RESULTS In this work, we demonstrated that dsRNA-β2 alone has an insecticidal effect on aphid larvae and adults. Moreover, dsRNA-β2 and imidacloprid effects on aphid larvae and adults were additive, meaning that dsRNA-β2 did not alter the efficacy of imidacloprid on these two developmental stages. Also, no obvious acute toxicity on Apis mellifera was reported. CONCLUSION Using RNAi that targets β2 divergent nAChR subunit is effective alone or combined with imidacloprid to control A. pisum at larval and adult stages. Because no obvious Apis mellifera mortality has been reported, this RNAi-based pest management strategy should be considered to control insect pest. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Batista NR, Farder-Gomes CF, Nocelli RCF, Antonialli-Junior WF. Effects of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of neonicotinoids in the social wasp Polybia paulista: Survival, mobility, and histopathology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166823. [PMID: 37683853 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have investigated the consequences of exposure to neonicotinoids in honeybees. Given the lack of studies concerning the consequences of exposure of social wasps to neonicotinoids, as well as the ecological importance of these insects, the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam decreases survival and mobility by causing damage to the brain and midgut of the social wasp Polybia paulista. The wasps were exposed to different concentrations of thiamethoxam, in order to obtain the mean lethal concentration (LC50), which was used as a reference for calculation of two sublethal concentrations (LC50/100 and LC50/10) employed in subsequent experiments. To calculate survival, groups of exposed (EW) and unexposed (UW) wasps were monitored until death, allowing calculation of the average lethal time. The EW and UW groups were evaluated after 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure, considering their mobility and histopathological parameters of the midgut and brain. A lesion index based on semiquantitative analyses was used for comparison of histopathological damage. The results demonstrated that exposure to the LC50/10 led to a significantly shorter survival time of the P. paulista workers, compared to unexposed wasps. In addition, both sublethal concentrations decreased mobility and caused damage to the intestine (loss of brush border, presence of spherocrystals, loss of cytoplasmic material, and pyknosis) and the brain (loss of cell contact and pyknosis), regardless of the exposure time. The findings showed that, like bees, social wasps are nontarget insects susceptible to the detrimental consequences of neonicotinoid use, with exposure leading to impaired survival, locomotion, and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Rodrigues Batista
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil.
| | - Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Rodovia Anhanguera (SP-330), Km 174, Araras, SP, 13600-970, Brazil
| | - Roberta Cornélio Ferreira Nocelli
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos Campus Araras, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Rodovia Anhanguera (SP-330), Km 174, Araras, SP, 13600-970, Brazil
| | - William Fernando Antonialli-Junior
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso Do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Entomologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil
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Corcoran FE, Tibbetts EA. Field-realistic exposure to neonicotinoid and sulfoximine insecticides impairs visual and olfactory learning and memory in Polistes paper wasps. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246083. [PMID: 37953722 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to insecticides may contribute to global insect declines due to sublethal insecticide effects on non-target species. Thus far, much research on non-target insecticide effects has focused on neonicotinoids in a few bee species. Much less is known about effects on other insect taxa or newer insecticides, such as sulfoxaflor. Here, we studied the effects of an acute insecticide exposure on both olfactory and visual learning in free-moving Polistes fuscatus paper wasps. Wasps were exposed to a single, field-realistic oral dose of low-dose imidacloprid, high-dose imidacloprid or sulfoxaflor. Then, visual and olfactory learning and short-term memory were assessed. We found that acute insecticide exposure influenced performance, as sulfoxaflor- and high-dose imidacloprid-exposed wasps made fewer correct choices than control wasps. Notably, both visual and olfactory performance were similarly impaired. Wasps treated with high-dose imidacloprid were also less likely to complete the learning assay than wasps from the other treatment groups. Instead, wasps remained stationary and unmoving in the testing area, consistent with imidacloprid interfering with motor control. Finally, wasps treated with sulfoxaflor were more likely to die in the week after treatment than wasps in the other treatment groups. Our findings demonstrate that sublethal, field-realistic dosages of both neonicotinoid- and sulfoximine-based insecticides impair wasp learning and short-term memory, which may have additional effects on survival and motor functioning. Insecticides have broadly detrimental effects on diverse non-target insects that may influence foraging effectiveness, pollination services and ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona E Corcoran
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Tibbetts
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, USA
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Rahman A, Ali MA, Xavier C, Santos DM, Daam MA, Azevedo EB, Brigante Castele J, Vieira EM. Modified QuEChERS Method for Extracting Thiamethoxam and Imidacloprid from Stingless Bees: Development, Application, and Green Metrics. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2365-2374. [PMID: 35770720 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, a method for the determination of residues of the neonicotinoid insecticides thiamethoxam and imidacloprid in the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris Latreille (1811) was optimized through a factorial design, tested using green metrics, and then applied to exposed bees. It combines the extraction with a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method and the determination by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Different parameters such as the mass of the sample, dispersive sorbents, and elution solvents were assessed. Method validation parameters were checked and include sensitivity, specificity, and linearity. The limit of quantification of 0.0025 μg g-1 was obtained for both insecticides, where accuracy was 94%-100% with satisfactory intraday and interday precisions (relative standard deviation <10%). The qualified method was applied to orally and topically exposed bee samples, and the results indicated that it is suitable for the determination and quantification of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in this species. Moreover, green analytical metrics like the National Environmental Methods Index, Eco Scale score, high-performance liquid chromatography with an environmental assessment tool (HPLC-EAT), waste generation, and amount of sample were compared with methods described in the literature involving neonicotinoid analysis in honeybees. As a result, the present study displayed the highest Eco Scale score and HPLC-EAT score and the second smallest amount of sample and waste generated. Thus, the method meets green analytical metrics more than other methods. In this sense, besides the application, the multicriteria decision analysis tool employed suggests that this is a good option as a green analytical method. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2365-2374. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Rahman
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Mian Abdul Ali
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Chubraider Xavier
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | | | - Michiel Adriaan Daam
- CENSE, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, New University of Lisbon, Quinta da Torre, Caparica, Portugal
| | | | | | - Eny Maria Vieira
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
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Impairments in learning and memory performances associated with nicotinic receptor expression in the honeybee Apis mellifera after exposure to a sublethal dose of sulfoxaflor. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272514. [PMID: 35921304 PMCID: PMC9348702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sulfoxaflor is a new insecticide which acts on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) in a similar way to neonicotinoids. However, sufloxaflor (SFX) is thought to act in a different manner and is thus proposed as an alternative in crop protection. The goal of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of SFX and its sublethal effect on the honeybee Apis mellifera after acute exposure. In toxicological assay studies, the LD50 value and sublethal dose (corresponding to the NOEL: no observed effect level) were 96 and 15 ng/bee, respectively. Using the proboscis extension response paradigm, we found that an SFX dose of 15 ng/bee significantly impairs learning and memory retrieval when applied 12 h before conditioning or 24 h after olfactory conditioning. SFX had no effect on honeybee olfactory performance when exposure happened after the conditioning. Relative quantitative PCR experiments performed on the six nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits demonstrated that they are differently expressed in the honeybee brain after SFX exposure, whether before or after conditioning. We found that intoxicated bees with learning defects showed a strong expression of the Amelβ1 subunit. They displayed overexpression of Amelα9 and Amelβ2, and down-regulation of Amelα1, Amelα3 and Amelα7 subunits. These results demonstrated for the first time that a sublethal dose of SFX could affect honeybee learning and memory performance and modulate the expression of specific nAChR subunits in the brain.
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Favaro R, Roved J, Haase A, Angeli S. Impact of Chronic Exposure to Two Neonicotinoids on Honey Bee Antennal Responses to Flower Volatiles and Pheromonal Compounds. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:821145. [PMID: 38468759 PMCID: PMC10926470 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.821145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Volatile compounds provide important olfactory cues for honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), which are essential for their ecology, behavior, and social communication. In the external environment bees locate food sources by the use of floral scents, while inside the hive, pheromones such as the queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) and alarm pheromones serve important functions in regulating colony life and inducing aggressive responses against intruders and parasites. Widely reported alterations of various behaviors in- and outside the hive following exposure to pesticides could therefore be associated with a disturbance of odor sensitivity. In the present study, we tested the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides at field concentrations on the ability of honey bees to perceive volatiles at the very periphery of the olfactory system. Bee colonies were subjected to treatments during the summer with either Imidacloprid or Thiacloprid at sublethal concentrations. Antennal responses to apple (Malus domestica L.) flower volatiles were studied by GC-coupled electro-antennographic detection (GC-EAD), and a range of volatiles, a substitute of the QMP, and the alarm pheromone 2-heptanone were tested by electroantennography (EAG). Short-term and long-term effects of the neonicotinoid treatments were investigated on bees collected in the autumn and again in the following spring. Treatment with Thiacloprid induced changes in antennal responses to specific flower VOCs, with differing short- and long-term effects. In the short term, increased antennal responses were observed for benzyl-alcohol and 1-hexanol, which are common flower volatiles but also constituents of the honey bee sting gland secretions. The treatment with Thiacloprid also affected antennal responses to the QMP and the mandibular alarm pheromone 2-heptanone. In the short term, a faster signal degeneration of the response signal to the positive control citral was recorded in the antennae of bees exposed to Thiacloprid or Imidacloprid. Finally, we observed season-related differences in the antennal responses to multiple VOCs. Altogether, our results suggest that volatile-specific alterations of antennal responses may contribute to explaining several behavioral changes previously observed in neonicotinoid-exposed bees. Treatment effects were generally more prominent in the short term, suggesting that adverse effects of neonicotinoid exposure may not persist across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Favaro
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Jacob Roved
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Albrecht Haase
- Center for Mind/Brain Science (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Italy
| | - Sergio Angeli
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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Tsotesti PAA, Mazibuko SS, Nyoka NWK, Mnkandla SM, Fouché T, Otomo PV. Behavioural changes and flight response of a mosquito (Culicidae) and an earthworm (Lumbricidae), respectively, after exposure to imidacloprid. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:367-375. [PMID: 35001259 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02513-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A major point of concern in ecotoxicology is the effects of pesticides on nontarget organisms. This can impact the ecological role played by certain beneficial species in nature. Regarding neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid (IMI), several measures, including limited trade, restrictive use, and ban have been implemented in Europe and the USA but not globally. The goal of our study was to evaluate the potential risk of this still widely used agrochemical on the behaviour of mosquito larvae (Culicidae) and the escape behaviour of earthworms (Lumbricidae). Changes in breathing, swimming and resting were recorded in mosquitoes postexposure to 0, 1 and 2 mg IMI/L for 10 min. Earthworms were topically exposed in water for 2 minutes to 0, 5, 10 and 20 mg IMI/L. The escape behaviour (initial escape distance and speed) of the earthworms were recorded. In culicids, resting particularly was significantly increased by the exposure to imidacloprid (p < 0.05). In earthworms, the initial escape distance was statistically longer (p < 0.05) when fleeing from the 5 mg IMI/L solution than the solutions with the two highest concentrations. The worms exposed to the 5 mg IMI/L reacted faster than those exposed to the higher concentrations, which explained the long distance covered in the same amount of time. These results point to the relatively quick onset of the neurotoxic effects of imidacloprid, crippling earthworms and altering the buoyancy of mosquito larvae. The ecological consequences of these findings on the completion of life cycles and the survival of these species in nature are yet to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palesa Andile Adrena Tsotesti
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, QwaQwa, South Africa
| | - Simangele Sandra Mazibuko
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, QwaQwa, South Africa
- Department of Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Ngitheni Winnie-Kate Nyoka
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, QwaQwa, South Africa.
- Afromontane Research Unit, Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, Republic of South Africa.
| | - Sanele Michelle Mnkandla
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, QwaQwa, South Africa
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
| | - Tanya Fouché
- Department of Environmental Science, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Patricks Voua Otomo
- Ecotoxicology Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, QwaQwa, South Africa
- Afromontane Research Unit, Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, Republic of South Africa
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Barascou L, Requier F, Sené D, Crauser D, Le Conte Y, Alaux C. Delayed effects of a single dose of a neurotoxic pesticide (sulfoxaflor) on honeybee foraging activity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150351. [PMID: 34818794 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pesticide risk-assessment guidelines for honeybees (Apis mellifera) generally require determining the acute toxicity of a chemical over the short-term through fix-duration tests. However, potential long-lasting or delayed effects resulting from an acute exposure (e.g. a single dose) are often overlooked, although the modification of a developmental process may have life-long consequences. To investigate this question, we exposed young honeybee workers to a single sublethal field-realistic dose of a neurotoxic pesticide, sulfoxaflor, at one of two amounts (16 or 60 ng), at the moment when they initiated orientation flights (preceding foraging activity). We then tracked in the field their flight activity and lifespan with automated life-long monitoring devices. Both amounts of sulfoxaflor administered reduced the total number of flights but did not affect bee survival and flight duration. When looking at the time series of flight activity, effects were not immediate but delayed until foraging activity with a decrease in the daily number of foraging flights and consequently in their total number (24 and 33% less for the 16 and 60 ng doses, respectively). The results of our study therefore blur the general assumption in honeybee toxicology that acute exposure results in immediate and rapid effects and call for long-term recording and/or time-to-effect measurements, even upon exposure to a single dose of pesticide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Deborah Sené
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | | | | | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
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9
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McDevitt JC, Gupta RA, Dickinson SG, Martin PL, Rieuthavorn J, Freund A, Pizzorno MC, Capaldi EA, Rovnyak D. Methodology for Single Bee and Bee Brain 1H-NMR Metabolomics. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11120864. [PMID: 34940622 PMCID: PMC8704342 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The feasibility of metabolomic 1H NMR spectroscopy is demonstrated for its potential to help unravel the complex factors that are impacting honeybee health and behavior. Targeted and non-targeted 1H NMR metabolic profiles of liquid and tissue samples of organisms could provide information on the pathology of infections and on environmentally induced stresses. This work reports on establishing extraction methods for NMR metabolic characterization of Apis mellifera, the European honeybee, describes the currently assignable aqueous metabolome, and gives examples of diverse samples (brain, head, body, whole bee) and biologically meaningful metabolic variation (drone, forager, day old, deformed wing virus). Both high-field (600 MHz) and low-field (80 MHz) methods are applicable, and 1H NMR can observe a useful subset of the metabolome of single bees using accessible NMR instrumentation (600 MHz, inverse room temperature probe) in order to avoid pooling several bees. Metabolite levels and changes can be measured by NMR in the bee brain, where dysregulation of metabolic processes has been implicated in colony collapse. For a targeted study, the ability to recover 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid in mandibular glands is shown, as well as markers of interest in the bee brain such as GABA (4-aminobutyrate), proline, and arginine. The findings here support the growing use of 1H NMR more broadly in bees, native pollinators, and insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne C. McDevitt
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.C.M.); (R.A.G.); (S.G.D.); (P.L.M.)
| | - Riju A. Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.C.M.); (R.A.G.); (S.G.D.); (P.L.M.)
| | - Sydney G. Dickinson
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.C.M.); (R.A.G.); (S.G.D.); (P.L.M.)
| | - Phillip L. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.C.M.); (R.A.G.); (S.G.D.); (P.L.M.)
| | - Jean Rieuthavorn
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.R.); (M.C.P.); (E.A.C.)
| | - Amy Freund
- Bruker Biospin, 15 Fortune Drive, Billerica, MA 01821, USA;
| | - Marie C. Pizzorno
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.R.); (M.C.P.); (E.A.C.)
| | - Elizabeth A. Capaldi
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.R.); (M.C.P.); (E.A.C.)
- Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
| | - David Rovnyak
- Department of Chemistry, Bucknell University, 1 Dent Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA; (J.C.M.); (R.A.G.); (S.G.D.); (P.L.M.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Parekh F, Daughenbaugh KF, Flenniken ML. Chemical Stimulants and Stressors Impact the Outcome of Virus Infection and Immune Gene Expression in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera). Front Immunol 2021; 12:747848. [PMID: 34804032 PMCID: PMC8596368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.747848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are ecologically, agriculturally, and economically important plant pollinators. High average annual losses of honey bee colonies in the US have been partially attributed to agrochemical exposure and virus infections. To examine the potential negative synergistic impacts of agrochemical exposure and virus infection, as well as the potential promise of phytochemicals to ameliorate the impact of pathogenic infections on honey bees, we infected bees with a panel of viruses (i.e., Flock House virus, deformed wing virus, or Sindbis virus) and exposed to one of three chemical compounds. Specifically, honey bees were fed sucrose syrup containing: (1) thyme oil, a phytochemical and putative immune stimulant, (2) fumagillin, a beekeeper applied fungicide, or (3) clothianidin, a grower-applied insecticide. We determined that virus abundance was lower in honey bees fed 0.16 ppb thyme oil augmented sucrose syrup, compared to bees fed sucrose syrup alone. Parallel analysis of honey bee gene expression revealed that honey bees fed thyme oil augmented sucrose syrup had higher expression of key RNAi genes (argonaute-2 and dicer-like), antimicrobial peptide expressing genes (abaecin and hymenoptaecin), and vitellogenin, a putative honey bee health and age indicator, compared to bees fed only sucrose syrup. Virus abundance was higher in bees fed fumagillin (25 ppm or 75 ppm) or 1 ppb clothianidin containing sucrose syrup relative to levels in bees fed only sucrose syrup. Whereas, honey bees fed 10 ppb clothianidin had lower virus levels, likely because consuming a near lethal dose of insecticide made them poor hosts for virus infection. The negative impact of fumagillin and clothianidin on honey bee health was indicated by the lower expression of argonaute-2, dicer-like, abaecin, and hymenoptaecin, and vitellogenin. Together, these results indicate that chemical stimulants and stressors impact the outcome of virus infection and immune gene expression in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenali Parekh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Katie F Daughenbaugh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
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11
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Li J, Zhao L, Qi S, Zhao W, Xue X, Wu L, Huang S. Sublethal effects of Isoclast™ Active (50% sulfoxaflor water dispersible granules) on larval and adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 220:112379. [PMID: 34058677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sulfoxaflor is a novel sulfoximine insecticide which is widely used to control crop pests. Risk assessments have reported its high toxicity to pollinators. However, sulfoxaflor is not persistent in the environment and few studies have addressed its negative effects on larval and newly emerged honeybees at environmentally relevant concentrations. In the present study, the sublethal effects of a sulfoxaflor commercial product, Isoclast™ Active, were evaluated in the laboratory using larvae and newly emerged worker honeybees. The results of 96-h acute toxicity showed that Isoclast is moderately toxic to adult bees, and it could induce significant death and growth failure of larvae after continuous dietary intake. In addition, Isoclast induced significant changes in antioxidative (SOD, CAT), lipid peroxidation (POD, LPO, MDA), detoxification (GST, GR, GSH) and signal transduction-related (AChE, ACh) enzymes or products both in larvae and adult honey bees under residue levels. Here we firstly reported the lethal and sublethal effects of commercial sulfoxaflor to honeybees' larvae and young workers. All these findings revealed the potential risks of sulfoxaflor residue in environment to honey bees, and may also to other pollinators. This is a laboratory mimic studies, and further studies are still needed to investigate the risks and in-depth mechanisms of sulfoxaflor to bees in field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahuan Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Liuwei Zhao
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Suzhen Qi
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| | - Wenting Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture In North China,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xue
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Liming Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Shaokang Huang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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12
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Almeida CHS, Haddi K, Toledo PFS, Rezende SM, Santana WC, Guedes RNC, Newland PL, Oliveira EE. Sublethal agrochemical exposures can alter honey bees' and Neotropical stingless bees' color preferences, respiration rates, and locomotory responses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146432. [PMID: 33744575 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Stingless bees such as Partamona helleri Friese play important roles in pollination of native plants and agricultural crops in the Neotropics. Global concerns about declining bee populations due to agrochemical pollutants have, however, been biased towards the honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus. Here, we analysed the unintended effects of commercial formulations of a neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, and a fungicide mixture of thiophanate-methyl and chlorothalonil on color preference, respiration rates and group locomotory activities of both P. helleri and A. mellifera. Our results revealed that P. helleri foragers that were not exposed to pesticides changed their color preference during the course of a year. By contrast, we found that pesticide exposure altered the color preference of stingless bees in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, imidacloprid decreased the overall locomotion of both bee species, whereas the fungicide mixture increased locomotion of only stingless bees. The fungicide mixture also reduced respiration rates of forager bees of both species. Forager bees of both species altered their color preference, but not their locomotory and respiration rates, when exposed to commercial formulations of each fungicidal mixture component (i.e., chlorothalonil and thiophanate-methyl). Our findings emphasize the importance of P. helleri as a model for Neotropical wild pollinator species in pesticide risk assessments, and also the critical importance of including groups of agrochemicals that are often considered to have minimal impact on pollinators, such as fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos H S Almeida
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Khalid Haddi
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil; Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil.
| | - Pedro F S Toledo
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Sarah M Rezende
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Weyder C Santana
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Raul Narciso C Guedes
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Philip L Newland
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenio E Oliveira
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
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13
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Rigosi E, O'Carroll DC. Acute Application of Imidacloprid Alters the Sensitivity of Direction Selective Motion Detecting Neurons in an Insect Pollinator. Front Physiol 2021; 12:682489. [PMID: 34305640 PMCID: PMC8300694 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.682489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic pesticides, such as the neonicotinoid imidacloprid, are the most important insecticides used for plant protection worldwide. In recent decades, concerns have been raised about side effects on non-target insect species, including altered foraging behavior and navigation. Although pollinators rely on visual cues to forage and navigate their environment, the effects of neonicotinoids on visual processing have been largely overlooked. To test the effect of acute treatment with imidacloprid at known concentrations in the brain, we developed a modified electrophysiological setup that allows recordings of visually evoked responses while perfusing the brain in vivo. We obtained long-lasting recordings from direction selective wide-field, motion sensitive neurons of the hoverfly pollinator, Eristalis tenax. Neurons were treated with imidacloprid (3.9 μM, 0.39 μM or a sham control treatment using the solvent (dimethylsulfoxide) only. Exposure to a high, yet sub-lethal concentration of imidacloprid significantly alters their physiological response to motion stimuli. We observed a general effect of imidacloprid (3.9 μM) increasing spontaneous activity, reducing contrast sensitivity and giving weaker directional tuning to wide-field moving stimuli, with likely implications for errors in flight control, hovering and routing. Our electrophysiological approach reveals the robustness of the fly visual pathway against cholinergic perturbance (i.e., at 0.39 μM) but also potential threatening effects of cholinergic pesticides (i.e., evident at 3.9 μM) for the visual motion detecting system of an important pollinator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Rigosi
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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14
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Wilcox AAE, Newman AEM, Raine NE, Mitchell GW, Norris DR. Effects of early-life exposure to sublethal levels of a common neonicotinoid insecticide on the orientation and migration of monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb230870. [PMID: 33334898 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.230870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Migratory insects use a variety of innate mechanisms to determine their orientation and maintain correct bearing. For long-distance migrants, such as the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), these journeys could be affected by exposure to environmental contaminants. Neonicotinoids are synthetic insecticides that work by affecting the nervous system of insects, resulting in impairment of their mobility, cognitive performance, and other physiological and behavioural functions. To examine how neonicotinoids might affect the ability of monarch butterflies to maintain a proper directional orientation on their ∼4000 km migration, we grew swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in soil that was either untreated (0 ng g-1: control) or mixed with low (15 ng g-1 of soil) or high (25 ng g-1 of soil) levels of the neonicotinoid clothianidin. Monarch caterpillars were raised on control or clothianidin-treated milkweed and, after pupation, either tested for orientation in a static flight simulator or radio-tracked in the wild during the autumn migration period. Despite clothianidin being detectable in milkweed tissue consumed by caterpillars, there was no evidence that clothianidin influenced the orientation, vector strength (i.e. concentration of direction data around the mean) or rate of travel of adult butterflies, nor was there evidence that morphological traits (i.e. mass and forewing length), testing time, wind speed or temperature impacted directionality. Although sample sizes for both flight simulator and radio-tracking tests were limited, our preliminary results suggest that clothianidin exposure during early caterpillar development does not affect the directed flight of adult migratory monarch butterflies or influence their orientation at the beginning of migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana A E Wilcox
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Greg W Mitchell
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- Nature Conservancy of Canada, 245 Eglington Avenue East, Toronto, ON M4P 3J1, Canada
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15
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Decio P, Ustaoglu P, Derecka K, Hardy ICW, Roat TC, Malaspina O, Mongan N, Stöger R, Soller M. Thiamethoxam exposure deregulates short ORF gene expression in the honey bee and compromises immune response to bacteria. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1489. [PMID: 33452318 PMCID: PMC7811001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80620-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Maximizing crop yields relies on the use of agrochemicals to control insect pests. One of the most widely used classes of insecticides are neonicotinoids that interfere with signalling of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, but these can also disrupt crop-pollination services provided by bees. Here, we analysed whether chronic low dose long-term exposure to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam alters gene expression and alternative splicing in brains of Africanized honey bees, Apis mellifera, as adaptation to altered neuronal signalling. We find differentially regulated genes that show concentration-dependent responses to thiamethoxam, but no changes in alternative splicing. Most differentially expressed genes have no annotated function but encode short Open Reading Frames, a characteristic feature of anti-microbial peptides. As this suggested that immune responses may be compromised by thiamethoxam exposure, we tested the impact of thiamethoxam on bee immunity by injecting bacteria. We show that intrinsically sub-lethal thiamethoxam exposure makes bees more vulnerable to normally non-pathogenic bacteria. Our findings imply a synergistic mechanism for the observed bee population declines that concern agriculturists, conservation ecologists and the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pâmela Decio
- grid.410543.70000 0001 2188 478XInstitute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Pinar Ustaoglu
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - Kamila Derecka
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Ian C. W. Hardy
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Thaisa C. Roat
- grid.410543.70000 0001 2188 478XInstitute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Osmar Malaspina
- grid.410543.70000 0001 2188 478XInstitute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Nigel Mongan
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Reinhard Stöger
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD UK
| | - Matthias Soller
- grid.6572.60000 0004 1936 7486School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
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16
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Abstract
With less than a million neurons, the western honeybee Apis mellifera is capable of complex olfactory behaviors and provides an ideal model for investigating the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit and the basis of olfactory perception and learning. Here, we review the most fundamental aspects of honeybee's olfaction: first, we discuss which odorants dominate its environment, and how bees use them to communicate and regulate colony homeostasis; then, we describe the neuroanatomy and the neurophysiology of the olfactory circuit; finally, we explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to olfactory memory formation. The vastity of histological, neurophysiological, and behavioral data collected during the last century, together with new technological advancements, including genetic tools, confirm the honeybee as an attractive research model for understanding olfactory coding and learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paoli
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, 31062, Toulouse, France.
| | - Giovanni C Galizia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Konstanz, 78457, Konstanz, Germany.
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17
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Anton S, Rössler W. Plasticity and modulation of olfactory circuits in insects. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 383:149-164. [PMID: 33275182 PMCID: PMC7873004 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03329-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory circuits change structurally and physiologically during development and adult life. This allows insects to respond to olfactory cues in an appropriate and adaptive way according to their physiological and behavioral state, and to adapt to their specific abiotic and biotic natural environment. We highlight here findings on olfactory plasticity and modulation in various model and non-model insects with an emphasis on moths and social Hymenoptera. Different categories of plasticity occur in the olfactory systems of insects. One type relates to the reproductive or feeding state, as well as to adult age. Another type of plasticity is context-dependent and includes influences of the immediate sensory and abiotic environment, but also environmental conditions during postembryonic development, periods of adult behavioral maturation, and short- and long-term sensory experience. Finally, plasticity in olfactory circuits is linked to associative learning and memory formation. The vast majority of the available literature summarized here deals with plasticity in primary and secondary olfactory brain centers, but also peripheral modulation is treated. The described molecular, physiological, and structural neuronal changes occur under the influence of neuromodulators such as biogenic amines, neuropeptides, and hormones, but the mechanisms through which they act are only beginning to be analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Anton
- IGEPP, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Rennes, INRAE, 49045, Angers, France.
| | - Wolfgang Rössler
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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18
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Lv M, Sun Z, Li S, Zhang S, Xu H. Non-food bioactive products for insecticides (II): Investigation on stress responses of Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval against a derivative of the alkaloid matrine. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127346. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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19
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Grünewald B, Siefert P. Acetylcholine and Its Receptors in Honeybees: Involvement in Development and Impairments by Neonicotinoids. INSECTS 2019; 10:E420. [PMID: 31771114 PMCID: PMC6955729 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Acetylcholine (ACh) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the insect central nervous system (CNS). However, besides the neuronal expression of ACh receptors (AChR), the existence of non-neuronal AChR in honeybees is plausible. The cholinergic system is a popular target of insecticides because the pharmacology of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) differs substantially from their vertebrate counterparts. Neonicotinoids are agonists of the nAChR and are largely used in crop protection. In contrast to their relatively high safety for humans and livestock, neonicotinoids pose a threat to pollinating insects such as bees. In addition to its effects on behavior, it becomes increasingly evident that neonicotinoids affect developmental processes in bees that appear to be independent of neuronal AChRs. Brood food (royal jelly, worker jelly, or drone jelly) produced in the hypopharyngeal glands of nurse bees contains millimolar concentrations of ACh, which is required for proper larval development. Neonicotinoids reduce the secreted ACh-content in brood food, reduce hypopharyngeal gland size, and lead to developmental impairments within the colony. We assume that potential hazards of neonicotinoids on pollinating bees occur neuronally causing behavioral impairments on adult individuals, and non-neuronally causing developmental disturbances as well as destroying gland functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Grünewald
- Institut für Bienenkunde, Polytechnische Gesellschaft, FB Biowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Karl-von-Frisch-Weg 2, D-61440 Oberursel, Germany;
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