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Long Q, Sun MH, Fan XX, Cai ZB, Zhang KY, Wang SY, Zhang JX, Gu XY, Song YX, Chen DF, Fu ZM, Guo R, Niu QS. First Identification and Investigation of piRNAs in the Larval Gut of the Asian Honeybee, Apis cerana. Insects 2022; 14:insects14010016. [PMID: 36661944 PMCID: PMC9863445 DOI: 10.3390/insects14010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), play pivotal roles in maintaining the genomic stability and modulating biological processes such as growth and development via the regulation of gene expression. However, the piRNAs in the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) are still largely unknown at present. In this current work, on the basis of previously gained high-quality small RNA-seq datasets, piRNAs in the larval gut of Apis cerana cerana, the nominated species of A. cerana, were identified for the first time, followed by an in-depth investigation of the regulatory roles of differentially expressed piRNAs (DEpiRNAs) in the developmental process of the A. c. cerana. Here, a total of 621 piRNAs were identified in A. c. cerana larval guts, among which 499 piRNAs were shared by 4-(Ac4 group), 5-(Ac5 group), and 6-day-old (Ac6 group) larval guts, while the numbers of unique ones equaled 79, 37, and 11, respectively. The piRNAs in each group ranged from 24 nucleotides (nt) to 33 nt in length, and the first base of the piRNAs had a cytosine (C) bias. Additionally, five up-regulated and five down-regulated piRNAs were identified in the Ac4 vs. Ac5 comparison group, nine of which could target 9011 mRNAs; these targets were involved in 41 GO terms and 137 pathways. Comparatively, 22 up-regulated piRNAs were detected in the Ac5 vs. Ac6 comparison group, 21 of which could target 28,969 mRNAs; these targets were engaged in 46 functional terms and 164 pathways. The results suggested an overall alteration of the expression pattern of piRNAs during the developmental process of A. c. cerana larvae. The regulatory network analysis showed that piR-ace-748815 and piR-ace-512574 in the Ac4 vs. Ac5 comparison group as well as piR-ace-716466 and piR-ace-828146 in the Ac5 vs. Ac6 comparison group were linked to the highest number of targets. Further investigation indicated that targets of DEpiRNAs in the abovementioned two comparison groups could be annotated to several growth and development-associated pathways, such as the Jak/STAT, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways, indicating the involvement of DEpiRNAs in modulating larval gut development via these crucial pathways. Moreover, the expression trends of six randomly selected DEpiRNAs were verified using a combination of stem-loop RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. These results not only provide a novel insight into the development of the A. c. cerana larval gut, but also lay a foundation for uncovering the epigenetic mechanism underlying larval gut development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Long
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ming-Hui Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiao-Xue Fan
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zong-Bing Cai
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Kai-Yao Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Si-Yi Wang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Gu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Song
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Da-Fu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Jilin Institute of Apicultural Research, Jilin 132000, China
| | - Zhong-Min Fu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Jilin Institute of Apicultural Research, Jilin 132000, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Jilin Institute of Apicultural Research, Jilin 132000, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Niu
- Jilin Institute of Apicultural Research, Jilin 132000, China
- Apitherapy Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Huang Q, Zhu YQ, Fouks B, He XJ, Niu QS, Zheng HJ, Zeng ZJ. Signatures of Positive Selection in the Genome of Apis mellifera carnica: A Subspecies of European Honeybees. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101642. [PMID: 36295077 PMCID: PMC9605442 DOI: 10.3390/life12101642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The technology of long reads substantially improved the contingency of the genome assembly, particularly resolving contiguity of the repetitive regions. By integrating the interactive fragment using Hi-C, and the HiFi technique, a solid genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera carnica was assembled at the chromosomal level. A distinctive pattern of genes involved in social evolution was found by comparing it with social and solitary bees. A positive selection was identified in genes involved with cold tolerance, which likely underlies the adaptation of this European honeybee subspecies in the north hemisphere. The availability of this new high-quality genome will foster further studies and advances on genome variation during subspeciation, honeybee breeding and comparative genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Yong-Qiang Zhu
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai and Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Bertrand Fouks
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Molecular Evolution and Bioinformatics, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Xu-Jiang He
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Niu
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jinlin Province, Yuanlin Rd., Jinlin 132108, China
| | - Hua-Jun Zheng
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai and Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai 200237, China
- Correspondence: (H.-J.Z.); (Z.-J.Z.)
| | - Zhi-Jiang Zeng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Ave. 1101, Nanchang 330045, China
- Correspondence: (H.-J.Z.); (Z.-J.Z.)
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Wang K, Chen H, Fan RL, Lin ZG, Niu QS, Wang Z, Ji T. Effect of carbendazim on honey bee health: Assessment of survival, pollen consumption, and gut microbiome composition. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2022; 239:113648. [PMID: 35605324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota and nutrition play major roles in honey bee health. Recent reports have shown that pesticides can disrupt the gut microbiota and cause malnutrition in honey bees. Carbendazim is the most commonly used fungicide in China, but it is not clear whether carbendazim negatively affects the gut microbes and nutrient intake levels in honey bees. To address this research gap, we assessed the effects of carbendazim on the survival, pollen consumption, and sequenced 16 S rRNA gene to determine the bacterial composition in the midgut and hindgut. Our results suggest that carbendazim exposure does not cause acute death in honey bees even at high concentrations (5000 mg/L), which are extremely unlikely to exist under field conditions. Carbendazim does not disturb the microbiome composition in the gut of young worker bees during gut microbial colonization and adult worker bees with established gut communities in the mid and hindgut. However, carbendazim exposure significantly decreases pollen consumption in honey bees. Thus, exposure of bees to carbendazim can perturb their beneficial nutrition homeostasis, potentially reducing honey bee immunity and increasing their susceptibility to infection by pathogens, which influence effectiveness as pollinators, even colony health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Heng Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Rong-Li Fan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Zhe-Guang Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Niu
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin Province 132108, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin Province 132108, China
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
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Liu NN, Ren ZY, Ren QD, Chang ZG, Li JL, Li XA, Sun ZY, He JM, Niu QS, Xing XM. Full length transcriptomes analysis of cold-resistance of Apis cerana in Changbai Mountain during overwintering period. Gene 2022; 830:146503. [PMID: 35487395 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Apis cerana in Changbai Mountain is an ecological type of Apis cerana, which is an excellent breeding material with cold-resistant developed by long-term natural selection under the ecological conditions. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Changbai Mountain population under cold stress are still unclear. In this study, the Nanopore sequencing was carried out for the transcriptome of Apis cerana in Changbai Mountain in the coldest period of overwintering, which will provide a reference to the cold-resistant mechanism. We determined 5,941 complete ORF sequences, 1,193 lncRNAs, 619 TFs, 10,866 SSRs and functional annotations of 11,599 new transcripts. Our results showed that the myosin family and the C2H2 zinc finger protein transcription factor family possibly have significant impacts on the response mechanism of cold stress during overwintering. In addition, the cold environment alters genes expression profiles in honeybees via different AS and APA mechanisms. These altered genes in Hippo, Foxo, and MARK pathways help them counter the stress of cold in overwinter period. Our results might provide clues about the response of eastern honeybees to extreme cold, and reflect the possible genetic basis of physiological changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan-Nan Liu
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130112, PR China; Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China.
| | - Zhong-Yuan Ren
- Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, Jilin, Jilin 132022, PR China
| | - Qing-Dan Ren
- Jilin Provincial Animal Husbandry General Station, Changchun, Jilin 130699, PR China
| | - Zhi-Guang Chang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China
| | - Jie-Luan Li
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China
| | - Xing-An Li
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China
| | - Zhi-Yu Sun
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China
| | - Jin-Ming He
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China
| | - Qing-Sheng Niu
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, Jilin 132108, PR China.
| | - Xiu-Mei Xing
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130112, PR China.
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Wang K, Chen H, Lin ZG, Niu QS, Wang Z, Gao FC, Ji T. Carbendazim exposure during the larval stage suppresses major royal jelly protein expression in nurse bees (Apis mellifera). Chemosphere 2021; 266:129011. [PMID: 33246707 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studying the sublethal effects of agrochemical pesticides on nontarget honeybees (Apis mellifera) is important for agricultural development. Carbendazim is a widely used broad-spectrum fungicide that inhibits mitotic microtubule formation and cell division. However, the impact of carbendazim on bee health and development has not been fully elucidated. Here, using proteomics approaches, we assessed in vitro the changes in the expression of functional proteins in the head of newly emerged adults following treatment with field concentration of carbendazim during the larval stage. Treatment with carbendazim severely altered 266 protein expression patterns in the heads of adults and 218 of them showed downregulation after carbendazim exposure. Notably, major royal jelly proteins, a crucial multifunctional protein family with irreplaceable function in sustaining the development of colonies, were significantly suppressed in carbendazim-treated bees. This result was verified in both head and hypopharyngeal gland of nurse bees. Moreover, visual and olfactory loss, immune functions, muscular activity, social behavior, neural and brain development, protein synthesis and modification, and metabolism-related proteins were likely inhibited by carbendazim treatment. Together, these results suggest that carbendazim is an environmental risk factor that likely weakens bee colonies, partially due to reduced expression of major royal jelly proteins, which may be potential causes of colony collapse disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Heng Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Zhe-Guang Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China
| | - Qing-Sheng Niu
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin Province, 132108, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin Province, 132108, China
| | - Fu-Chao Gao
- Mudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Heilongjiang, 153000, China
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
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6
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Lu X, Xu Z, Niu QS, Tu Z. [Application of Touch DNA in Investigation Practice]. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018; 34:294-298. [PMID: 30051670 DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With the continuous development of DNA extraction and testing technology, the DNA left at a crime scene plays a decisive role in the determination of criminal suspects in criminal investigation. But in the meanwhile, the anti-reconnaissance awareness of suspect is growing, which leads to a decrease of evidence left at scene during and after a crime. Therefore, in the process of evidence collection at scene, the finding and extraction of touch biological evidence, and the DNA detection are more and more important. At present, the proportion of touch evidence at the crime scene increases, which plays an increasingly important role in the detection of cases. However, with the characteristics of minute quantities, small size and secrecy, these touch evidence is difficult to be observed. What's more, various forms of pollution at the scene greatly accelerate the degradation rate of trace material, thus, the test and analysis of such material has become the emphasis and difficulty of the forensic evidence identification. This article reviews different kinds, collection and extraction methods of touch DNA, the factors that affect the detection and the problems may meet in the detection for providing an application prospect to the forensic practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Lu
- Chinese Criminal Police Academy, Shenyang 110035, China
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, PRC, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Z Xu
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, PRC, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Q S Niu
- Chinese Criminal Police Academy, Shenyang 110035, China
| | - Z Tu
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, PRC, Beijing 100038, China
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Chen XX, Yang CW, Huang LB, Niu QS, Jiang SZ, Chi F. Zearalenone Altered the Serum Hormones, Morphologic and Apoptotic Measurements of Genital Organs in Post-weaning Gilts. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2015; 28:171-9. [PMID: 25557812 PMCID: PMC4283161 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.14.0329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The present study was aimed at investigating the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg diet) on serum hormones, morphologic and apoptotic measurements of genital organs in post-weaning gilts. A total of twenty gilts (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc) weaned at 21 d with an average body weight of 10.36±1.21 kg were used in the study. Gilts were fed a basal diet with an addition of 0, 1.1, 2.0, or 3.2 mg/kg purified ZEA for 18 d ad libitum. Results showed that 3.2 mg/kg ZEA challenged gilts decreased (p<0.05) the serum levels of luteinizing hormone, however, serum levels of prolactin in gilts fed the diet containing 2.0 mg/kg ZEA or more were increased (p<0.05) compared to those in the control. Linear effects on all tested serum hormones except progesterone were observed as dietary ZEA levels increased (p<0.05). Gilts fed ZEA-contaminated diet showed increase (p<0.05) in genital organs size, hyperplasia of submucosal smooth muscles in the corpus uteri in a dose-dependent manner. However, the decreased numbers of follicles in the cortex and apoptotic cells in the ovarian were observed in gilts treated with ZEA in a dose-dependent manner. Degeneration and structural abnormalities of genital organs tissues were also observed in the gilts fed diet containing 1.1 mg/kg ZEA or more. Results suggested that dietary ZEA at 1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg can induce endocrine disturbance and damage genital organs in post-weaning gilts.
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Affiliation(s)
- X X Chen
- College of Life science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - C W Yang
- College of Life science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - L B Huang
- College of Life science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Q S Niu
- College of Life science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - S Z Jiang
- College of Life science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271018, China
| | - F Chi
- Amlan International, Chicago, IL 60604, USA
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