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Hadjitofi A, Webb B. Dynamic antennal positioning allows honeybee followers to decode the dance. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1772-1779.e4. [PMID: 38479387 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.02.045] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The honeybee waggle dance has been widely studied as a communication system, yet we know little about how nestmates assimilate the information needed to navigate toward the signaled resource. They are required to detect the dancer's orientation relative to gravity and duration of the waggle phase and translate this into a flight vector with a direction relative to the sun1 and distance from the hive.2,3 Moreover, they appear capable of doing so from varied, dynamically changing positions around the dancer. Using high-speed, high-resolution video, we have uncovered a previously unremarked correlation between antennal position and the relative body axes of dancer and follower bees. Combined with new information about antennal inputs4,5 and spatial encoding in the insect central complex,6,7 we show how a neural circuit first proposed to underlie path integration could be adapted to decoding the dance and acquiring the signaled information as a flight vector that can be followed to the resource. This provides the first plausible account of how the bee brain could support the interpretation of its dance language.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hadjitofi
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK.
| | - Barbara Webb
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK.
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2
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Jiang CS, Li CY, Gu CT. Bifidobacterium apis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of honeybee ( Apis mellifera). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74. [PMID: 38661726 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006358] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A novel bifidobacterium (designated F753-1T) was isolated from the gut of honeybee (Apis mellifera). Strain F753-1T was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain F753-1T was phylogenetically related to the type strains of Bifidobacterium mizhiensis, Bifidobacterium asteroides, Bifidobacterium choladohabitans, Bifidobacterium mellis, Bifidobacterium apousia and Bifidobacterium polysaccharolyticum, having 98.4-99.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The phylogenomic tree indicated that strain F753-1T was most closely related to the type strains of B. mellis and B. choladohabitans. Strain F753-1T had the highest average nucleotide identity (94.1-94.5 %) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (56.3 %) values with B. mellis Bin7NT. Acid production from amygdalin, d-fructose, gentiobiose, d-mannose, maltose, sucrose and d-xylose, activity of α-galactosidase, pyruvate utilization and hydrolysis of hippurate could differentiate strain F753-1T from B. mellis CCUG 66113T and B. choladohabitans JCM 34586T. Based upon the data obtained in the present study, a novel species, Bifidobacterium apis sp. nov., is proposed, and the type strain is F753-1T (=CCTCC AB 2023227T=JCM 36562T=LMG 33388T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shan Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Chun Yan Li
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Chun Tao Gu
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
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3
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DesJardins NS, Chester EK, Ozturk C, Lynch CM, Harrison JF, Smith BH. Synergistic negative effects between a fungicide and high temperatures on homing behaviours in honeybees. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240040. [PMID: 38531398 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0040] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Interactions between environmental stressors may contribute to ongoing pollinator declines, but have not been extensively studied. Here, we examined the interaction between the agricultural fungicide Pristine (active ingredients: 25.2% boscalid, 12.8% pyraclostrobin) and high temperatures on critical honeybee behaviours. We have previously shown that consumption of field-realistic levels of this fungicide shortens worker lifespan in the field and impairs associative learning performance in a laboratory-based assay. We hypothesized that Pristine would also impair homing and foraging behaviours in the field, and that an interaction with hot weather would exacerbate this effect. Both field-relevant Pristine exposure and higher air temperatures reduced the probability of successful return on their own. Together, the two factors synergistically reduced the probability of return and increased the time required for bees to return to the hive. Pristine did not affect the masses of pollen or volumes of nectar or water brought back to the hive by foragers, and it did not affect the ratio of forager types in a colony. However, Pristine-fed bees brought more concentrated nectar back to the hive. As both agrochemical usage and heat waves increase, additive and synergistic negative effects may pose major threats to pollinators and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S DesJardins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
| | - Elise K Chester
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
| | - Cahit Ozturk
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
| | - Colin M Lynch
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
| | - Jon F Harrison
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
| | - Brian H Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1004, USA
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4
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Jauregui R, Barcelo A, Bennett P, Foxwell J, Quinn O, Rawdon T, Bandara MP, Lata D, Dissanayake C, Lomata K, Busby B, McCulley M. Draft genomes of Paenibacillus larvae isolated from honeybee colonies ( Apis mellifera) in Fiji. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0103923. [PMID: 38132847 PMCID: PMC10868234 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01039-23] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report draft genomic sequences from three Paenibacillus larvae isolates, the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), obtained from honeybee colonies of Apis mellifera in Fiji, which allow both enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus and multilocus sequence typing genotypes to be elucidated for Fijian AFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruy Jauregui
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Barcelo
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Peter Bennett
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Foxwell
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Oliver Quinn
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Tom Rawdon
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | | | - Deepika Lata
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity Authority Fiji, Koronivia, Suva, Fiji
| | | | - Keresi Lomata
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity Authority Fiji, Koronivia, Suva, Fiji
| | - Bede Busby
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Michelle McCulley
- Animal Health Laboratory, Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry for Primary Industries, St. Upper Hutt, New Zealand
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5
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Aynalem T, Meng L, Getachew A, Wu J, Yu H, Tan J, Li N, Xu S. A New Isolated Fungus and Its Pathogenicity for Apis mellifera Brood in China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:313. [PMID: 38399717 PMCID: PMC10892447 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020313] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In this article, we report the pathogenicity of a new strain of fungus, Rhizopus oryzae to honeybee larvae, isolated from the chalkbrood-diseased mummies of honeybee larvae and pupae collected from apiaries in China. Based on morphological observation and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region analyses, the isolated pathogenic fungus was identified as R. oryzae. Koch's postulates were performed to determine the cause-and-effect pathogenicity of this isolate fungus. The in vitro pathogenicity of this virulent fungus in honeybees was tested by artificially inoculating worker larvae in the lab. The pathogenicity of this new fungus for honeybee larvae was both conidial-concentration and exposure-time dependent; its highly infectious and virulent effect against the larvae was observed at 1 × 105 conidia/larva in vitro after 96 h of challenge. Using probit regression analysis, the LT50 value against the larvae was 26.8 h at a conidial concentration of 1 × 105 conidia/larva, and the LC50 was 6.2 × 103 conidia/larva. These results indicate that the new isolate of R. oryzae has considerable pathogenicity in honeybee larvae. Additionally, this report suggests that pathogenic phytofungi may harm their associated pollinators. We recommend further research to quantify the levels, mechanisms, and pathways of the pathogenicity of this novel isolated pathogen for honeybee larvae at the colony level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessema Aynalem
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia
| | - Lifeng Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Awraris Getachew
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O. Box 26, Ethiopia
| | - Jiangli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Huimin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Jing Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Nannan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
| | - Shufa Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (T.A.); (L.M.); (A.G.); (J.W.); (H.Y.); (J.T.); (N.L.)
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6
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Jiang CS, Gu CT. Lactobacillus juensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus rizhaonensis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of honeybee ( Apis mellifera). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74. [PMID: 38420971 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006285] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Four lactic acid bacteria, designated F690T, F697, F790T and F769-2, were isolated from the gut of honeybee (Apis mellifera). Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains F690T and F697 were phylogenetically related to the type strains of Lactobacillus kimbladii, Lactobacillus laiwuensis, Lactobacillus kullabergensis and Lactobacillus huangpiensis, having 99.1-99.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities; and that strains F790T and F769-2 were most closely related to the type strain of Lactobacillus melliventris, having 99.2-99.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The phylogenies based on concatenated pheS, rpoA, gyrB, hsp60, recA, rpoB and tuf sequences and based on whole genome sequences were identical to that based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strains F690T and F697 exhibited the highest average nucleotide identity (ANI; 92.1-93.2 %), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH; 50-50.1 %) and average amino acid identity (AAI; 94.9-95.1 %) values with L. kimbladii Hma2NT. Strains F790T and F769-2 had the highest ANI (93.1-94 %), dDDH (54.4 %) and AAI (94.4-94.7 %) values with L. melliventris Hma8NT. Based upon the data obtained in the present study, two novel species, Lactobacillus juensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus rizhaonensis sp. nov., are proposed and the type strains are F690T (=JCM 36259T=CCTCC AB 2023131T) and F790T (=JCM 36260T=CCTCC AB 2023132T), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shan Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Chun Tao Gu
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
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7
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Strelevitz H, Tiraboschi E, Haase A. Associative Learning of Quantitative Mechanosensory Stimuli in Honeybees. Insects 2024; 15:94. [PMID: 38392513 PMCID: PMC10889140 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020094] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The proboscis extension response (PER) has been widely used to evaluate honeybees' (Apis mellifera) learning and memory abilities, typically by using odors and visual cues for the conditioned stimuli. Here we asked whether honeybees could learn to distinguish between different magnitudes of the same type of stimulus, given as two speeds of air flux. By taking advantage of a novel automated system for administering PER experiments, we determined that the bees were highly successful when the lower air flux was rewarded and less successful when the higher flux was rewarded. Importantly, since our method includes AI-assisted analysis, we were able to consider subthreshold responses at a high temporal resolution; this analysis revealed patterns of rapid generalization and slowly acquired discrimination between the rewarded and unrewarded stimuli, as well as indications that the high air flux may have been mildly aversive. The learning curve for these mechanosensory stimuli, at least when the lower flux is rewarded, more closely mimics prior data from olfactory PER studies rather than visual ones, possibly in agreement with recent findings that the insect olfactory system is also sensitive to mechanosensory information. This work demonstrates a new modality to be used in PER experiments and lays the foundation for deeper exploration of honeybee cognitive processes when posed with complex learning challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Strelevitz
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Piazza Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Ettore Tiraboschi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Piazza Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Albrecht Haase
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Piazza Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, 38123 Povo, Italy
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8
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Maigoro AY, Lee JH, Kim H, Frunze O, Kwon HW. Gut Microbiota of Apis mellifera at Selected Ontogenetic Stages and Their Immunogenic Potential during Summer. Pathogens 2024; 13:122. [PMID: 38392860 PMCID: PMC10893431 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020122] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are pollinating agents of economic importance. The role of the gut microbiome in honeybee health has become increasingly evident due to its relationship with immune function, growth, and development. Although their dynamics at various developmental stages have been documented, their dynamics during the era of colony collapse disorder and immunogenic potential, which are connected to the antagonistic immune response against pathogens, need to be elucidated. Using 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing, the results indicated changes in the gut microbiota with the developmental stage. The bacterial diversity of fifth stage larva was significantly different among the other age groups, in which Fructobacillus, Escherichia-Shigella, Bombella, and Tyzzerella were unique bacteria. In addition, the diversity of the worker bee microbiome was distinct from that of the younger microbiome. Lactobacillus and Gilliamella remained conserved throughout the developmental stages, while Bifidobacterium colonized only worker bees. Using an in silico approach, the production potential of lipopolysaccharide-endotoxin was predicted. Forager bees tend to have a higher abundance rate of Gram-negative bacteria. Our results revealed the evolutionary importance of some microbiome from the larval stage to the adult stage, providing insight into the potential dynamics of disease response and susceptibility. This finding provides a theoretical foundation for furthering the understanding of the function of the gut microbiota at various developmental stages related to probiotic development and immunogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea (H.K.)
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hyunjee Kim
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea (H.K.)
| | - Olga Frunze
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea (H.K.)
| | - Hyung-Wook Kwon
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea (H.K.)
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea;
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Raine NE, Rundlöf M. Pesticide Exposure and Effects on Non- Apis Bees. Annu Rev Entomol 2024; 69:551-576. [PMID: 37827173 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-040323-020625] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Bees are essential pollinators of many crops and wild plants, and pesticide exposure is one of the key environmental stressors affecting their health in anthropogenically modified landscapes. Until recently, almost all information on routes and impacts of pesticide exposure came from honey bees, at least partially because they were the only model species required for environmental risk assessments (ERAs) for insect pollinators. Recently, there has been a surge in research activity focusing on pesticide exposure and effects for non-Apis bees, including other social bees (bumble bees and stingless bees) and solitary bees. These taxa vary substantially from honey bees and one another in several important ecological traits, including spatial and temporal activity patterns, foraging and nesting requirements, and degree of sociality. In this article, we review the current evidence base about pesticide exposure pathways and the consequences of exposure for non-Apis bees. We find that the insights into non-Apis bee pesticide exposure and resulting impacts across biological organizations, landscapes, mixtures, and multiple stressors are still in their infancy. The good news is that there are many promising approaches that could be used to advance our understanding, with priority given to informing exposure pathways, extrapolating effects, and determining how well our current insights (limited to very few species and mostly neonicotinoid insecticides under unrealistic conditions) can be generalized to the diversity of species and lifestyles in the global bee community. We conclude that future research to expand our knowledge would also be beneficial for ERAs and wider policy decisions concerning pollinator conservation and pesticide regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel E Raine
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada;
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden;
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Layek U, Das AD, Das U, Karmakar P. Spatial and Temporal Variations in Richness, Diversity and Abundance of Floral Visitors of Curry Plants ( Bergera koenigii L.): Insights on Plant-Pollinator Interactions. Insects 2024; 15:83. [PMID: 38392503 PMCID: PMC10889569 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020083] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The reproductive success of flowering plants relates to flower-visitor communities and plant-pollinator interactions. These traits are species- and region-specific and vary across regions, pollinator groups, and plant species. However, little literature exists on the spatiotemporal variation in visitor activity, especially in India. Here, we aimed to depict the spatial and temporal variation in visitor activity on the curry plants (Bergera koenigii). Data were collected at different daytime slots from three vegetation zones (confirmed by field surveys and normalized difference vegetation index values in remote sensing)-dense, medium-density, and low-density vegetation in West Bengal, India. The visitors' richness, diversity, and abundance were higher in the area with dense vegetation. Considering daytime patterns, higher values for these parameters were obtained during 10.00-14.00 h. For most visitors, the flower handling time was shorter, and the visitation rate was higher in dense vegetation areas (at 10.00-14.00 h) than in medium- and low-density vegetation areas. The proportions of different foraging categories varied over time. Vital pollinators were Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Appias libythea, Halictus acrocephalus, Nomia iridescens, and Tetragonula iridipennis. However, the effectiveness of pollinators remained region-specific. Therefore, it can be concluded that floral visitors' richness, diversity, abundance, and plant-visitor interactions varied spatially with their surrounding vegetation types and also changed daytime-wise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujjwal Layek
- Department of Botany, Rampurhat College, Rampurhat 731224, India
| | - Anirban Deep Das
- Department of Botany, Rampurhat College, Rampurhat 731224, India
| | - Uday Das
- Department of Botany, Rampurhat College, Rampurhat 731224, India
| | - Prakash Karmakar
- Department of Botany & Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721102, India
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Lee JK. Development of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent and Immunochromatography Assays for Diagnosing Nosema ceranae Infection in Honey Bees. Insects 2024; 15:59. [PMID: 38249065 PMCID: PMC10816434 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010059] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae (N. ceranae) infection is prevalent globally, causing a decline in bee populations and significant economic losses to apiarists. Although several methods have been proposed for diagnosing Nosema infections, limitations in these methods have hindered their broad applications. Therefore, this current study aimed to develop a specialized method for diagnosing Nosema infections. To achieve this, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatography assay (ICG) were developed, and their effectiveness in screening and diagnosing Nosema infection was assessed. In sandwich ELISA, the combination of the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) 19B2 and biotinylated-19B2 exhibited stronger binding affinity to the antigen than did other combinations of mAbs that were tested. Furthermore, the antigen detection limit achieved with the sandwich ELISA surpassed that previously reported with Western blotting. The ICG was designed using the same antibody combination as that used in sandwich ELISA; however, the assay exhibited a lower diagnostic ability for Nosema infection than the ELISA. The diagnostic models developed in this study offer practical applications for conducting rapid nosemosis detection tests. These innovative techniques will help to improve the timely identification and management of nosemosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Kwon Lee
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
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12
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Hasenjager MJ, Hoppitt W, Cunningham-Eurich I, Franks VR, Leadbeater E. Coupled information networks drive honeybee (Apis mellifera) collective foraging. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:71-82. [PMID: 38009606 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14029] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Collective behaviour by eusocial insect colonies is typically achieved through multiple communication networks that produce complex behaviour at the group level but often appear to provide redundant or even competing information. A classic example occurs in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies, where both the dance communication system and robust scent-based mechanisms contribute to the allocation of a colony's workforce by regulating the flow of experienced foragers among known food sources. Here we analysed social connectivity patterns during the reactivation of experienced foragers to familiar feeding sites to show that these social information pathways are not simply multiple means to achieve the same end but intersect to play complementary roles in guiding forager behaviour. Using artificial feeding stations, we mimicked a natural scenario in which two forager groups were simultaneously collecting from distinct patches containing different flowering species. We then observed the reactivation of these groups at their familiar feeding sites after interrupting their foraging. Social network analysis revealed that temporarily unemployed individuals interacted more often and for longer with foragers that advertised a familiar versus unfamiliar foraging site. Due to such resource-based assortative mixing, network-based diffusion analysis estimated that reactivation events primarily resulted from interactions among bees that had been trained to the same feeding station and less so from different-feeder interactions. Both scent- and dance-based interactions strongly contributed to reactivation decisions. However, each bout of dance-following had an especially strong effect on a follower's likelihood of reactivation, particularly when dances indicated locations familiar to followers. Our findings illustrate how honeybee foragers can alter their social connectivity in ways that are likely to enhance collective outcomes by enabling foragers to rapidly access up-to-date information about familiar foraging sites. In addition, our results highlight how reliance on multiple communication mechanisms enables social insect workers to utilise flexible information-use strategies that are robust to variation in the availability of social information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Hasenjager
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - William Hoppitt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Iona Cunningham-Eurich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
- Natural History Museum, London, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria R Franks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK
| | - Ellouise Leadbeater
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK
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13
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Doublet V, Oddie MAY, Mondet F, Forsgren E, Dahle B, Furuseth-Hansen E, Williams GR, De Smet L, Natsopoulou ME, Murray TE, Semberg E, Yañez O, de Graaf DC, Le Conte Y, Neumann P, Rimstad E, Paxton RJ, de Miranda JR. Shift in virus composition in honeybees ( Apis mellifera) following worldwide invasion by the parasitic mite and virus vector Varroa destructor. R Soc Open Sci 2024; 11:231529. [PMID: 38204792 PMCID: PMC10776227 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231529] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Invasive vectors can induce dramatic changes in disease epidemiology. While viral emergence following geographical range expansion of a vector is well known, the influence a vector can have at the level of the host's pathobiome is less well understood. Taking advantage of the formerly heterogeneous spatial distribution of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor that acts as potent virus vector among honeybees Apis mellifera, we investigated the impact of its recent global spread on the viral community of honeybees in a retrospective study of historical samples. We hypothesized that the vector has had an effect on the epidemiology of several bee viruses, potentially altering their transmissibility and/or virulence, and consequently their prevalence, abundance, or both. To test this, we quantified the prevalence and loads of 14 viruses from honeybee samples collected in mite-free and mite-infested populations in four independent geographical regions. The presence of the mite dramatically increased the prevalence and load of deformed wing virus, a cause of unsustainably high colony losses. In addition, several other viruses became more prevalent or were found at higher load in mite-infested areas, including viruses not known to be actively varroa-transmitted, but which may increase opportunistically in varroa-parasitized bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Melissa A. Y. Oddie
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Kløfta 2040, Norway
| | - Fanny Mondet
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon 84914, France
| | - Eva Forsgren
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
| | - Bjørn Dahle
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Kløfta 2040, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Furuseth-Hansen
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1432, Norway
| | - Geoffrey R. Williams
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
- Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36832, USA
| | - Lina De Smet
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Myrsini E. Natsopoulou
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Tomás E. Murray
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Emilia Semberg
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
| | - Dirk C. de Graaf
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon 84914, France
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
| | - Espen Rimstad
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1432, Norway
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Joachim R. de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
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14
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Danieli PP, Addeo NF, Lazzari F, Manganello F, Bovera F. Precision Beekeeping Systems: State of the Art, Pros and Cons, and Their Application as Tools for Advancing the Beekeeping Sector. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:70. [PMID: 38200801 PMCID: PMC10778344 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010070] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The present review aims to summarize the more recent scientific literature and updated state of the art on the research effort spent in adapting hardware-software tools to understand the true needs of honeybee colonies as a prerequisite for any sustainable management practice. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis was also performed with the aim of identifying the key factors that could support or impair the diffusion of precision beekeeping (PB) systems. Honeybee husbandry, or beekeeping, is starting to approach precision livestock farming (PLF), as has already happened in other animal husbandry sectors. A transition from the current paradigm of rational beekeeping to that of precision beekeeping (PB) is thus expected. However, due to the peculiarities of this species and the related farming practices, the PB technological systems (PB systems) are still undergoing a development process that, to some extent, limits their large-scale practical application. Several physical-chemical (weight, temperature, humidity, sound, gases) and behavioral traits (flight activity, swarming) of the hive are reviewed in light of the evolution of sensors, communication systems, and data management approaches. These advanced sensors are equipped with a microprocessor that records data and sends it to a remote server for processing. In this way, through a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) system, the beekeeper, using specific applications on a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone, can have all the above-mentioned parameters under remote control. In general, weight, temperature, and humidity are the main hive traits monitored by commercial sensors. Surprisingly, flight activity sensors are rarely available as an option in modular PB systems marketed via the web. The SWOT analysis highlights that PB systems have promising strength points and represent great opportunities for the development of beekeeping; however, they have some weaknesses, represented especially by the high purchasing costs and the low preparedness of the addressed operators, and imply some possible threats for beekeeping in terms of unrealistic perception of the apiary status if they applied to some hives only and a possible adverse impact on the honeybees' colony itself. Even if more research is expected to take place in the next few years, indubitably, the success of commercial PB systems will be measured in terms of return on investment, conditioned especially by the benefits (higher yields, better colonies' health) that the beekeeper will appraise as a consequence of their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Paolo Danieli
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Nicola Francesco Addeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino, 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Filippo Lazzari
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Federico Manganello
- Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via S. C. de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (F.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Fulvia Bovera
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino, 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy;
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Hou J, Guo X, Li H, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Li H, Wei J, Li X. Precise Regulation of Juvenile Hormone III R-Stereoisomer Synthesis by Apis mellifera through Specifically Binding Methyl-(2 E,6 E)-farnesoate and Strictly Controlling Its Titer. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:20155-20166. [PMID: 38051952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05385] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone III (JH III) is a crucial hormone synthesized exclusively as R-stereoisomer in most insects. Herein, we established a mature Tris-HCl culture system for essential biochemical reactions and applied stable instrumental detection methods to analyze JH III, methyl farnesoate (MF) and juvenile hormone acid (JHA) using UPLC-MS/MS. Our results revealed that the R-JH III terminal synthesis pathway in Apis mellifera follows the "esterify then epoxidize" sequence, with precise methyl-(2E,6E)-farnesoate titer regulation and its spatial cis-trans isomerism, achieving selective R-JH III synthesis. Furthermore, we observed that the preferred generation of S/R-JH III chiral enantiomers varied depending on the spatial cis-trans isomerism of different MFs. Our results suggest that S-JH III could theoretically exist in insects, offering a novel perspective for understanding the synthesis mechanism of diverse complex juvenile hormones in different insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangan Hou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaxia Guo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Haolin Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongheng Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Honghong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiguang Wei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuesheng Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People's Republic of China
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16
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Saccardi L, Schiebl J, Balluff F, Christ U, Gorb SN, Kovalev A, Schwarz O. Anti-Adhesive Surfaces Inspired by Bee Mandible Surfaces. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:579. [PMID: 38132517 PMCID: PMC10742288 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8080579] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Propolis, a naturally sticky substance used by bees to secure their hives and protect the colony from pathogens, presents a fascinating challenge. Despite its adhesive nature, honeybees adeptly handle propolis with their mandibles. Previous research has shown a combination of an anti-adhesive fluid layer and scale-like microstructures on the inner surface of bee mandibles. Our aim was to deepen our understanding of how surface energy and microstructure influence the reduction in adhesion for challenging substances like propolis. To achieve this, we devised surfaces inspired by the intricate microstructure of bee mandibles, employing diverse techniques including roughening steel surfaces, creating lacquer structures using Bénard cells, and moulding resin surfaces with hexagonal patterns. These approaches generated patterns that mimicked the bee mandible structure to varying degrees. Subsequently, we assessed the adhesion of propolis on these bioinspired structured substrates. Our findings revealed that on rough steel and resin surfaces structured with hexagonal dimples, propolis adhesion was significantly reduced by over 40% compared to unstructured control surfaces. However, in the case of the lacquer surface patterned with Bénard cells, we did not observe a significant reduction in adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Saccardi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Biomechatronic Systems, FraunhoferInstitute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jonas Schiebl
- Department of Biomechatronic Systems, FraunhoferInstitute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Franz Balluff
- Department of Applied Coating Technology, Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ulrich Christ
- Department of Applied Coating Technology, Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Stanislav N. Gorb
- Department Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Kovalev
- Department Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Oliver Schwarz
- Department of Biomechatronic Systems, FraunhoferInstitute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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17
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Thamm M, Reiß F, Sohl L, Gabel M, Noll M, Scheiner R. Solitary Bees Host More Bacteria and Fungi on Their Cuticle than Social Bees. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2780. [PMID: 38004791 PMCID: PMC10673014 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112780] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees come into contact with bacteria and fungi from flowering plants during their foraging trips. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) shows a pronounced hygienic behavior with social interactions, while the solitary red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) lacks a social immune system. Since both visit the same floral resources, it is intriguing to speculate that the body surface of a solitary bee should harbor a more complex microbiome than that of the social honeybee. We compared the cuticular microbiomes of A. mellifera (including three European subspecies) and O. bicornis for the first time by bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS gene-based high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The cuticular microbiome of the solitary O. bicornis was significantly more complex than that of the social A. mellifera. The microbiome composition of A. mellifera subspecies was very similar. However, we counted significantly different numbers of fungi and a higher diversity in the honeybee subspecies adapted to warmer climates. Our results suggest that the cuticular microbiome of bees is strongly affected by visited plants, lifestyle and adaptation to temperature, which have important implications for the maintenance of the health of bees under conditions of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Thamm
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
| | - Fabienne Reiß
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Leon Sohl
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Martin Gabel
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
- Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen, Bee Institute Kirchhain, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
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18
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Sun M, Fan X, Long Q, Zang H, Zhang Y, Liu X, Feng P, Song Y, Li K, Wu Y, Jiang H, Chen D, Guo R. First Characterization and Regulatory Function of piRNAs in the Apis mellifera Larval Response to Ascosphaera apis Invasion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16358. [PMID: 38003547 PMCID: PMC10671575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216358] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
piRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play essential roles in modulating gene expression and abundant biological processes. To decode the piRNA-regulated larval response of western honeybees (Apis mellifera) to Ascosphaera apis infection, the expression pattern of piRNAs in Apis mellifera ligustica larval guts after A. apis inoculation was analyzed based on previously obtained high-quality small RNA-seq datasets, followed by structural characterization, target prediction, regulatory network investigation, and functional dissection. Here, 504, 657, and 587 piRNAs were respectively identified in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts after inoculation with A. apis, with 411 ones shared. These piRNAs shared a similar length distribution and first base bias with mammal piRNAs. Additionally, 96, 103, and 143 DEpiRNAs were detected in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old comparison groups. Targets of the DEpiRNAs were engaged in diverse pathways such as the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, inositol phosphate metabolism, and Wnt signaling pathway. These targets were involved in three energy metabolism-related pathways, eight development-associated signaling pathways, and seven immune-relevant pathways such as the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. The expression trends of five randomly selected DEpiRNAs were verified using a combination of RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The effective overexpression and knockdown of piR-ame-945760 in A. apis-infected larval guts were achieved by feeding a specific mimic and inhibitor. Furthermore, piR-ame-945760 negatively regulated the expression of two target immune mRNAs, SOCS5 and ARF1, in the larval gut during the A. apis infection. These findings indicated that the overall expression level of piRNAs was increased and the expression pattern of piRNAs in larval guts was altered due to the A. apis infection, DEpiRNAs were putative regulators in the A. apis-response of A. m. ligustica worker larvae. Our data provide not only a platform for the functional investigation of piRNAs in honeybees, especially in bee larvae, but also a foundation for illuminating the piRNA-involved mechanisms underlying the host response to the A. apis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Xiaoxue Fan
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Qi Long
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - He Zang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Yiqiong Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Peilin Feng
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Yuxuan Song
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Kunze Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Ying Wu
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin 132000, China; (Y.W.); (H.J.)
| | - Haibin Jiang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin 132000, China; (Y.W.); (H.J.)
| | - Dafu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxin, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Apitherapy Research Institute of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxin, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Apitherapy Research Institute of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Abstract
There is now general concern about widespread antibiotic resistance, and growing evidence indicates that gut microbiota is critical in providing antibiotic resistance. Honeybee is an important pollinator; the incidence of antibiotic resistance genes in honeybee gut causes potential risks to not only its own health but also to public and animal health, for its potential disseminator role, thus receiving more attention from the public. Recent analysis results reveal that the gut of honeybee serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, probably due to antibiotics application history in beekeeping and horizontal gene transfer from the highly polluted environment. These antibiotic resistance genes accumulate in the honeybee gut and could be transferred to the pathogen, even having the potential to spread during pollination, tending, social interactions, etc. Newly acquired resistance traits may cause fitness reduction in bacteria whereas facilitating adaptive evolution as well. This review outlines the current knowledge about the resistome in honeybee gut and emphasizes its role in antibiotic resistance dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center on Biocontrol of Crops Diseases and Insect Pests, Jinan, China
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20
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Ding H, Yan S. Excitation of the abdominal ganglion affects the electrophysiological activity of indirect flight muscles of the honeybee Apis mellifera. Insect Sci 2023. [PMID: 37907450 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13290] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the nervous tissues that affect the wing flapping of insects mainly focuses on the brain, but wing flapping is a rhythmic movement related to the central pattern generator in the ventral nerve cord. To verify whether the neural activity of the abdominal ganglion of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) affects the flapping-wing flight, we profiled the response characteristics of indirect flight muscles to abdominal ganglion excitation. Strikingly, a change in the neural activity of ganglion 3 or ganglion 4 has a stronger effect on the electrophysiological activity of indirect flight muscles than that of ganglion 5. The electrophysiological activity of vertical indirect flight muscles is affected more by the change in neural activity of the abdominal ganglion than that of lateral indirect flight muscles. Moreover, the change in neural activity of the abdominal ganglion mainly causes the change in the muscular activity of indirect wing muscles, but the activity patterns change relatively little and there is little change in the complicated details. This work improves our understanding of the neuroregulatory mechanisms associated with the flapping-wing flight of honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojia Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment (SKLT), Division of Intelligent and Biomechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoze Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment (SKLT), Division of Intelligent and Biomechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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21
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Yang S, Tang J, Li B, Yao G, Peng H, Pu C, Zhao C, Xu H. Rational Design of Insecticidal Isoxazolines Containing Sulfonamide or Sulfinamide Structure as Antagonists of GABA Receptors with Reduced Toxicities to Honeybee and Zebrafish. J Agric Food Chem 2023; 71:14211-14220. [PMID: 37737111 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c03459] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
To develop highly effective, nontarget organism-friendly insecticides based on the isoxazoline scaffold, we rationally designed and synthesized 25 isoxazoline derivatives containing sulfonamides and sulfinamides. Their insecticidal activities against the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), and Spodoptera litura Fabricius (S. litura) were evaluated. The trifluoromethyl sulfinamide-containing compound 7w displayed excellent activities with LC50 values being 0.09, 0.84, 0.87, and 0.68 mg/L against P. xylostella, S. frugiperda, S. exigua, and S. litura, respectively, which were superior to fluxametamide (LC50 = 0.09, 1.24, 1.10, and 0.65 mg/L, respectively) and maintained at the same order of magnitude LC50 values as fluralaner (LC50 = 0.02, 0.17, 0.12, and 0.19 mg/L, respectively). Importantly, compound 7w showed a medium toxicity level of acute toxicity to honeybee (LD50 = 2.22 μg/adult), which is significantly lower than the fluralaner (high toxicity level, LD50 = 0.09 μg/adult). Acute toxicity experiments with zebrafish (Danio rerio) indicated that compound 7w was safe with the LC50 value being 42.4 mg/L (low toxicity level). Furthermore, electrophysiological experiments and molecular docking studies preliminarily verified that compound 7w acts on the insect GABA receptor, and the theoretical calculations explained that the sulfinamide structure may play an important role in exhibiting biological activities. The above results suggest that compound 7w could be employed as a potentially highly effective, environmentally friendly insecticide to control multiple agricultural pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahong Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Benjie Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangkai Yao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxiang Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunmei Pu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanhong Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Natural Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, People's Republic of China
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Li DF, Chen YD, Liu Z, Liang AT, Tang J, Yan XC. Staminal hairs increase pollinator attraction and pollination accuracy in Tradescantia fluminensis (Commelinaceae). AoB Plants 2023; 15:plad067. [PMID: 37899981 PMCID: PMC10601385 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plad067] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Staminal hairs are the particular appendages of stamens, which may affect pollinator foraging behaviour and pollen transfer. However, experimental evidence of the functions of staminal hairs in pollination remains scarce. Here, we conducted staminal hair manipulation experiments in Tradescantia fluminensis (Commelinaceae) to investigate their effects on visitation and pollen transfer by bees. Our observations revealed that both visitation rates and visit duration of honeybees (Apis cerana) to control flowers were significantly higher than that of hairless flowers. Moreover, removing the staminal hairs significantly decreased pollen deposition by honeybees (A. cerana), but did not affect pollen removal. The staminal hair was similar in length to the stamen and the pistil of T. fluminensis. The staminal hairs provide more footholds for honeybees, and they lay prone on the staminal hairs to collect pollen, which increased the accuracy of pollination through the consistent pollen placement and pick-up on the ventral surface of honeybees. These results showed that the staminal hairs in T. fluminensis may represent an adaptation to attract pollinators and enhance pollination accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng-Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Yi-Dan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Ai-Ting Liang
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Ju Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Xian-Chun Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
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23
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Shaji A, Parvez M, Chirumamilla NK, Sharma N, Pannu AK. Severe pulmonary-renal syndrome in honeybee sting envenomation - A case report. Turk J Emerg Med 2023; 23:246-249. [PMID: 38024185 PMCID: PMC10664193 DOI: 10.4103/tjem.tjem_138_22] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybee stings with features of envenomation (either local or allergic and rarely systemic toxicity) are often seen in agriculture workers. An initial presentation with severe diffuse alveolar hemorrhage or pulmonary-renal syndrome is rare and only confined to a few case reports. Herein, we describe a case of a 45-year-old male who presented with multiple bee stings and subsequently developed acute kidney injury and pulmonary hemorrhage. He was managed with hemodialysis, invasive mechanical ventilation, red-cell transfusion, and pulse methylprednisolone. However, he developed cardiac arrhythmias with ventricular tachycardia and died.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Shaji
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Malik Parvez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Naresh Kumar Chirumamilla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Nalin Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Pannu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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24
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Vijayan S, Balamurali GS, Johnson J, Kelber A, Warrant EJ, Somanathan H. Dim-light colour vision in the facultatively nocturnal Asian giant honeybee, Apis dorsata. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231267. [PMID: 37554033 PMCID: PMC10410228 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1267] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We discovered nocturnal colour vision in the Asian giant honeybee Apis dorsata-a facultatively nocturnal species-at mesopic light intensities, down to half-moon light levels (approx. 10-2 cd m-2). The visual threshold of nocturnality aligns with their reported nocturnal activity down to the same light levels. Nocturnal colour vision in A. dorsata is interesting because, despite being primarily diurnal, its colour vision capabilities extend into dim light, while the 'model' European honeybee Apis mellifera is reported to be colour-blind at twilight. By employing behavioural experiments with naturally nesting A. dorsata colonies, we show discrimination of the trained colour from other stimuli during the day, and significantly, even at night. Nocturnal colour vision in bees has so far only been reported in the obligately nocturnal carpenter bee Xylocopa tranquebarica. The discovery of colour vision in these two bee species, despite differences in the extent of their nocturnality and the limitations of their apposition compound eye optics, opens avenues for future studies on visual adaptations for dim-light colour vision, their role in pollination of flowers at night, and the effect of light pollution on nocturnal activity in A. dorsata, a ubiquitous pollinator in natural, agricultural and urban habitats in the Asian tropics and sub-tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajesh Vijayan
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - G. S. Balamurali
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Jewel Johnson
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Almut Kelber
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Eric J. Warrant
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, University of Lund, Sölvegatan 35, Lund 22362, Sweden
| | - Hema Somanathan
- School of Biology, IISER-TVM Centre for Research and Education in Ecology and Evolution (ICREEE), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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25
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Gaubert J, Giovenazzo P, Derome N. Individual and social defenses in Apis mellifera: a playground to fight against synergistic stressor interactions. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1172859. [PMID: 37485064 PMCID: PMC10360197 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1172859] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The honeybee is an important species for the agri-food and pharmaceutical industries through bee products and crop pollination services. However, honeybee health is a major concern, because beekeepers in many countries are experiencing significant colony losses. This phenomenon has been linked to the exposure of bees to multiple stresses in their environment. Indeed, several biotic and abiotic stressors interact with bees in a synergistic or antagonistic way. Synergistic stressors often act through a disruption of their defense systems (immune response or detoxification). Antagonistic interactions are most often caused by interactions between biotic stressors or disruptive activation of bee defenses. Honeybees have developed behavioral defense strategies and produce antimicrobial compounds to prevent exposure to various pathogens and chemicals. Expanding our knowledge about these processes could be used to develop strategies to shield bees from exposure. This review aims to describe current knowledge about the exposure of honeybees to multiple stresses and the defense mechanisms they have developed to protect themselves. The effect of multi-stress exposure is mainly due to a disruption of the immune response, detoxification, or an excessive defense response by the bee itself. In addition, bees have developed defenses against stressors, some behavioral, others involving the production of antimicrobials, or exploiting beneficial external factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Gaubert
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Laboratoire Giovenazzo, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Derome
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Laboratoire Giovenazzo, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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26
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Woodford L, Steketee PC, Evans DJ. Doomed drones? Using passage experiments and mathematical modelling to determine Deformed wing virus population dynamics in male honeybees. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231010. [PMID: 37339741 PMCID: PMC10281807 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite of honeybees which vectors a range of pathogenic viruses, the most notable being Deformed wing virus (DWV). Mites parasitise bees during pupal development and male honeybees, drones, have a longer development cycle than female workers (24 versus 21 days), allow for more progeny mites to develop per foundress (1.6-2.5 compared to 0.7-1.45). How this longer exposure time influences evolution of the transmitted virus population is unknown. Using uniquely tagged viruses recovered from cDNA we investigated the replication, competition and morbidity of DWV genotypes in drones. Assays examining virus replication and morbidity revealed drones are highly susceptible to both predominant genotypes of DWV. In virus passage studies using an equimolar inocula of major DNA genotypes and their recombinants, the recombinant form dominated but did not reach 100% of the virus population within 10 passages. Using an in-silico model of the virus-mite-bee system we examined bottlenecks during virus acquisition by the mite and subsequent injection of viruses into the host, which may play a significant role in shaping virus diversity. This study furthers our understanding of the variables influencing DWV diversity changes and provides insight into areas of future research in the mite-virus-bee system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Woodford
- Department of Biology, University of St. Andrews, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, St. Andrews, None KY16 9ST, UK
| | - Pieter C. Steketee
- The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - David J. Evans
- Department of Biology, University of St. Andrews, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, St. Andrews, None KY16 9ST, UK
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27
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Kim DJ, Woo RM, Kim KS, Woo SD. Screening of Entomopathogenic Fungal Culture Extracts with Honeybee Nosemosis Inhibitory Activity. Insects 2023; 14:538. [PMID: 37367354 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060538] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to select the most effective culture extracts for controlling honeybee nosemosis using 342 entomopathogenic fungi of 24 species from 18 genera. The germination inhibitory activity of the fungal culture extract on Nosema ceranae spores was evaluated using an in vitro germination assay method. Among 89 fungal culture extracts showing germination inhibitory activity of approximately 80% or more, 44 fungal culture extracts that maintained their inhibitory activity even at a concentration of 1% were selected. Finally, the honeybee nosemosis inhibitory activity was evaluated using the cultured extracts of five fungal isolates having a Nosema inhibitory activity of approximately 60% or more, even when the extract was removed after treatment. As a result, the proliferation of Nosema spores was reduced by all fungal culture extract treatments. However, only the treatment of the culture extracts from Paecilomyces marquandii 364 and Pochonia bulbillosa 60 showed a reduction in honeybee mortality due to nosemosis. In particular, the extracts of these two fungal isolates also increased the survival of honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Jun Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
- Process Development Team, R&D Division, Plolagen Co., Ltd., Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Ra-Mi Woo
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Seek Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Dong Woo
- Department of Agricultural Biology, College of Agriculture, Life & Environment Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
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28
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Pent K, Naudi S, Raimets R, Jürison M, Liiskmann E, Karise R. Overlapping exposure effects of pathogen and dimethoate on honeybee ( Apis mellifera Linnaeus) metabolic rate and longevity. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1198070. [PMID: 37346484 PMCID: PMC10279948 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1198070] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Declines in honeybee abundance have been observed worldwide during last decades. This is partly due to plant protection agents used in intensive farming, landscaping and infrastructure maintenance. Another type of factors negatively affecting honeybees is the spread of diseases caused by different pathogens and pests. Lately, more focus has been paid to the interactions between different overlapping stressors affecting honeybee health, the combination of these often being more detrimental compared to individual stressors. The most widely used stress-evaluating methods take into account lethal- or motorial changes of the individuals or colonies. Comparatively little honeybee research has examined changes in initial recovery potential and physiological symptoms of toxification. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of Nosema apis and N. ceranae (according to a newer classification Vairimorpha apis and V. ceranae), the common causes of nosemosis in the honeybee Apis mellifera L., with the insecticide dimethoate. Methods: In this study, honeybee mortality and metabolic rate were used to assess the combined effects interactions of Nosema ssp. and dimethoate. Results: Our results showed that exposure to the low concentration of either dimethoate, either one or both species of Nosema ssp as single factors or in the combination had no significant effect on honeybee metabolic rate. The mortality increased with the two Nosema spp., as well as with infection by N. ceranae alone. The effect of dimethoate was observed only in combination with N. apis infection, which alone had no effect on individual honeybee mortality. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the overlapping exposure to a non-lethal concentration of a pesticide and a pathogen can be hidden by stronger stressor but become observable with milder stressors.
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29
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Kok DN, Turnbull J, Takeuchi N, Tsourkas PK, Hendrickson HL. In Vitro Evolution to Increase the Titers of Difficult Bacteriophages: RAMP-UP Protocol. Phage (New Rochelle) 2023; 4:68-81. [PMID: 37350994 PMCID: PMC10282794 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2023.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Bacteriophages are becoming increasingly important in the race to find alternatives to antibiotics. Unfortunately, bacteriophages that might otherwise be useful are sometimes discarded due to low titers making them unsuitable for downstream applications. Methods Here, we present two distinct approaches used to experimentally evolve novel New Zealand Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophages. The first approach uses the traditional agar-overlay method, whereas the other was a 96-well plate liquid infection protocol that improved phage titers in as little as four days. We also used a mathematical model to probe the parameters and limits of the RAMP-UP approach to rapidly select mutants that improve bacteriophage titers. Results Both experimental approaches resulted in an increase in plaque-forming units (PFU/mL). The liquid infection approach developed here, which we call RAMP-UP for Rapid Adaptive Mutation of Phage - UP, was significantly faster and simpler, and allowed us to evolve high titer bacteriophages in as little as four days. Titers were increased from 100-100,000-fold relative to their ancestors. The resultant titers were sufficient to extract and sequence DNA from these bacteriophages. An analysis of these phage genomes is provided. Conclusion The RAMP-UP protocol is an effective method for experimentally evolving previously intractable bacteriophages in a high-throughput and expeditious manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N. Kok
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Joanne Turnbull
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nobuto Takeuchi
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philippos K. Tsourkas
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Heather L. Hendrickson
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
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30
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Williams SM, Aldabashi N, Cross P, Palego C. Challenges in Developing a Real-Time Bee-Counting Radar. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:s23115250. [PMID: 37299977 DOI: 10.3390/s23115250] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Detailed within is an attempt to implement a real-time radar signal classification system to monitor and count bee activity at the hive entry. There is interest in keeping records of the productivity of honeybees. Activity at the entrance can be a good measure of overall health and capacity, and a radar-based approach could be cheap, low power, and versatile, beyond other techniques. Fully automated systems would enable simultaneous, large-scale capturing of bee activity patterns from multiple hives, providing vital data for ecological research and business practice improvement. Data from a Doppler radar were gathered from managed beehives on a farm. Recordings were split into 0.4 s windows, and Log Area Ratios (LARs) were computed from the data. Support vector machine models were trained to recognize flight behavior from the LARs, using visual confirmation recorded by a camera. Spectrogram deep learning was also investigated using the same data. Once complete, this process would allow for removing the camera and accurately counting the events by radar-based machine learning alone. Challenging signals from more complex bee flights hindered progress. System accuracy of 70% was achieved, but clutter impacted the overall results requiring intelligent filtering to remove environmental effects from the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Williams
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Nawaf Aldabashi
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Paul Cross
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Cristiano Palego
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2DG, UK
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31
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Kim DY, Maeng S, Cho SJ, Park HJ, Kim K, Lee JK, Srinivasan S. The Ascosphaera apis Infection (Chalkbrood Disease) Alters the Gut Bacteriome Composition of the Honeybee. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050734. [PMID: 37242403 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050734] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The declining honeybee populations are a significant risk to the productivity and security of agriculture worldwide. Although there are many causes of these declines, parasites are a significant one. Disease glitches in honeybees have been identified in recent years and increasing attention has been paid to addressing the issue. Between 30% and 40% of all managed honeybee colonies in the USA have perished annually over the past few years. American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) have been reported as bacterial diseases, Nosema as a protozoan disease, and Chalkbrood and Stonebrood as fungal diseases. The study aims to compare the bacterial community related to the Nosema ceranae and Ascosphaera apis infection on the gut of the honeybee and compare it with the weakly active honeybees. The Nosema-infected honeybees contain the phyla Proteobacteria as the significantly dominant bacterial phyla, similar to the weakly active honeybees. In contrast, the Ascosphaera (Chalkbrood) infected honeybee contains large amounts of Firmicutes rather than Proteobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Yoon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chungbuk 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Soohyun Maeng
- Department of Bio and Environmental Technology, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Hui Jin Park
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungsu Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Kwon Lee
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Sathiyaraj Srinivasan
- Department of Bio and Environmental Technology, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, Seoul 01797, Republic of Korea
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32
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Hou C, Liang H, Chen C, Zhao H, Zhao P, Deng S, Li B, Yang D, Yang S, Wilfert L. Lake Sinai virus is a diverse, globally distributed but not emerging multi-strain honeybee virus. Mol Ecol 2023. [PMID: 37194687 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Domesticated honeybees and wild bees are some of the most important beneficial insects for human and environmental health, but infectious diseases pose a serious risk to these pollinators, particularly following the emergence of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor as a viral vector. The acquisition of this novel viral vector from the Asian honeybee Apis ceranae has fundamentally changed viral epidemiology in its new host, the western honeybee A. mellifera. While the recently discovered Lake Sinai Viruses (LSV) have been associated with weak honeybee colonies, they have not been associated with vector-borne transmission. By combining a large-scale multi-year survey of LSV in Chinese A. mellifera and A. cerana honeybee colonies with globally available LSV-sequence data, we investigate the global epidemiology of this virus. We find that globally distributed LSV is a highly diverse multi-strain virus, which is predominantly associated with the western honeybee A. mellifera. In contrast to the vector-borne deformed wing virus, LSV is not an emerging disease. Instead, demographic reconstruction and strong global and local population structure indicates that it is a highly variable multi-strain virus in a stable association with its main host, the western honeybee. Prevalence patterns in China suggest a potential role for migratory beekeeping in the spread of this pathogen, demonstrating the potential for disease transmission with the man-made transport of beneficial insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunsheng Hou
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Bast Fiber Crops and Center of Southern Economic Crops, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Liang
- Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, National Engineering Research Center for Vegetables (Institute of Vegetable Science), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxiao Chen
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Bast Fiber Crops and Center of Southern Economic Crops, Changsha, China
| | - Hongxia Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengfei Zhao
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute, Nanning, China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Apicultural Research, Beijing, China
| | - Beibei Li
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Apicultural Research, Beijing, China
| | - Dahe Yang
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Apicultural Research, Beijing, China
| | - Sa Yang
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Apicultural Research, Beijing, China
| | - Lena Wilfert
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Zhu C, Xu X, Zhou S, Zhou B, Liu Y, Xu H, Tian Y, Zhu X. WGCNA based identification of hub genes associated with cold response and development in Apis mellifera metamorphic pupae. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1169301. [PMID: 37250124 PMCID: PMC10213956 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1169301] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybee is a crucial pollinator in nature, and plays an indispensable role in both agricultural production and scientific research. In recent decades, honeybee was challenged with health problems by biotic and abiotic stresses. As a key ecological factor, temperature has been proved to have an impact on the survival and production efficiency of honeybees. Previous studies have demonstrated that low temperature stress can affect honeybee pupation and shorten adult longevity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of low temperatures on honeybee growth and development during their developmental period remain poorly understood. In this paper, the weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) was employed to explore the molecular mechanisms underpinnings of honeybees' respond to low temperatures (20°C) during four distinct developmental stages: large-larvae, prepupae, early-pupae and mid-pupae. Through an extensive transcriptome analysis, thirteen gene co-expression modules were identified and analyzed in relation to honeybee development and stress responses. The darkorange module was found to be associated with low temperature stress, with its genes primarily involved in autophagy-animal, endocytosis and MAPK signaling pathways. Four hub genes were identified within this module, namely, loc726497, loc409791, loc410923, and loc550857, which may contribute to honeybee resistance to low temperature and provide insight into the underlying mechanism. The gene expression patterns of grey60 and black modules were found to correspond to the developmental stages of prepupae and early-pupae, respectively, with the hub genes loc409494, loc725756, loc552457, loc726158, Ip3k and Lcch3 in grey60 module likely involved in brain development, and the hub genes loc410555 in black module potentially related to exoskeleton development. The brown module genes exhibited a distinct pattern of overexpression in mid-pupae specimens, with genes primarily enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, citrate cycle and other pathways, which may be related to the formation of bee flying muscle. No related gene expression module was found for mature larvae stage. These findings provide valuable insights into the developmental process of honeybees at molecular level during the capped brood stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Zhu
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xinjian Xu
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Honeybee Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shujing Zhou
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Honeybee Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bingfeng Zhou
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Honeybee Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yiming Liu
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongzhi Xu
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuanmingyue Tian
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiangjie Zhu
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Honeybee Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Łyskowski A, Miłek M, Dżugan M. Assessing the Antimicrobial Properties of Honey Protein Components through In Silico Comparative Peptide Composition and Distribution Analysis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12050830. [PMID: 37237732 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050830] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The availability of reference proteomes for two honeybee species (Apis mellifera and Apis cerana cerana) opens the possibility of in silico studies of diverse properties of the selected protein fractions. The antimicrobial activity of honey is well established and related to its composition, including protein components. We have performed a comparative study on a selected fraction of the honey-related proteins, as well as other bee-secreted proteins, utilizing a publicly available database of established and verified peptides with antimicrobial properties. Using a high-performance sequence aligner (diamond), protein components with antimicrobial peptide sequences were identified and analyzed. The identified peptides were mapped on the available bee proteome sequences, as well as on model structures provided by the AlphaFold project. The results indicate a highly conserved localization of the identified sequences within a limited number of the protein components. Putative antimicrobial fragments also show high sequence-based similarity to the multiple peptides contained in the reference databases. For the 2 databases used, the lowest calculated percentage of similarity ranged from 30.1% to 32.9%, with a respective average of 88.5% and 79.3% for the Apis mellifera proteome. It was revealed that the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) site is a single, well-defined domain with potentially conserved structural features. In the case of the examples studied in detail, the structural domain takes the form of the two β-sheets, stabilized by α-helices in one case, and a six-β-sheet-only domain localized in the C-terminal part of the sequence, respectively. Moreover, no significant differences were found in the composition of the antibacterial fraction of peptides that were identified in the proteomes of both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Łyskowski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Rzeszów University of Technology, Powstańców Warszawy 6, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Michał Miłek
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Dżugan
- Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland
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Ahmed AA, Al-Bayatti A, Saif M, Jabbar WA, Rassem TH. A Honeybee-Inspired Framework for a Smart City Free of Internet Scams. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:s23094284. [PMID: 37177488 PMCID: PMC10181420 DOI: 10.3390/s23094284] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Internet scams are fraudulent attempts aim to lure computer users to reveal their credentials or redirect their connections to spoofed webpages rather than the actual ones. Users' confidential information, such as usernames, passwords, and financial account numbers, is the main target of these fraudulent attempts. Internet scammers often use phishing attacks, which have no boundaries, since they could exceed hijacking conventional cyber ecosystems to hack intelligent systems, which emerged recently for the use within smart cities. This paper therefore develops a real-time framework inspired by the honeybee defense mechanism in nature for filtering phishing website attacks in smart cities. In particular, the proposed framework filters phishing websites through three main phases of investigation: PhishTank-Match (PM), Undesirable-Absent (UA), and Desirable-Present (DP) investigation phases. The PM phase is used at first in order to check whether the requested URL is listed in the blacklist of the PhishTank database. On the other hand, the UA phase is used for investigation and checking for the absence of undesirable symbols in uniform resource locators (URLs) of the requested website. Finally, the DP phase is used as another level of investigation in order to check for the presence of the requested URL in the desirable whitelist. The obtained results show that the proposed framework is deployable and capable of filtering various types of phishing website by maintaining a low rate of false alarms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulghani Ali Ahmed
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Ali Al-Bayatti
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
| | - Mubarak Saif
- Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Parit Raja 86400, Malaysia
| | - Waheb A Jabbar
- School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK
| | - Taha H Rassem
- School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
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Dong S, Gu G, Lin T, Wang Z, Li J, Tan K, Nieh JC. An inhibitory signal associated with danger reduces honeybee dopamine levels. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2081-2087.e4. [PMID: 37059097 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.072] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Positive and negative experiences can alter animal brain dopamine levels.1 When first arriving at a rewarding food source or beginning to waggle dance and recruit nestmates to food, honeybees have increased brain dopamine levels, indicating a desire for food.2 We provide the first evidence that an inhibitory signal, the stop signal, which counters waggle dancing and is triggered by negative events at the food source, can decrease head dopamine levels and dancing, independent of the dancer having any negative experiences. The hedonic value of food can therefore be depressed simply by the receipt of an inhibitory signal. Increasing the brain dopamine levels reduced the aversive effects of an attack, increasing the time that bees spent subsequently feeding and waggle dancing and decreasing their stop signaling and time spent in the hive. Because honeybees regulate food recruitment and its inhibition at the colony level, these results highlight the complex integration of colony information with a basic and highly conserved neural mechanism in mammals and insects.2 VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China
| | - Gaoying Gu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tao Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China
| | - Ken Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, China.
| | - James C Nieh
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Elfar SA, Bahgat IM, Shebl MA, Lihoreau M, Tawfik MM. Intraspecific Variability in Proteomic Profiles and Biological Activities of the Honey Bee Hemolymph. Insects 2023; 14:365. [PMID: 37103179 PMCID: PMC10142140 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator declines have raised major concerns for the maintenance of biodiversity and food security, calling for a better understanding of environmental factors that affect their health. Here we used hemolymph analysis to monitor the health status of Western honey bees Apis mellifera. We evaluated the intraspecific proteomic variations and key biological activities of the hemolymph of bees collected from four Egyptian localities characterized by different food diversities and abundances. Overall, the lowest protein concentrations and the weakest biological activities (cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties) were recorded in the hemolymph of bees artificially fed sucrose solution and no pollen. By contrast, the highest protein concentrations and biological activities were recorded in bees that had the opportunity to feed on various natural resources. While future studies should expand comparisons to honey bee populations exposed to more different diets and localities, our results suggest hemolymph samples can be used as reliable indicators of bee nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma A. Elfar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
| | - Iman M. Bahgat
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Shebl
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Mathieu Lihoreau
- Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Mohamed M. Tawfik
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said 42526, Egypt
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Huang WF. Editorial: Obstacles, advantages, and recent progress in honey bee virus research. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:878344. [PMID: 38469481 PMCID: PMC10926364 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.878344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Fone Huang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Chesters D, Liu X, Bell KL, Orr MC, Xie T, Zhou Q, Zhu C. An integrative bioinformatics pipeline shows that honeybee-associated microbiomes are driven primarily by pollen composition. Insect Sci 2023; 30:555-568. [PMID: 36001735 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13104] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The microbiomes associated with bee nests influence colony health through various mechanisms, although it is not yet clear how honeybee congeners differ in microbiome assembly processes, in particular the degrees to which floral visitations and the environment contribute to different aspects of diversity. We used DNA metabarcoding to sequence bacterial 16S rRNA from honey and stored pollen from nests of 4 honeybee species (Apis cerana, A. dorsata, A. florea, and A. laboriosa) sampled throughout Yunnan, China, a global biodiversity hotspot. We developed a computational pipeline integrating multiple databases for quantifying key facets of diversity, including compositional, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional ones. Further, we assessed candidate drivers of observed microbiome dissimilarity, particularly differences in floral visitations, habitat disturbance, and other key environmental variables. Analyses revealed that microbiome alpha diversity was broadly equivalent across the study sites and between bee species, apart from functional diversity which was very low in nests of the reclusive A. laboriosa. Turnover in microbiome composition across Yunnan was driven predominantly by pollen composition. Human disturbance negatively impacted both compositional and phylogenetic alpha diversity of nest microbiomes, but did not correlate with microbial turnover. We herein make progress in understanding microbiome diversity associated with key pollinators in a biodiversity hotspot, and provide a model for the use of a comprehensive informatics framework in assessing pattern and drivers of diversity, which enables the inclusion of explanatory variables both subtly and fundamentally different and enables elucidation of emergent or unexpected drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Chesters
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuwei Liu
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing, Yunnan Province Academy of Agricultural Science, Kunming, China
| | - Karen L Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Michael C Orr
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Xie
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qingsong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chaodong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Bencsik M, McVeigh A, Tsakonas C, Kumar T, Chamberlain L, Newton MI. A Monitoring System for Carbon Dioxide in Honeybee Hives: An Indicator of Colony Health. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:3588. [PMID: 37050648 PMCID: PMC10099037 DOI: 10.3390/s23073588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Non-dispersive infra-red (NDIR) detectors have become the dominant method for measuring atmospheric CO2, which is thought to be an important gas for honeybee colony health. In this work we describe a microcontroller-based system used to collect data from Senserion SCD41 NDIR sensors placed in the crown boards and queen excluders of honeybee colonies. The same sensors also provide relative humidity and temperature data. Several months of data have been recorded from four different hives. The mass change measurements, from hive scales, when foragers leave the hive were compared with the data from the gas sensors. Our data suggest that it is possible to estimate the colony size from the change in measured CO2, however no such link with the humidity is observed. Data are presented showing the CO2 decreasing over many weeks as a colony dies.
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Álvarez S, Contreras-Kallens P, Aguayo S, Ramírez O, Vallejos C, Ruiz J, Carrasco-Gallardo E, Troncoso-Vera S, Morales B, Schuh CMAP. Royal jelly extracellular vesicles promote wound healing by modulating underlying cellular responses. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2023; 31:541-52. [PMID: 36895953 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Apis mellifera royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known remedy in traditional medicine around the world and its versatile effects range from antibacterial to anti-inflammatory properties and pro-regenerative properties. As a glandular product, RJ has been shown to contain a substantial number of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and, in this study, we aimed to investigate the extent of involvement of RJEVs in wound healing-associated effects. Molecular analysis of RJEVs verified the presence of exosomal markers such as CD63 and syntenin, and cargo molecules MRJP1, defensin-1, and jellein-3. Furthermore, RJEVs were demonstrated to modulate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and secretome, as well as decrease LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In vivo studies confirmed antibacterial effects of RJEVs and demonstrated an acceleration of wound healing in a splinted mouse model. This study suggests that RJEVs play a crucial role in the known effects of RJ by modulating the inflammatory phase and cellular response in wound healing. Transfer of RJ into the clinics has been impeded by the high complexity of the raw material. Isolating EVs from the raw RJ decreases the complexity while allowing standardization and quality control, bringing a natural nano-therapy one step closer to the clinics.
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Cordeiro GD, Dötterl S. Floral Scents in Bee-Pollinated Buckwheat and Oilseed Rape under a Global Warming Scenario. Insects 2023; 14:242. [PMID: 36975927 PMCID: PMC10057843 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030242] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Many wild plants and crops are pollinated by insects, which often use floral scents to locate their host plants. The production and emission of floral scents are temperature-dependent; however, little is known about how global warming affects scent emissions and the attraction of pollinators. We used a combination of chemical analytical and electrophysiological approaches to quantify the influence of a global warming scenario (+5 °C in this century) on the floral scent emissions of two important crop species, i.e., buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and oilseed rape (Brassica napus), and to test whether compounds that are potentially different between the treatments can be detected by their bee pollinators (Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris). We found that only buckwheat was affected by increased temperatures. Independent of temperature, the scent of oilseed rape was dominated by p-anisaldehyde and linalool, with no differences in relative scent composition and the total amount of scent. Buckwheat emitted 2.4 ng of scent per flower and hour at optimal temperatures, dominated by 2- and 3-methylbutanoic acid (46%) and linalool (10%), and at warmer temperatures threefold less scent (0.7 ng/flower/hour), with increased contributions of 2- and 3-methylbutanoic acid (73%) to the total scent and linalool and other compounds being absent. The antennae of the pollinators responded to various buckwheat floral scent compounds, among them compounds that disappeared at increased temperatures or were affected in their (relative) amounts. Our results highlight that increased temperatures differentially affect floral scent emissions of crop plants and that, in buckwheat, the temperature-induced changes in floral scent emissions affect the olfactory perception of the flowers by bees. Future studies should test whether these differences in olfactory perception translate into different attractiveness of buckwheat flowers to bees.
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Tang X, Yao Y, Li Y, Song H, Luo R, Shi P, Zhou Z, Xu J. Comparison of the mitochondrial genomes of three geographical strains of Apis laboriosa indicates high genetic diversity in the black giant honeybee (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9782. [PMID: 36744074 PMCID: PMC9891905 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9782] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Apis laboriosa is the largest honeybee that lives mainly on cliff faces, with strong migratory ability. In this study, we firstly sequenced and assembled two complete mitochondrial genomes of A. laboriosa isolated from two distant locations in China (Chongqing and Shangri-La regions). Combined with the published mitochondrial genome of A. laboriosa from Nepal, comparative genomic analyses were conducted to gain insight into the genetic diversity of giant honeybees from different geographical distributions. The mitochondrial genomes of A. laboriosa from Chongqing and Shangri-La regions were 15,579 and 15,683 bp in length, respectively, both larger than that from Nepal with the length of 15,510 bp. Three mitochondrial genomes all harbor 37 common genes and present the same AT bias and the frequency of codon usage. However, the fragments including COX1, SSUrRNA, LSUrRNA, and the AT-rich region of the mitochondrial genome from Shangri-La region demonstrate distinctive insertions and deletions compared to those from Chongqing and Nepal regions. Phylogenetic trees of mitochondrial genomes show that A. laboriosa from Chongqing is most closely related to that from Nepal, rather than to Shangri-La. Genetic distance between Shangri-La and Chongqing or Nepal was even larger than that between the various subspecies of Apis mellifera. Overall, these results unmark that A. laboriosa in different geographical distributions can exhibit high genetic diversity at the mitochondrial genomic level, and therein, A. laboriosa from Shangri-La may be the subspecies. All these studies will contribute to our understanding of the geographical distribution and genetic differentiation of black giant honeybee in Asian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang‐You Tang
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Yu‐Xin Yao
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Yao‐Hui Li
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Hua‐Li Song
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Rui Luo
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Peng Shi
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Ze‐Yang Zhou
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
| | - Jin‐Shan Xu
- College of Life SciencesChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina,Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze RiverMinistry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsChongqingChina
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Garratt MPD, O'Connor RS, Carvell C, Fountain MT, Breeze TD, Pywell R, Redhead JW, Kinneen L, Mitschunas N, Truslove L, Xavier e Silva C, Jenner N, Ashdown C, Brittain C, McKerchar M, Butcher C, Edwards M, Nowakowski M, Sutton P, Potts SG. Addressing pollination deficits in orchard crops through habitat management for wild pollinators. Ecol Appl 2023; 33:e2743. [PMID: 36107148 PMCID: PMC10078601 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that farmers in many areas are achieving below maximum yields due to insufficient pollination. Practical and effective approaches are needed to maintain wild pollinator populations within agroecosystems so they can deliver critical pollination services that underpin crop production. We established nesting and wildflower habitat interventions in 24 UK apple orchards and measured effects on flower-visiting insects and the pollination they provide, exploring how this was affected by landscape context. We quantified the extent of pollination deficits and assessed whether the management of wild pollinators can reduce deficits and deliver improved outcomes for growers over 3 years. Wildflower interventions increased solitary bee numbers visiting apple flowers by over 20%, but there was no effect of nesting interventions. Other pollinator groups were influenced by both local and landscape-scale factors, with bumblebees and hoverflies responding to the relative proportion of semi-natural habitat at larger spatial scales (1000 m), while honeybees and other flies responded at 500 m or less. By improving fruit number and quality, pollinators contributed more than £16 k per hectare. However, deficits (where maximum potential was not being reached due to a lack of pollination) were recorded and the extent of these varied across orchards, and from year to year, with a 22% deficit in output in the worst (equivalent to ~£14 k/ha) compared to less than 3% (equivalent to ~£2 k/ha) in the best year. Although no direct effect of our habitat interventions on deficits in gross output was observed, initial fruit set and seed set deficits were reduced by abundant bumblebees, and orchards with a greater abundance of solitary bees saw lower deficits in fruit size. The abundance of pollinators in apple orchards is influenced by different local and landscape factors that interact and vary between years. Consequently, pollination, and the extent of economic output deficits, also vary between orchards and years. We highlight how approaches, including establishing wildflower areas and optimizing the ratio of cropped and non-cropped habitats can increase the abundance of key apple pollinators and improve outcomes for growers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rory S. O'Connor
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, University of ReadingReadingUK
| | | | | | - Tom D. Breeze
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, University of ReadingReadingUK
| | | | | | - Lois Kinneen
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, University of ReadingReadingUK
| | | | - Louise Truslove
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, University of ReadingReadingUK
| | | | | | | | - Claire Brittain
- Syngenta, Jealotts Hill International Research CentreBracknellUK
| | | | | | - Mike Edwards
- Edwards Ecological and Data Services LtdMidhurstUK
| | | | - Peter Sutton
- Syngenta, Jealotts Hill International Research CentreBracknellUK
| | - Simon G. Potts
- Centre for Agri‐Environmental Research, University of ReadingReadingUK
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Moškrič A, Pavlin A, Mole K, Marinč A, Bubnič J, Opara A, Kovačić M, Puškadija Z, Uzunov A, Andonov S, Dahle B, Prešern J. Cutting corners: The impact of storage and DNA extraction on quality and quantity of DNA in honeybee ( Apis mellifera) spermatheca. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1139269. [PMID: 36935742 PMCID: PMC10020693 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1139269] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study was to investigate methods of short-term storage that allow preservation, transport and retrieval of genetic information contained in honeybee queen's spermatheca. Genotyping of the honeybee colony requires well ahead planned sample collection, depending on the type of data to be acquired. Sampling and genotyping of spermatheca's content instead of individual offspring is timesaving, allowing answers to the questions related to patriline composition immediately after mating. Such procedure is also cheaper and less error prone. For preservation either Allprotect Tissue Reagent (Qiagen) or absolute ethanol were used. Conditions during transportation were simulated by keeping samples 6-8 days at room temperature. Six different storing conditions of spermathecas were tested, complemented with two DNA extraction methods. We have analysed the concentration of DNA, RNA, and proteins in DNA extracts. We also analysed how strongly the DNA is subjected to fragmentation (through amplification of genetic markers ANT2 and tRNAleu-COX2) and whether the quality of the extracted DNA is suitable for microsatellite (MS) analysis. Then, we tested the usage of spermatheca as a source of patriline composition in an experiment with three instrumentally inseminated virgin queens and performed MS analysis of the extracted DNA from each spermatheca, as well as queens' and drones' tissue. Our results show that median DNA concentration from spermathecas excised prior the storage, regardless of the storing condition and DNA extraction method, were generally lower than median DNA concentration obtained from spermathecas dissected from the whole queens after the storage. Despite the differences in DNA yield from the samples subjected to different storing conditions there was no significant effect of storage method or the DNA extraction method on the amplification success, although fewer samples stored in EtOH amplified successfully in comparison to ATR storing reagent. However, we recommend EtOH as a storing reagent due to its availability, low price, simplicity in usage in the field and in the laboratory, and capability of good preservation of the samples for DNA analysis during transport at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajda Moškrič
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Ajda Moškrič,
| | - Anja Pavlin
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katarina Mole
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andraž Marinč
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jernej Bubnič
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Opara
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marin Kovačić
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia
- Centre for Applied Life Sciences Healthy Food Chain Ltd., Osijek, Croatia
| | - Zlatko Puškadija
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia
- Centre for Applied Life Sciences Healthy Food Chain Ltd., Osijek, Croatia
| | - Aleksandar Uzunov
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia
- Company for Applied Research and Permanent Education in Agriculture, Skopje, Macedonia
| | - Sreten Andonov
- Department of Animal Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bjørn Dahle
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Kløfta, Norway
| | - Janez Prešern
- Department of Animal Production, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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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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Cui P, Wu H, Jiang T, Tao J, Zhu Z, Liu P, Yu L, Zhang Y. Diversity and antibacterial potential of the Actinobacteria associated with Apis mellifera ligustica. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1056176. [PMID: 36590398 PMCID: PMC9800615 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1056176] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect-associated Actinobacteria are a potentially rich source of novel natural products with antibacterial activity. Here, the community composition of Actinobacteria associated with Apis mellifera ligustica was investigated by integrated culture-dependent and independent methods. A total of 61 strains of Streptomyces genera were isolated from the honeycomb, larva, and different anatomical parts of the honeybee's body using the culture-dependent method. Amplicon sequencing analyses revealed that the actinobacterial communities were dominated by the family of Bifidobacteriaceae and Microbacteriaceae in the honeybee gut, and Nocardiaceae and Pseudonocardiaceae in the honeycomb, whereas only Streptomyces genera were isolated by the culture-dependent method. Culture-independent analyses showed more diverse actinobacterial communities than those of culture-dependent methods. The antibacterial bioassay showed that most crude extracts of representative isolates exhibited antibacterial activities. Among them, the crude extract of Streptomyces sp. FCF01 showed the best antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus tetragenus, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) with the disc diameter of inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 23.00, 15.00, and 13.33 mm, respectively. Chemical analysis of Streptomyces sp. FCF01 led to the isolation of three secondary metabolites, including mayamycin (1), mayamycin B (2), and N-(2-Hydroxyphenyl) acetamide (3). Among them, compound 1 displayed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus, M. tetragenus, and Psa with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of 6.25, 12.5, and 6.25 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, two novel derivative compounds 1a and 1b were synthesized by acetylation of compound 1. Both compounds 1a and 1b displayed similar antibacterial activities with those of metabolite 1. These results indicated that Streptomyces species associated with honeybees had great potential in finding antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Haoyang Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Taoshan Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Tao
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Liu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Linsheng Yu
- School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yinglao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Yinglao Zhang,
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Erkoc P, von Reumont BM, Lüddecke T, Henke M, Ulshöfer T, Vilcinskas A, Fürst R, Schiffmann S. The Pharmacological Potential of Novel Melittin Variants from the Honeybee and Solitary Bees against Inflammation and Cancer. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120818. [PMID: 36548715 PMCID: PMC9786170 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120818] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The venom of honeybees is composed of numerous peptides and proteins and has been used for decades as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent in traditional medicine. However, the bioactivity of specific biomolecular components has been evaluated for the predominant constituent, melittin. So far, only a few melittin-like peptides from solitary bee species have been investigated, and the molecular mechanisms of bee venoms as therapeutic agents remain largely unknown. Here, the preclinical pharmacological activities of known and proteo-transcriptomically discovered new melittin variants from the honeybee and more ancestral variants from phylogenetically older solitary bees were explored in the context of cancer and inflammation. We studied the effects of melittin peptides on cytotoxicity, second messenger release, and inflammatory markers using primary human cells, non-cancer, and cancerous cell lines. Melittin and some of its variants showed cytotoxic effects, induced Ca2+ signaling and inhibited cAMP production, and prevented LPS-induced NO synthesis but did not affect the IP3 signaling and pro-inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. Compared to the originally-described melittin, some phylogenetically more ancestral variants from solitary bees offer potential therapeutic modalities in modulating the in vitro inflammatory processes, and hindering cancer cell viability/proliferation, including aggressive breast cancers, and are worth further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Erkoc
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.E.); (B.M.v.R.)
| | - Björn Marcus von Reumont
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.E.); (B.M.v.R.)
| | - Tim Lüddecke
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME-BR), 235394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Marina Henke
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Ulshöfer
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME-BR), 235394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Robert Fürst
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Susanne Schiffmann
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
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Mutinelli F, Pinto A, Barzon L, Toson M. Some Considerations about Winter Colony Losses in Italy According to the Coloss Questionnaire. Insects 2022; 13:insects13111059. [PMID: 36421962 PMCID: PMC9693309 DOI: 10.3390/insects13111059] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Italian beekeeping industry has grown steadily during the last decade, according to data from the national beekeeping registry, which came into existence in February 2015. Winter colony losses remain a matter of concern for beekeepers in Italy, and administration of the questionnaire defined by the Coloss Association could contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon. To evaluate the percentage trends over time in honeybee colony losses arising from various causes, we used the quasi-binomial generalized linear modelling (GzLM) approach, taking the year as an independent variable. We set our level of significance at 5% and performed the data analysis only for the seven regions that sent data continuously from 2014 to 2020. We considered the percentage of losses due to queen-related problems, natural disasters, and dead or empty colonies, given that these questions remained unchanged over the years. The survey also revealed that the percentage trend for respondents using drone brood removal showed a significant increase. In general, the percentage of colony losses due to queen-related problems remained lower than 8%, and the percentage of colony losses associated with natural disasters was very low (<2%). The mean percentages of losses due to dead or empty colonies ranged from 6 to 17% in the considered period. In addition, we took account of the responses relating to treatments against Varroa mite infestation, given the importance attributed to this honeybee parasite. Unlike the other variables, we calculated the percentages related to the types of beekeeper treatments against Varroa destructor based on the respondents, not on the colonies. What emerged was that almost every beekeeper used at least one type of treatment against V. destructor. In general, the trend of respondents appeared stable at 0.3% during the last four years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Mutinelli
- NRL for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Anna Pinto
- Communication Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Luciana Barzon
- NRL for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Marica Toson
- Epidemiology Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
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50
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Rabello AS, Rubinger MMM, da Silva LF, de Oliveira AH, Serrão JE, Albuini-Oliveira NM, Tavares EDC, Vidigal AEC, de Oliveira MRL, Zambolim L, Souza RAC, Guilardi S, Ellena J. Zinc-dithiocarbimates for the control of Hemileia vastatrix: a versatile alternative. Pest Manag Sci 2022; 78:4741-4752. [PMID: 35871604 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7094] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential use of zinc-dithiocarbimate salts to control Hemileia vastatrix, the causal agent of the coffee leaf rust disease, and to evaluate their toxicity towards Apis mellifera, one of the most important coffee plant pollinators. RESULTS Zinc-dithiocarbimate salts were prepared and fully characterized by infrared, proton (1 H) and carbon-13 (13 C) nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analyses of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn). X-ray diffraction technique studies confirmed the proposed structures. The salts inhibited the germination of H. vastatrix spores in vitro, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) from 12 to 18 μmol.L-1 and a 90% inhibitory concentration (IC90 ) from 23 to 26 μmol.L-1 . Zinc-dithiocarbimate salts with the best in vitro results were selected for in vivo experiments with Coffea arabica var Caturra and with the pollinator A. mellifera. The results were similar to those of Mancozeb, a broad-spectrum contact fungicide, with a good control of the disease and low toxicity to the honeybee. CONCLUSION The zinc-dithiocarbimate complex salts have potential to control coffee leaf rust, with low toxicity to the pollinator insect. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - José Eduardo Serrão
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Laércio Zambolim
- Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | | | - Silvana Guilardi
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Javier Ellena
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
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