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Salomón VM, Hero JS, Morales AH, Pisa JH, Maldonado LM, Vera N, Madrid RE, Romero CM. Microbiological Diversity and Associated Enzymatic Activities in Honey and Pollen from Stingless Bees from Northern Argentina. Microorganisms 2024; 12:711. [PMID: 38674655 PMCID: PMC11051704 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040711] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey and pollen from Tetragonisca fiebrigi and Scaptotrigona jujuyensis, stingless bees from northern Argentina, presented a particular microbiological profile and associated enzymatic activities. The cultured bacteria were mostly Bacillus spp. (44%) and Escherichia spp. (31%). The phylogenetic analysis showed a taxonomic distribution according to the type of bee that was similar in both species. Microbial enzymatic activities were studied using hierarchical clustering. Bacillus spp. was the main bacterium responsible for enzyme production. Isolates with xylanolytic activity mostly presented cellulolytic activity and, in fewer cases, lipolytic activity. Amylolytic activity was associated with proteolytic activity. None of the isolated strains produced multiple hydrolytic enzymes in substantial amounts, and bacteria were classified according to their primary hydrolytic activity. These findings add to the limited knowledge of microbiological diversity in honey and pollen from stingless bees and also provide a physiological perspective of this community to assess its biotechnological potential in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia María Salomón
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá, PROAPI, Famaillá T4132, Argentina; (V.M.S.); (L.M.M.)
| | - Johan Sebastian Hero
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Av. Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina; (A.H.M.); (J.H.P.)
- Laboratorio de Medios e Interfases (LAMEIN), Departamento de Bioingeniería (DBI), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología (FACET), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO-CONICET) DBI-FACET-UNT, INSIBIO-CONICET, Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina;
| | - Andrés Hernán Morales
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Av. Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina; (A.H.M.); (J.H.P.)
- Laboratorio de Medios e Interfases (LAMEIN), Departamento de Bioingeniería (DBI), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología (FACET), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO-CONICET) DBI-FACET-UNT, INSIBIO-CONICET, Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina;
| | - José Horacio Pisa
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Av. Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina; (A.H.M.); (J.H.P.)
| | - Luis María Maldonado
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá, PROAPI, Famaillá T4132, Argentina; (V.M.S.); (L.M.M.)
| | - Nancy Vera
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Chacabuco 461, San Miguel de Tucumán T4000, Argentina;
| | - Rossana Elena Madrid
- Laboratorio de Medios e Interfases (LAMEIN), Departamento de Bioingeniería (DBI), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología (FACET), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO-CONICET) DBI-FACET-UNT, INSIBIO-CONICET, Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina;
| | - Cintia Mariana Romero
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Av. Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros, San Miguel de Tucumán T4001, Argentina; (A.H.M.); (J.H.P.)
- Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Chacabuco 461, San Miguel de Tucumán T4000, Argentina;
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Negera T, Degu A, Tigu F. Comparative analysis of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant characteristics of stingless bee ( Meliponula beccarii) honey from modern and wild beehives in Ethiopia. Food Sci Nutr 2024; 12:1673-1685. [PMID: 38455209 PMCID: PMC10916617 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3861] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a dearth of information on the comparative studies of the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties as well as quality standards of stingless bee honey (SBH) in Ethiopia. Hence, this study was designed to assess and compare the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH, specifically sourced from Meliponula beccarii, and produced under both wild and modern apiary conditions at two distinct geographical locations. A total of forty-six honey samples were meticulously collected from domesticated stingless bee colonies and naturally occurring wild nests at Wolmera and Cheliya districts. Pollen analysis unveiled eleven distinct bee plant species distributed across six families, with Asteraceae being the most prevalent, primarily represented by Guizotia scabra and Vernonia amygdalina. Notably, the physicochemical, proximate, and antioxidant properties of SBH collected from modern pot hives exhibited significant variances (p < .05) when compared to SBH from wild nests. Principal component analysis (PCA) delineated the differentiation of SBH sources based on both geographical location and the type of beehive. One-way ANOVA corroborated these distinctions, underscoring significantly higher levels (p < .05) of ash, electrical conductivity, free acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucrose, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and radical scavenging activities of SBH from modern pot hives in Wolmera. Whereas, Cheliya modern pot hives recorded higher values in pH, hydroxymethylfurfural and maltose contents compared to the wild nest SBH. Further analysis through Pearson correlation highlighted a strong positive association between total phenolic content and total flavonoid content with the antioxidant capacity of SBH. These findings underscore the significance of integrating modern pot hives to enhance the quality of SBH within Ethiopia's beekeeping sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taye Negera
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular BiologyAddis Ababa UniversityAddis AbabaEthiopia
- Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Holeta Bee Research CenterHoletaEthiopia
| | - Asfaw Degu
- Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity ManagementAddis Ababa UniversityAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Fitsum Tigu
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular BiologyAddis Ababa UniversityAddis AbabaEthiopia
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3
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Magalhães DM, Lourenção AL, Bento JMS. Beneath the blooms: Unearthing the effect of rhizospheric bacteria on floral signals and pollinator preferences. Plant Cell Environ 2024; 47:782-798. [PMID: 37994626 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14771] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between plants and pollinators is known to be influenced by ecological interactions with other community members. While most research has focused on aboveground communities affecting plant-pollinator interactions, it is increasingly recognized that soil-dwelling organisms can directly or indirectly impact these interactions. Although studies have examined the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on floral traits, there is a gap in research regarding similar effects associated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), particularly concerning floral scent. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of the PGPR Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on the floral traits of wild (Solanum habrochaites, Solanum pimpinellifolium and Solanum peruvianum) and cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), as well as the impact of microbially-driven changes in floral scent on the foraging behaviour of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata. Our findings revealed that inoculating tomatoes with PGPR led to an increased number of flowers and enhanced overall floral volatile emission. Additionally, we observed higher flower biomass and pollen levels in all species, except S. peruvianum. Importantly, these changes in volatile emissions influenced the foraging behaviour of M. quadrifasciata significantly. Our results highlight the impact of beneficial soil microbes on plant-pollinator interactions, shedding light on the multiple effects that plant-microbial interactions can have on aboveground organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego M Magalhães
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André L Lourenção
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Maurício S Bento
- Department of Entomology and Acarology, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Castillo DC, Sinpoo C, Phokasem P, Yongsawas R, Sansupa C, Attasopa K, Suwannarach N, Inwongwan S, Noirungsee N, Disayathanoowat T. Distinct fungal microbiomes of two Thai commercial stingless bee species, Lepidotrigona terminata and Tetragonula pagdeni suggest a possible niche separation in a shared habitat. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1367010. [PMID: 38469352 PMCID: PMC10925696 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1367010] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Stingless bees, a social corbiculate bee member, play a crucial role in providing pollination services. Despite their importance, the structure of their microbiome, particularly the fungal communities, remains poorly understood. This study presents an initial characterization of the fungal community associated with two Thai commercial stingless bee species, Lepidotrigona terminata (Smith) and Tetragonula pagdeni (Schwarz) from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Utilizing ITS amplicon sequencing, we identified distinct fungal microbiomes in these two species. Notably, fungi from the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucoromycota, Mortierellomycota, and Rozellomycota were present. The most dominant genera, which varied significantly between species, included Candida and Starmerella. Additionally, several key enzymes associated with energy metabolism, structural strength, and host defense reactions, such as adenosine triphosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, chitinase, and peptidylprolyl isomerase, were predicted. Our findings not only augment the limited knowledge of the fungal microbiome in Thai commercial stingless bees but also provide insights for their sustainable management through understanding their microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Castillo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chainarong Sinpoo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Patcharin Phokasem
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Rujipas Yongsawas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chakriya Sansupa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Korrawat Attasopa
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nakarin Suwannarach
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sahutchai Inwongwan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nuttapol Noirungsee
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Terd Disayathanoowat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Ismail CMKH, Abdul Hamid AA, Abdul Rashid NN, Lestari W, Mokhtar KI, Mustafa Alahmad BE, Abd Razak MRM, Ismail A. An ensemble docking-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation of phytochemical compounds from Malaysian Kelulut Honey (KH) against SARS-CoV-2 target enzyme, human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2). J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-30. [PMID: 38279932 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2308762] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
The human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor is a metalloenzyme that plays an important role in regulating blood pressure by modulating angiotensin II. This receptor facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis, causing the global COVID-19 pandemic and a major health crisis. Kelulut honey (KH), one of Malaysian honey recently gained attention for its distinct flavour and taste while having many nutritional and medicinal properties. Recent study demonstrates the antiviral potential of KH against SARS-CoV-2 by inhibiting ACE-2 in vitro, but the bioactive compound pertaining to the ACE-2 inhibition is yet unknown. An ensemble docking-based virtual screening was employed to screen the phytochemical compounds from KH with high binding affinity against the 10 best representative structures of ACE-2 that mostly formed from MD simulation. From 110 phytochemicals previously identified in KH, 27 compounds passed the ADMET analysis and proceeded to docking. Among the docked compound, SDC and FMN consistently exhibited strong binding to ACE-2's active site (-9.719 and -9.473 kcal/mol) and allosteric site (-7.305 and -7.464 kcal/mol) as compared to potent ACE-2 inhibitor, MLN 4760. Detailed trajectory analysis of MD simulation showed stable binding interaction towards active and allosteric sites of ACE-2. KH's compounds show promise in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE-2 receptors, indicating potential for preventive use or as a supplement to other COVID-19 treatments. Additional research is needed to confirm KH's antiviral effects and its role in SARS-CoV-2 therapy, including prophylaxis and adjuvant treatment with vaccination.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Ismail
- Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (RUBIC), Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Azzmer Azzar Abdul Hamid
- Department of Biotechnology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Research Unit for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (RUBIC), Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | | | - Widya Lestari
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Khairani Idah Mokhtar
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Basma Ezzat Mustafa Alahmad
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Ridzuan Mohd Abd Razak
- Herbal Medicine Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Azlini Ismail
- Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
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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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Caesar L, Haag KL. Tailed bacteriophages (Caudoviricetes) dominate the microbiome of a diseased stingless bee. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 46:e20230120. [PMID: 38252058 PMCID: PMC10802228 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0120] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial hosts, are known to rule the dynamics and diversity of bacterial populations in a number of ecosystems. Bacterial communities residing in the gut of animals, known as the gut microbiome, have revolutionized our understanding of many diseases. However, the gut phageome, while of apparent importance in this context, remains an underexplored area of research. Here we identify for the first time genomic sequences from tailed viruses (Caudoviricetes) that are associated with the microbiome of stingless bees (Melipona quadrifasciata). Both DNA and RNA were extracted from virus particles isolated from healthy and diseased forager bees, the latter showing symptoms from an annual syndrome that only affects M. quadrifasciata. Viral contigs from previously sequenced metagenomes of healthy and diseased forager bees were used for the analyses. Using conserved proteins deduced from their genomes, we found that Caudoviricetes were only present in the worker bee gut microbiome from diseased stingless bees. The most abundant phages are phylogenetically related to phages that infect Gram-positive bacteria from the order Lactobacillales and Gram-negative bacteria from the genus Gilliamella and Bartonella, that are common honey bee symbionts. The potential implication of these viruses in the M. quadrifasciata syndrome is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Caesar
- Indiana University Bloomington, Department of Biology, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Karen Luisa Haag
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Departamento de Genética, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Chuttong B, Lim K, Praphawilai P, Danmek K, Maitip J, Vit P, Wu MC, Ghosh S, Jung C, Burgett M, Hongsibsong S. Exploring the Functional Properties of Propolis, Geopropolis, and Cerumen, with a Special Emphasis on Their Antimicrobial Effects. Foods 2023; 12:3909. [PMID: 37959028 PMCID: PMC10648409 DOI: 10.3390/foods12213909] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee propolis has been touted as a natural antimicrobial agent with the potential to replace antibiotics. Numerous reports and reviews have highlighted the functionalities and applications of the natural compound. Despite much clamor for the downstream application of propolis, there remain many grounds to cover, especially in the upstream production, and factors affecting the quality of the propolis. Moreover, geopropolis and cerumen, akin to propolis, hold promise for diverse human applications, yet their benefits and intricate manufacturing processes remain subjects of intensive research. Specialized cement bees are pivotal in gathering and transporting plant resins from suitable sources to their nests. Contrary to common belief, these resins are directly applied within the hive, smoothed out by cement bees, and blended with beeswax and trace components to create raw propolis. Beekeepers subsequently harvest and perform the extraction of the raw propolis to form the final propolis extract that is sold on the market. As a result of the production process, intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as botanical origins, bee species, and the extraction process, have a direct impact on the quality of the final propolis extract. Towards the end of this paper, a section is dedicated to highlighting the antimicrobial potency of propolis extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bajaree Chuttong
- Meliponini and Apini Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (P.P.); (M.B.)
| | - Kaiyang Lim
- ES-TA Technology Pte Ltd., Singapore 368819, Singapore;
| | - Pichet Praphawilai
- Meliponini and Apini Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (P.P.); (M.B.)
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Khanchai Danmek
- School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Phayao, Phayao 56000, Thailand;
| | - Jakkrawut Maitip
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong Campus, Bankhai, Rayong 21120, Thailand;
| | - Patricia Vit
- Apitherapy and Bioactivity, Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Bioanalysis, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida 5001, Venezuela;
| | - Ming-Cheng Wu
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan;
| | - Sampat Ghosh
- Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Republic of Korea;
| | - Chuleui Jung
- Department of Plant Medical, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Republic of Korea;
| | - Michael Burgett
- Meliponini and Apini Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (P.P.); (M.B.)
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Surat Hongsibsong
- School of Health Sciences Research, Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Françoso E, Zuntini AR, Ricardo PC, Araújo NS, Silva JPN, Brown MJF, Arias MC. The complete mitochondrial genome of Trigonisca nataliae (Hymenoptera, Apidae) assemblage reveals heteroplasmy in the control region. Gene 2023:147621. [PMID: 37419430 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147621] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of mitochondrial genomes in the stingless bees is surprisingly dynamic, making them a model system to understand mitogenome structure, function, and evolution. Out of the seven mitogenomes available in this group, five exhibit atypical characteristics, including extreme rearrangements, rapid evolution and complete mitogenome duplication. To further explore the mitogenome diversity in these bees, we utilized isolated mtDNA and Illumina sequencing to assemble the complete mitogenome of Trigonisca nataliae, a species found in Northern Brazil. The mitogenome of T. nataliae was highly conserved in gene content and structure when compared to Melipona species but diverged in the control region (CR). Using PCR amplification, cloning and Sanger sequencing, six different CR haplotypes, varying in size and content, were recovery. These findings indicate that heteroplasmy, where different mitochondrial haplotypes coexist within individuals, occurs in T. nataliae. Consequently, we argue that heteroplasmy might indeed be a common phenomenon in bees that could be associated with variations in mitogenome size and challenges encountered during the assembly process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Françoso
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, UK; Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil.
| | | | - Paulo Cseri Ricardo
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Natália Souza Araújo
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - João Paulo Naldi Silva
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Maria Cristina Arias
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
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10
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Sarton-Lohéac G, Nunes da Silva CG, Mazel F, Baud G, de Bakker V, Das S, El Chazli Y, Ellegaard K, Garcia-Garcera M, Glover N, Liberti J, Nacif Marçal L, Prasad A, Somerville V, Bonilla-Rosso G, Engel P. Deep Divergence and Genomic Diversification of Gut Symbionts of Neotropical Stingless Bees. mBio 2023; 14:e0353822. [PMID: 36939321 PMCID: PMC10128065 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03538-22] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Social bees harbor conserved gut microbiotas that may have been acquired in a common ancestor of social bees and subsequently codiversified with their hosts. However, most of this knowledge is based on studies on the gut microbiotas of honey bees and bumblebees. Much less is known about the gut microbiotas of the third and most diverse group of social bees, the stingless bees. Specifically, the absence of genomic data from their microbiotas presents an important knowledge gap in understanding the evolution and functional diversity of the social bee microbiota. Here, we combined community profiling with culturing and genome sequencing of gut bacteria from six neotropical stingless bee species from Brazil. Phylogenomic analyses show that most stingless bee gut isolates form deep-branching sister clades of core members of the honey bee and bumblebee gut microbiota with conserved functional capabilities, confirming the common ancestry and ecology of their microbiota. However, our bacterial phylogenies were not congruent with those of the host, indicating that the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota was not driven by strict codiversification but included host switches and independent symbiont gain and losses. Finally, as reported for the honey bee and bumblebee microbiotas, we found substantial genomic divergence among strains of stingless bee gut bacteria, suggesting adaptation to different host species and glycan niches. Our study offers first insights into the genomic diversity of the stingless bee microbiota and highlights the need for broader samplings to understand the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE Stingless bees are the most diverse group of the corbiculate bees and represent important pollinator species throughout the tropics and subtropics. They harbor specialized microbial communities in their gut that are related to those found in honey bees and bumblebees and that are likely important for bee health. Few bacteria have been cultured from the gut of stingless bees, which has prevented characterization of their genomic diversity and functional potential. Here, we established cultures of major members of the gut microbiotas of six stingless bee species and sequenced their genomes. We found that most stingless bee isolates belong to novel bacterial species distantly related to those found in honey bees and bumblebees and encoding similar functional capabilities. Our study offers a new perspective on the evolution of the social bee gut microbiota and presents a basis for characterizing the symbiotic relationships between gut bacteria and stingless bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garance Sarton-Lohéac
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Florent Mazel
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gilles Baud
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent de Bakker
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sudip Das
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yassine El Chazli
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten Ellegaard
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Natasha Glover
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joanito Liberti
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lorena Nacif Marçal
- Department of Morphology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Aiswarya Prasad
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Somerville
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Germán Bonilla-Rosso
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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11
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Anuar MNN, Ibrahim M, Zakaria NH, Ichwan SJA, Md Isa ML, Mat Alewi NA, Hagar A, Abdul Majid FA. The Antioxidant Activity and Induction of Apoptotic Cell Death by Musa paradisiaca and Trigona sp. Honey Jelly in ORL115 and ORL188 Cells. Malays J Med Sci 2023; 30:82-91. [PMID: 36875196 PMCID: PMC9984108 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.1.7] [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: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Head and neck cancer patients usually need nutritional support due to difficulties in swallowing and chewing. Therefore, this study aimed to formulate Musa paradisiaca and Trigona sp. honey jelly (MTJ) as a convenient functional food. Methods The antioxidant properties were analysed using 2,2'-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and 2,2'-azinodi 3-ethylbenthiazolinesulfonate (ABTS) assays. Cytotoxicity was assayed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and the induction of apoptosis was observed via caspase-3/7 activity assay. The identification of phenolic compounds was done via ultra-high-performance-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS). Results The antioxidant analysis exhibited: the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of DPPH inhibition, 54.10 (SD = 4.51) μg/mL; the FRAP value, 30.07 (SD = 0.93) mM TEQ/100 g; and the ABTS value, 131.79 (SD = 8.73) mg TEQ/100 g. Cinnamic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound, followed by maleic acid and salicylic acid. The IC50 for ORL115 and ORL188 were 35.51 mg/mL and 43.54 mg/mL, respectively. The cells became rounded and dissymmetrical which reduced in number and size. The apoptotic cell death in ORL115 and ORL188 was deduced as caspase-3/7 activities that significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion The study evidenced that the antioxidant activity of MTJ could influence the induction of apoptosis in ORL115 and ORL188 in future investigations and verifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Nur Nasyriq Anuar
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Ibrahim
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Nor Hafizah Zakaria
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | | | - Muhammad Lokman Md Isa
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences for Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aizura Mat Alewi
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
| | - Abdullah Hagar
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia
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12
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Al Naggar Y, Estrella-Maldonado H, Paxton RJ, Solís T, Quezada-Euán JJG. The Insecticide Imidacloprid Decreases Nannotrigona Stingless Bee Survival and Food Consumption and Modulates the Expression of Detoxification and Immune-Related Genes. Insects 2022; 13:972. [PMID: 36354796 PMCID: PMC9699362 DOI: 10.3390/insects13110972] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Stingless bees are ecologically and economically important species in the tropics and subtropics, but there has been little research on the characterization of detoxification systems and immune responses within them. This is critical for understanding their responses to, and defenses against, a variety of environmental stresses, including agrochemicals. Therefore, we studied the detoxification and immune responses of a stingless bee, Nanotrigona perilampoides, which is an important stingless bee that is widely distributed throughout Mexico, including urban areas, and has the potential to be used in commercial pollination. We first determined the LC50 of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid for foragers of N. perilampoides, then chronically exposed bees for 10 days to imidacloprid at two field-realistic concentrations, LC10 (0.45 ng/µL) or LC20 (0.74 ng/µL), which are respectively 2.7 and 1.3-fold lower than the residues of imidacloprid that have been found in honey (6 ng/g) in central Mexico. We found that exposing N. perilampoides stingless bees to imidacloprid at these concentrations markedly reduced bee survival and food consumption, revealing the great sensitivity of this stingless bee to the insecticide in comparison to honey bees. The expression of detoxification (GSTD1) and immune-related genes (abaecin, defensin1, and hymenopteacin) in N. perilampoides also changed over time in response to imidacloprid. Gene expression was always lower in bees after 8 days of exposure to imidacloprid (LC10 or LC20) than it was after 4 days. Our results demonstrate that N. perilampoides stingless bees are extremely sensitive to imidacloprid, even at low concentrations, and provide greater insight into how stingless bees respond to pesticide toxicity. This is the first study of its kind to look at detoxification systems and immune responses in Mexican stingless bees, an ecologically and economically important taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Al Naggar
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle, Germany
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
| | - Humberto Estrella-Maldonado
- Departamento de Apicultura Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida CP 97100, Mexico
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental Ixtacuaco, Km 4.5 Carretera Martínez de la Torre-Tlapacoyan, Tlapacoyan CP 93600, Mexico
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Teresita Solís
- Departamento de Apicultura Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida CP 97100, Mexico
| | - J. Javier G. Quezada-Euán
- Departamento de Apicultura Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida CP 97100, Mexico
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Hamilton KD, Czajkowski D, Kong NJ, Tran TD, Gustafson KR, Pauly G, Boyle GM, Simmons JL, Steadman R, Moseley R, Brooks PR, Ogbourne SM, Russell FD. Anti-Fibrotic Potential of Tomentosenol A, a Constituent of Cerumen from the Australian Native Stingless Bee, Tetragonula carbonaria. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1604. [PMID: 36009323 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081604] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioactivity-guided fractionation was used to isolate two compounds, tomentosenol A (1) and torellianone A (2), from a cerumen extract from Tetragonula carbonaria. The anti-fibrotic activity of these compounds was examined using human cultured neonatal foreskin fibroblasts (NFF) and immortalised keratinocytes (HaCaTs). Tomentosenol A (1), inhibited NFF and HaCaT cell proliferation and prevented NFF and HaCaT scratch wound repopulation at 12.5-25 µM concentrations. These inhibitory effects were associated with reduced cell viability, determined by tetrazolium dye (MTT) and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays. Compound 1 further inhibited transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated, NFF-myofibroblast differentiation and soluble collagen production; and was an effective scavenger of the model oxidant, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·), with an EC50 value of 44.7 ± 3.1 µM. These findings reveal significant anti-fibrotic potential for cerumen-derived tomentosenol A (1).
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14
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Zhang L, Deng Y, Zhao H, Zhang M, Hou C. Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of DWV in Stingless Bee (Apidae sp.) in China: A Case Report. Front Insect Sci 2021; 1:748074. [PMID: 38468885 PMCID: PMC10926549 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2021.748074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees play a vital role in providing pollination services for agricultural crops and wild flowering plants. However, the spillover risk of their pathogens to other pollinators or wild insects is becoming a cause for concern. There is some evidence that stingless bees can carry honey bee viruses, but little is known about the presence of honey bee viruses in stingless bees in China. Here, we investigate the occurrence of major honey bee pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses in stingless bees (Apidae: sp.). Our results show that the stingless bees (Apidae: sp.) were mainly infected with DWV-A, but no DWV-B and DWV-C. Phylogenetic analysis on fragments of lp, RdRp, and VP3 of DWV-A indicated that genetic variation in VP3 might an important indicator for host-specific viruses, but it requires further study. Our results indicated that DWV-A is not only the major strain of virus currently circulating in managed bee colonies in China and globally, but in stingless bee species as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchun Deng
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 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
| | - Ming Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunsheng Hou
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
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15
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Barboza VP, Costa MA. Cytogenetic Analysis in Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Meliponina) Reveals Intraspecific Variation. Neotrop Entomol 2021; 50:846-849. [PMID: 33646535 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-021-00853-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Trigona spinipes Fabricius is a stingless bee with wide geographical distribution. Although being sometimes considered an agricultural pest, in fact, it has great pollinating potential, and therefore economic interest. Conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques have been little used to verify genetic diversity in this species, despite its potential to reveal information about the reorganization of the genome having been demonstrated in other species. Conventional cytogenetic techniques, fluorochrome staining, and fluorescent in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA, telomeric, and microsatellite probes (GA)15 were used in this study to characterize and compare T. spinipes from different locations. The karyotypes showed a conserved chromosome number 2n = 34; however, geographic variations were verified in the different features and cytogenetic techniques analyzed, such as karyotype formulas, fluorocrome staining, and FISH. Although the 18S rDNA probe revealed the same number of markings in five rDNA clusters, the chromosomal pairs containing these markers varied between studied locations. The probe for microsatellite (GA)15 also showed polymorphisms within this species. The results reveal that T. spinipes has many intraspecific differences, revealing a higher chromosomal variation than expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vilmara Pereira Barboza
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marco Antonio Costa
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil.
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16
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I’Anson Price R, Segers F, Berger A, Nascimento FS, Grüter C. An exploration of the relationship between recruitment communication and foraging in stingless bees. Curr Zool 2021; 67:551-560. [PMID: 34616953 PMCID: PMC8489157 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Social information is widely used in the animal kingdom and can be highly adaptive. In social insects, foragers can use social information to find food, avoid danger, or choose a new nest site. Copying others allows individuals to obtain information without having to sample the environment. When foragers communicate information they will often only advertise high-quality food sources, thereby filtering out less adaptive information. Stingless bees, a large pantropical group of highly eusocial bees, face intense inter- and intra-specific competition for limited resources, yet display disparate foraging strategies. Within the same environment there are species that communicate the location of food resources to nest-mates and species that do not. Our current understanding of why some species communicate foraging sites while others do not is limited. Studying freely foraging colonies of several co-existing stingless bee species in Brazil, we investigated if recruitment to specific food locations is linked to 1) the sugar content of forage, 2) the duration of foraging trips, and 3) the variation in activity of a colony from 1 day to another and the variation in activity in a species over a day. We found that, contrary to our expectations, species with recruitment communication did not return with higher quality forage than species that do not recruit nestmates. Furthermore, foragers from recruiting species did not have shorter foraging trip durations than those from weakly recruiting species. Given the intense inter- and intraspecific competition for resources in these environments, it may be that recruiting species favor food resources that can be monopolized by the colony rather than food sources that offer high-quality rewards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robbie I’Anson Price
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Genève 1201, Switzerland
| | - Francisca Segers
- Department for Applied Bioinformatics, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt 60438, Germany
| | - Amelia Berger
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Fabio S Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Christoph Grüter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
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17
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Barbosa ICDO, Schneider CH, Goll LG, Feldberg E, Carvalho-Zilse GA. Chromosomal mapping of repetitive DNA in Melipona seminigra merrillae Cockerell, 1919 (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini). Comp Cytogenet 2021; 15:77-87. [PMID: 33815685 PMCID: PMC7997856 DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v15i1.56430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Melipona Illiger, 1806 is represented by 74 known species of stingless bees, distributed throughout the Neotropical region. Cytogenetically it is the most studied stingless bee genus of the tribe Meliponini. Member species are divided in two groups based on the volume of heterochromatin. This study aim was to analyze the composition and organization of chromatin of the stingless bee subspecies Melipona seminigra merrillae Cockerell, 1919 using classical and molecular cytogenetic techniques, so contributing to a better understanding of the processes of chromosomal changes within the genus. We confirm that M. seminigra merrillae has a chromosome number of 2n = 22 and n = 11, results that differ from those reported for the genus in the absence of B chromosomes. The heterochromatic pattern revealed a karyotype composed of chromosomes with a high heterochromatin content, which makes it difficult to visualize the centromere. Silver nitrate impregnation (Ag-NOR) showed transcriptionally active sites on the second chromosomal pair. Staining of base-specific fluorophores DAPI-CMA3 indicated a homogeneous distribution of intensely DAPI-stained heterochromatin, while CMA3 markings appeared on those terminal portions of the chromosomes corresponding to euchromatin. Similar to Ag-NOR, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S ribosomal DNA probe revealed distinct signals on the second pair of chromosomes. Microsatellite mapping (GA)15 showed markings distributed in euchromatic regions, while mapping with (CA)15 showed marking patterns in heterochromatic regions, together with a fully marked chromosome pair. Microsatellite hybridization, both in heterochromatic and euchromatic regions, may be related to the activity of transposable elements. These are capable of forming new microsatellites that can be dispersed and amplified in different regions of the genome, demonstrating that repetitive sequences can evolve rapidly, thus resulting in within-genus diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Cândido de Oliveira Barbosa
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Abelhas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Conservação e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, 69067-375, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Carlos Henrique Schneider
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino Americana, Av. Silvio Américo Sasdelli 1842, Itaipu A, 85866-000, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Gusso Goll
- Instituto de Natureza e Cultura – INC, R. Primeiro de Maio s/n, Colônia, 69630-000, Benjamin Constant, Brazil
| | - Eliana Feldberg
- Laboratório de Genética Animal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética, Conservação e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, 69067-375, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Gislene Almeida Carvalho-Zilse
- Grupo de Pesquisas em Abelhas, Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Av. André Araújo 2936, Petrópolis, 69067-375, Manaus, Brazil
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18
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Suarez AFL, Tirador ADG, Villorente ZM, Bagarinao CF, Sollesta JVN, Dumancas GG, Sun Z, Zhan ZQ, Saludes JP, Dalisay DS. The Isorhamnetin-Containing Fraction of Philippine Honey Produced by the Stingless Bee Tetragonula biroi Is an Antibiotic against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Molecules 2021; 26:1688. [PMID: 33802916 PMCID: PMC8002709 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey exhibits antibacterial and antioxidant activities that are ascribed to its diverse secondary metabolites. In the Philippines, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities, as well as the bioactive metabolite contents of the honey, have not been thoroughly described. In this report, we investigated the in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities of honey from Apis mellifera and Tetragonula biroi, identified the compound responsible for the antibacterial activity, and compared the observed bioactivities and metabolite profiles to that of Manuka honey, which is recognized for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The secondary metabolite contents of honey were extracted using a nonionic polymeric resin followed by antibacterial and antioxidant assays, and then spectroscopic analyses of the phenolic and flavonoid contents. Results showed that honey extracts produced by T. biroi exhibits antibiotic activity against Staphylococcal pathogens as well as high antioxidant activity, which are correlated to its high flavonoid and phenolic content as compared to honey produced by A. mellifera. The bioassay-guided fractionation paired with Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) and tandem MS analyses found the presence of the flavonoid isorhamnetin (3-methylquercetin) in T. biroi honey extract, which was demonstrated as one of the compounds with inhibitory activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA-44. Our findings suggest that Philippine honey produced by T. biroi is a potential nutraceutical that possesses antibiotic and antioxidant activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Faith L. Suarez
- Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology (C2B2), University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (A.F.L.S.); (A.D.G.T.)
| | - April Dawn G. Tirador
- Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology (C2B2), University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (A.F.L.S.); (A.D.G.T.)
| | - Zenith M. Villorente
- Maridan Industries, Inc., Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (Z.M.V.); (C.F.B.); (J.V.N.S.)
| | - Cathrina F. Bagarinao
- Maridan Industries, Inc., Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (Z.M.V.); (C.F.B.); (J.V.N.S.)
| | - Jan Vincent N. Sollesta
- Maridan Industries, Inc., Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (Z.M.V.); (C.F.B.); (J.V.N.S.)
| | - Gerard G. Dumancas
- Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Alexandria, LA 71302, USA;
- Balik Scientist Program, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City 1631, Philippines;
| | - Zhe Sun
- Shimadzu Asia Pacific (SAP), Singapore Science Park I, Singapore 118264, Singapore; (Z.S.); (Z.Q.Z.)
| | - Zhao Qi Zhan
- Shimadzu Asia Pacific (SAP), Singapore Science Park I, Singapore 118264, Singapore; (Z.S.); (Z.Q.Z.)
| | - Jonel P. Saludes
- Balik Scientist Program, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City 1631, Philippines;
- Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3), University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Education, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
| | - Doralyn S. Dalisay
- Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology (C2B2), University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines; (A.F.L.S.); (A.D.G.T.)
- Balik Scientist Program, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City 1631, Philippines;
- Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Education, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
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Fahimee J, Badrulisham AS, Zulidzham MS, Reward NF, Muzammil N, Jajuli R, Md-Zain BM, Yaakop S. Metabarcoding in Diet Assessment of Heterotrigona itama Based on trnL Marker towards Domestication Program. Insects 2021; 12:205. [PMID: 33671045 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Honey quality is the main criterion used for evaluating honey production in the stingless bee Heterotrigona itama, and it is correlated with the plant species consumed as its main diet. The objective of this study was to obtain the metabarcode data from 12 populations of H. itama species throughout Malaysia (Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia) using the trnL marker. A total of 262 species under 70 families and five phyla of plants were foraged by H. itama in the studied populations. Spermatophyta and Magnoliophyta were recorded as the two most abundant phyla foraged, at 55.95% and 32.39%, respectively. Four species, Garcinia oblongifolia, Muntingia calabura, Mallotus pellatus, and Pinus squamata, occurred abundantly and were consumed by H. itama in all the populations. These data are considered as a fundamental finding that is specific to the diet of H. itama for strategizing the management of the domestication process specifically in a mono-cropping system and in a netted structure. Thus, based on these findings, we recommend Momordica charantia, Melastoma sp., and Cucumis sativa as the best choices of food plant species to be planted and utilized by H. itama in meliponiculture.
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Mohammad SM, Mahmud-Ab-Rashid NK, Zawawi N. Stingless Bee-Collected Pollen (Bee Bread): Chemical and Microbiology Properties and Health Benefits. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040957. [PMID: 33670262 PMCID: PMC7917892 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stingless bee-collected pollen (bee bread) is a mixture of bee pollen, bee salivary enzymes, and regurgitated honey, fermented by indigenous microbes during storage in the cerumen pot. Current literature data for bee bread is overshadowed by bee pollen, particularly of honeybee Apis. In regions such as South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia, information on stingless bee bee bread is mainly sought to promote the meliponiculture industry for socioeconomic development. This review aims to highlight the physicochemical properties and health benefits of bee bread from the stingless bee. In addition, it describes the current progress on identification of beneficial microbes associated with bee bread and its relation to the bee gut. This review provides the basis for promoting research on stingless bee bee bread, its nutrients, and microbes for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Malihah Mohammad
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (S.M.M.); (N.-K.M.-A.-R.)
| | - Nor-Khaizura Mahmud-Ab-Rashid
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (S.M.M.); (N.-K.M.-A.-R.)
| | - Norhasnida Zawawi
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (S.M.M.); (N.-K.M.-A.-R.)
- Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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21
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Nogueira DS, Rasmussen C, Oliveira ML. A New Species of Tetragona Lepeletier & Serville, 1828 from the "truncata group" and New Distribution Records of T. truncata Moure, 1971 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Neotrop Entomol 2021; 50:68-77. [PMID: 33245548 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-020-00822-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tetragona Lepeletier & Serville is a genus of stingless bees with 14 recognized species occurring from Mexico to Argentina. The genus is characterized by velvety genal area, mesotibial spur present, and propodeal triangle glabrous. Within the genus, the truncata species group (T. truncata Moure and T. atahualpa sp. nov.) is characterized by worker metabasitarsus with posterior angle rounded and the mandible with two short teeth of similar length. Tetragona truncata is reported with new records for Ecuador (Napo and Orellana), Peru (Huánuco, Loreto, and San Martín), and Brazil (Acre [Rio Branco] and Tocantins [Itacá, Lizarda and Palmas]). In addition, T. atahualpa sp. nov. is described as a new species from regions of altitudes above 1,800 m in Colombia (Boyacá), Ecuador (Napo, Zamora-Chinchipe), and Peru (Pasco). We illustrate and discuss the identification of these two species.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Nogueira
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Amazonas, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, AM, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Entomologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil.
| | - C Rasmussen
- Dept of Agroecology, Aarhus Univ, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - M L Oliveira
- Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil
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22
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Seder N, Abu Bakar MH, Abu Rayyan WS. Transcriptome Analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Following the Exposure to Malaysian Stingless Bee Honey. Adv Appl Bioinform Chem 2021; 14:1-11. [PMID: 33488102 PMCID: PMC7814656 DOI: 10.2147/aabc.s292143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaysian stingless bee honey (Trigona) has been aroused as a potential antimicrobial compound with antibiofilm activity. The capability of the gram-negative bacillus P. aeruginosa to sustain a fatal infection is encoded in the bacterium genome. Methods In the current study, a transcriptome investigation was performed to explore the mechanism underlying the biofilm dispersal of P. aeruginosa after the exposure to Trigona honey. Results Microarray analysis of the Pseudomonas biofilm treated by 20% Trigona honey has revealed a down-regulation of 3478 genes among the 6085 screened genes. Specifically, around 13.5% of the down-regulated genes were biofilm-associated genes. The mapping of the biofilm-associated pathways has shown an ultimate decrease in the expression levels of the D-GMP signaling pathway and diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) genes responsible for c-di-GMP formation. Conclusion We predominantly report the lowering of c-di-GMP through the down-regulation of DGC genes as the main mechanism of biofilm inhibition by Trigona honey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrin Seder
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University Sultan Zain Al Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21300, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Hilmi Abu Bakar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University Sultan Zain Al Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21300, Malaysia
| | - Walid Salem Abu Rayyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Petra, Amman, Jordan
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23
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Martinello M, Mutinelli F. Antioxidant Activity in Bee Products: A Review. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10010071. [PMID: 33430511 PMCID: PMC7827872 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee products have been used since ancient times both for their nutritional value and for a broad spectrum of therapeutic purposes. They are deemed to be a potential source of natural antioxidants that can counteract the effects of oxidative stress underlying the pathogenesis of many diseases. In view of the growing interest in using bioactive substances from natural sources to promote health and reduce the risk of developing certain illnesses, this review aims to update the current state of knowledge on the antioxidant capacity of bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis, beeswax, royal jelly and bee venom, and on the analytical methods used. The complex, variable composition of these products and the multitude of analytical methods used to study their antioxidant activities are responsible for the wide range of results reported by a plethora of available studies. This suggests the need to establish standardized methods to more efficiently evaluate the intrinsic antioxidant characteristics of these products and make the data obtained more comparable.
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24
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Vale JO, Acosta-Avalos D. Magnetosensitivity in the Stingless Bee Tetragonisca angustula: Magnetic Inclination Can Alter the Choice of the Flying Departure Angle From the Nest. Bioelectromagnetics 2020; 42:51-59. [PMID: 33326627 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22312] [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: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
It is known that animals are sensitive to the geomagnetic field. In the case of insects, magnetoreception has been reported in several ant species and in some bees and wasps. One study showed that the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula is able to sense the modification of the magnetic field inclination. The aim of the present manuscript is to continue that study in T. angustula, analyzing the nest arrival and departure angles in the presence of magnetic fields generated by magnets. The bees flying to and from the nest were recorded and the flying trajectories were obtained by analyzing the video frame by frame. The magnetic field was generated by 6, 9, or 12 magnets contained inside an Eppendorf tube and fixed near the nest. Our results show that T. angustula bees are sensitive to magnetic fields because the departure angles are influenced by the magnets. It was observed that these bees are sensitive to the polarization of the magnetic field vector that influences the choice of flying up or down, and this sensitivity has a window until about 80 μT (about four times the local geomagnetic field), with the magnetic field information for higher magnetic field intensities being ignored by the bees. Bioelectromagnetics. 2021;42:51-59. © 2020 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana O Vale
- Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas (CBPF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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25
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Devillers J, Devillers H. Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Apis and Non- Apis Bees. Toxics 2020; 8:toxics8040104. [PMID: 33212791 PMCID: PMC7712127 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Pyriproxyfen is a juvenile hormone mimic used extensively worldwide to fight pests in agriculture and horticulture. It also has numerous applications as larvicide in vector control. The molecule disrupts metamorphosis and adult emergence in the target insects. The same types of adverse effects are expected on non-target insects. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the existing information on the toxicity of pyriproxyfen on the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and non-Apis bees (bumble bees, solitary bees, and stingless bees). The goal was also to identify the gaps necessary to fill. Thus, whereas the acute and sublethal toxicity of pyriproxyfen against A. mellifera is well-documented, the information is almost lacking for the non-Apis bees. The direct and indirect routes of exposure of the non-Apis bees to pyriproxyfen also need to be identified and quantified. More generally, the impacts of pyriproxyfen on the reproductive success of the different bee species have to be evaluated as well as the potential adverse effects of its metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hugo Devillers
- SPO, INRAE, Montpellier SupAgro, University of Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France;
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26
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Ivorra T, Hauser M, Low VL, Tomberlin JK, Nur Aliah NA, Cammack JA, Heo CC. Hermetia illucens and Hermetia fenestrata (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Colonization of "Spoiled" Stingless Bee Geniotrigona thoracica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Hives in Malaysia. Insects 2020; 11:E737. [PMID: 33121084 PMCID: PMC7693061 DOI: 10.3390/insects11110737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Meliponiculture, the keeping of domesticated stingless bees such as Geniotrigona thoracica (Smith, 1857) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is an increasingly popular agricultural industry in Malaysia. This study reports the soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) species of the genus Hermetia colonizing stingless bee colonies in Malaysia. The larvae were reared in the laboratory to the adult stage and identified through molecular and morphological approaches. Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) and Hermetia fenestrata de Meijere, 1904 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) were identified from the sample provided. Earlier records of stratiomyids in stingless bee nests were misidentified as H. illucens. This paper represents the first identified record of H. fenestrata colonizing a "spoiled" stingless bee colony. In addition, adult and larval morphological differences between both species and the roles of both species in bee nest decomposition are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Ivorra
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sungai Buloh Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.A.N.A.); (C.C.H.)
| | - Martin Hauser
- Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, California Department of Food & Agriculture, 3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832-1448, USA;
| | - Van Lun Low
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | | | - Natasha Azmi Nur Aliah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sungai Buloh Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.A.N.A.); (C.C.H.)
| | - Jonathan A. Cammack
- EVO Conversion Systems, LLC, 5552 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy, Suite 100, College Station, TX 77485, USA;
| | - Chong Chin Heo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sungai Buloh Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.A.N.A.); (C.C.H.)
- Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Institute for Pathology, Sungai Buloh Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia
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27
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Rosli FN, Hazemi MHF, Akbar MA, Basir S, Kassim H, Bunawan H. Stingless Bee Honey: Evaluating Its Antibacterial Activity and Bacterial Diversity. Insects 2020; 11:insects11080500. [PMID: 32759701 PMCID: PMC7469184 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Stingless bee honey (SBH) is an astounding 'miracle liquid' with countless medicinal properties for various diseases such as gastroenteritis, cataracts, as well as for wound-healing. However, knowledge regarding it is still rather scarce. Henceforth, it is intriguing for us to contemplate on the less-studied stingless bee and its honey in particular. First and foremost, the antimicrobial ability of honey from eight different stingless bee species was tested to further proven its health benefit. Homotrigona fimbriata honey showed the highest antimicrobial activity with inhibition against five bacteria; Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Alcaligenes faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The next aim of our study is to characterize their honey bacterial community via the use of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology. A total of eight bacterial phyla, 71 families, 155 genera and 70 species were identified from our study and two of the stingless bee species honey were determined to have the highest bacterial diversity compared to other six stingless bee species, namely Heterotrigona erythrogastra and Tetrigona melanoleuca. Furthermost, Lactobacillus malefermentans was thought to be the native dominant bacteria of SBH due to its predominant presence throughout all studied species. The aforementioned SBH's antimicrobial results and characterization study of its bacterial diversity are hoped to carve the pathway towards extending its probiotic ability into our everyday lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Nadiah Rosli
- Centre for Biotechnology and Functional Food, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (F.N.R.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Mohd Hafiz Fikri Hazemi
- Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.H.F.H.); (S.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Muhamad Afiq Akbar
- Centre for Biotechnology and Functional Food, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (F.N.R.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Syazwani Basir
- Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.H.F.H.); (S.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Hakimi Kassim
- Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.H.F.H.); (S.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Hamidun Bunawan
- Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.H.F.H.); (S.B.); (H.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-389-214-546
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Al-Hatamleh MAI, Boer JC, Wilson KL, Plebanski M, Mohamud R, Mustafa MZ. Antioxidant-Based Medicinal Properties of Stingless Bee Products: Recent Progress and Future Directions. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E923. [PMID: 32570769 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Stingless bees are a type of honey producers that commonly live in tropical countries. Their use for honey is being abandoned due to its limited production. However, the recent improvements in stingless bee honey production, particularly in South East Asia, have brought stingless bee products back into the picture. Although there are many stingless bee species that produce a wide spread of products, known since old eras in traditional medicine, the modern medical community is still missing more investigational studies on stingless bee products. Whereas comprehensive studies in the current era attest to the biological and medicinal properties of honeybee (Apis mellifera) products, the properties of stingless bee products are less known. This review highlights for the first time the medicinal benefits of stingless bee products (honey, propolis, pollen and cerumen), recent investigations and promising future directions. This review emphasizes the potential antioxidant properties of these products that in turn play a vital role in preventing and treating diseases associated with oxidative stress, microbial infections and inflammatory disorders. Summarizing all these data and insights in one manuscript may increase the commercial value of stingless bee products as a food ingredient. This review will also highlight the utility of stingless bee products in the context of medicinal and therapeutic properties, some of which are yet to be discovered.
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29
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Wang CY, Zhao M, Xu HL, Zhang FL, Zhong YH, Feng Y, Wang SJ. Complete mitochondrial genome of the stingless bee Lepidotrigona terminata (Hymenoptera: Meliponinae) and phylogenetic analysis. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2020; 5:752-753. [PMID: 33366734 PMCID: PMC7748534 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1715298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Lepidotrigona terminata (Smith, 1878) is a stingless bee that distributed in Eastern Asia. The complete mitogenome of L. terminata (GenBank accession number MN737481) is 15,431 bp in size, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs genes, and a noncoding D-loop region. The D-loop region is located between ND4L and tRNAMet, different from the other two stingless bee mitogenomes previously reported. The base composition of the whole L. terminata mitogenome is 38.18% for A, 11.67% for G, 38.32% for T, and 11.83% for C, with a high AT bias of 76.50%. The present data could contribute to a detailed phylogeographic analysis of this valuable economic insect for further study in differentiating closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ye Wang
- Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
| | - Huan-Li Xu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yi-Hai Zhong
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Research Institute of Resource Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
| | - Shi-Jie Wang
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
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30
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Gaona FP, Guerrero A, Gusmán E, Espinosa CI. Pollen Resources Used by Two Species of Stingless Bees (Meliponini) in a Tropical Dry Forest of Southern Ecuador. J Insect Sci 2019; 19:5680620. [PMID: 31853551 PMCID: PMC6920062 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez125] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pollinators are crucial for ecosystem functionality; however, little is known about the plant species used by some of these, such as stingless bees. In this study, for the first time, pollen resources used by Melipona mimetica Cockerell (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) and Scaptotrigona sp. Moure (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) were identified through analysis of corbicular pollen found on worker bees in a dry forest in southern Ecuador. In total, 68 pollen types were identified belonging to 31 botanical families. The most represented plant families were Fabaceae (16%), Malvaceae (7%), and Boraginaceae (7%). Both stingless bee species exhibited a polylectic behavior, with an average of 16 pollen types collected by individual bees. Differences in abundances of pollen types collected by each species indicated distinct uses for these two bee species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando P Gaona
- Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical y Servicios Ecosistémicos (EcoSs-Lab), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja, Ecuador
- Maestría en Biología de la Conservación y Ecología Tropical, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Anthony Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical y Servicios Ecosistémicos (EcoSs-Lab), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Elizabeth Gusmán
- Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical y Servicios Ecosistémicos (EcoSs-Lab), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Iván Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Ecología Tropical y Servicios Ecosistémicos (EcoSs-Lab), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano s/n, Loja, Ecuador
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31
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Ahmad F, Seerangan P, Mustafa MZ, Osman ZF, Abdullah JM, Idris Z. Anti-Cancer Properties of Heterotrigona itama sp. Honey Via Induction of Apoptosis in Malignant Glioma Cells. Malays J Med Sci 2019; 26:30-39. [PMID: 31447606 PMCID: PMC6687214 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.2.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been increasing evidence showing that stingless bee honey exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Pharmacologically-active components in honey such as flavonoids and phenolic constituents are known to contribute to its medicinal benefits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on evaluating anti-cancer effects of locally-produced Malaysian stingless bee honey from Heterotrigona itama sp. on malignant glioma cells. Methods Proliferation and apoptosis studies of U-87 MG cells following stingless bee honey treatment were carried out using MTS assay and acridine orange/propidium iodide dual staining, respectively. Results Results demonstrated time and dose-dependent cytotoxicity using 0.625%, 1.25% and 10% stingless bee honey (P < 0.05). IC50 values were calculated using cells treated with 10% stingless bee honey. It was also observed that 10% stingless bee honey induced nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nucleus fragmentation, indicating that cellular changes were consistent with the apoptotic characteristics of the cells. Conclusion These data provide a good basis for further evaluation of the medicinal properties of stingless bee honey from Heterotrigona itama sp. This source of honey may serve as a potential therapy for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farizan Ahmad
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Human Genome Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Priatharsine Seerangan
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Zulkifli Mustafa
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Zul Faizuddin Osman
- School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Jafri Malin Abdullah
- Centre for Neuroscience Services and Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Zamzuri Idris
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Centre for Neuroscience Services and Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
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Shackleton K, Alves DA, Ratnieks FLW. Organization enhances collective vigilance in the hovering guards of Tetragonisca angustula bees. Behav Ecol 2018; 29:1105-1112. [PMID: 30214133 PMCID: PMC6129946 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
One benefit of group living is vigilance against predators. Previous studies have investigated the group size effect, where individual vigilance decreases as group size increases without reducing the overall ability of the group to detect predators. However, there has been comparatively little research on whether the positioning of individuals can improve the collective vigilance of the group. We studied the coordination of vigilance and its effect on predator detection in the eusocial bee Tetragonisca angustula. Nests are defended by hovering guards that detect and intercept intruders before they reach the nest entrance, in addition to those that stand upon it. We show that hovering guards are positioned nonrandomly, with a strong tendency for equal numbers on both sides of the entrance. This organization increases the collective vigilance of the guard group, as groups distributed in an even ratio, either side of the entrance, have a greater collective field of view than groups that deviate from an even ratio. Finally, we use a bioassay to show that when guards are on both sides of the entrance, their ability to detect intruders before they reach the entrance increases. Overall, our results provide strong evidence that vigilance is coordinated and that this improves nest defense. Although other group-living animals are often selfish in their individual vigilance behaviors and face competing time constraints such as foraging, the altruistic nature of eusocial insect workers has probably facilitated the evolution of coordinated vigilance, as documented here in T. angustula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Shackleton
- Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Denise A Alves
- Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francis L W Ratnieks
- Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects (LASI), School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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Abstract
Honey is uniquely produced by honeybees (Apis sp.) and stingless bees (Meliponini sp.) and exhibits tremendous medicinal properties such as antimicrobial, anticarcinogen and antioxidant. However, it has not been included as a mainstream approach to disease management and has been disregarded in the modern pharmaceutical era. The stingless bee, which is known locally as lebah kelulut in Malaysia, is an important species that is well adapted for tropical countries and has emerged as an alternative source of honey. The reinventing honey quality (RHQ) project was introduced in 2012 to empower growth in the stingless bee industry, which has a direct impact on the production of high-quality honey. The objectives of the project include transforming the industry into a sustainable source of income for beekeepers, while simultaneously catalysing bee conservation activities for plant and crop pollination, thus becoming a new medium for targeting socio-economies and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Zulkifli Mustafa
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.,Hospital USM, Health Campus, USM, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Nik Soriani Yaacob
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Siti Amrah Sulaiman
- Integrative Medicine Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian Kelantan, Malaysia
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34
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Moreira DR, Sinópolis Gigliolli AA, Falco JRP, Julio AHF, Volnistem EA, Chagas FD, Toledo VDAAD, Ruvolo-Takasusuki MCC. Toxicity and effects of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam on Scaptotrigona bipunctata lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Environ Toxicol 2018; 33:463-475. [PMID: 29377569 DOI: 10.1002/tox.22533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The neonicotinoid thiamethoxam is widely used in different agricultural crops, and it has a spectrum of action against insects, affecting both pests and pollinators, such as bees. In this study, the effects of exposure to sublethal concentrations of thiamethoxam on stingless bees Scaptotrigona bipunctata were evaluated. Foragers bees were exposed to the insecticide and subjected to genetic biochemical, histochemical, and morphological analyses after 24, 48, and 72 h of ingestion. Analysis of isoenzyme esterases revealed significant alterations in the relative activity of EST-4, a type II cholinesterase. Evaluation of the S. bipunctata brain revealed changes in the state of chromatin condensation according to the exposure time and concentration of neonicotinoid compared with the control. Morphological changes were observed in the midgut of this species at all concentrations and exposure times, which may interfere with various physiological processes of these insects. We can conclude that, although thiamethoxam at the concentrations evaluated did not cause high mortality, it induced concentration-dependent changes in bees by activating enzymes related with the protection for xenobiotic, internal morphology and probably these changes may lead to alterations in the activity of bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiani Rodrigues Moreira
- Departament of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Francieli das Chagas
- Departament of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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35
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Tomé HVV, Ramos GS, Araújo MF, Santana WC, Santos GR, Guedes RNC, Maciel CD, Newland PL, Oliveira EE. Agrochemical synergism imposes higher risk to Neotropical bees than to honeybees. R Soc Open Sci 2017; 4:160866. [PMID: 28280585 PMCID: PMC5319351 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Bees are key pollinators whose population numbers are declining, in part, owing to the effects of different stressors such as insecticides and fungicides. We have analysed the susceptibility of the Africanized honeybee, Apis mellifera, and the stingless bee, Partamona helleri, to commercial formulations of the insecticides deltamethrin and imidacloprid. The toxicity of fungicides based on thiophanate-methyl and chlorothalonil were investigated individually and in combination, and with the insecticides. Results showed that stingless bees were more susceptible to insecticides than honeybees. The commercial fungicides thiophanate-methyl or chlorothalonil caused low mortality, regardless of concentration; however, their combination was as toxic as imidacloprid to both species, and over 400-fold more toxic than deltamethrin for A. mellifera. There were highly synergistic effects on mortality caused by interactions in the mixture of imidacloprid and the fungicides thiophanate-methyl, chlorothalonil and the combined fungicide formulation in A. mellifera, and also to a lesser extent in P. helleri. By contrast, mixtures of the deltamethrin and the combined fungicide formulation induced high synergy in P. helleri, but had little effect on the mortality of A. mellifera. Differences in physiology and modes of action of agrochemicals are discussed as key factors underlying the differences in susceptibility to agrochemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson V. V. Tomé
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
- EAG Laboratories, 13709 Progress Boulevard no. 24, Suite S163, Alachua, FL, 32615USA
| | - Gabryele S. Ramos
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
| | - Micaele F. Araújo
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
| | - Weyder C. Santana
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
| | - Gil R. Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Gurupi, TO 77410-530, Brazil
| | - Raul Narciso C. Guedes
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos D. Maciel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Philip L. Newland
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Eugênio E. Oliveira
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa-MG, Brazil
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36
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Fonseca AS, Oliveira EJF, Freitas GS, Assis AF, Souza CCM, Contel EPB, Soares AEE. Genetic Diversity in Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Aggregations in Southeastern Brazil. J Insect Sci 2017; 17:iew101. [PMID: 28130454 PMCID: PMC5270393 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iew101] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Meliponini, also known as stingless bees, are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world and plays an essential role in pollinating many wild plants and crops These bees can build nests in cavities of trees or walls, underground or in associations with ants or termites; interestingly, these nests are sometimes found in aggregations. In order to assess the genetic diversity and structure in aggregates of Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier), samples of this species were collected from six aggregations and genetically analyzed for eight specific microsatellite loci. We observed in this analysis that the mean genetic diversity value among aggregations was 0.354, and the mean expected and observed heterozygosity values was 0.414 and 0.283, respectively. The statistically significant Fis value indicated an observed heterozygosity lower than the expected heterozygosity in all loci studied resulting in high homozygosis level in these populations. In addition, the low number of private alleles observed reinforces the absence of structuring that is seen in the aggregates. These results can provide relevant information about genetic diversity in aggregations of N. testaceicornis and contribute to the management and conservation of these bees' species that are critical for the pollination process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Fonseca
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - E J F Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Entomologia, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Feira de Santana-BA 44036-900, Brazil
| | - G S Freitas
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - A F Assis
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - C C M Souza
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - E P B Contel
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - A E E Soares
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto-SP 14049-900, Brazil
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37
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Bárbara MS, Machado CS, Sodré GDS, Dias LG, Estevinho LM, de Carvalho CAL. Microbiological Assessment, Nutritional Characterization and Phenolic Compounds of Bee Pollen from Mellipona mandacaia Smith, 1983. Molecules 2015; 20:12525-44. [PMID: 26184138 PMCID: PMC6332351 DOI: 10.3390/molecules200712525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to assess the microbiological parameters and the chemical composition of 21 samples of stingless bee pollen (Melipona mandacaia) from two regions of Bahia, Brazil (João Dourado and Uibaí), with particular emphasis on the nutritional value, total phenols and flavonoids and fatty acids composition. Regarding the microbiological quality, the studied microorganisms (moulds and yeasts, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., psychrotrophic and sulfite-reducing Clostridia) were absent in all samples. On the other hand, the values obtained for the aerobic mesophilic microorganism ranged from 11.0 ± 1.0 to 1.32 ± 1.2 cfu∙g-1 (JD samples) and from 282 ± 3.82 to 688 ± 10.1 cfu∙g-1 (U samples). The nutritional parameters (moisture, ash, water activity, pH, total acidity, protein, fiber, total phenolic, flavonoids and reducing sugars) were within the stipulated by law, except for pH and moisture content, which presented superior and inferior values, respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (54.1%) were significantly higher than saturated (42.18%) and monounsaturated (3.71%). It was found that the bee pollen is safe from the microbiological point of view and has a good nutritional quality. The influence of the geographical origin on the assessed parameters was evident, especially concerning the fatty acid profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marivalda Santa Bárbara
- Grupo de Pesquisa Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, 44380-000 Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Cerilene Santiago Machado
- Grupo de Pesquisa Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, 44380-000 Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Geni da Silva Sodré
- Grupo de Pesquisa Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, 44380-000 Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Luís G Dias
- Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
- Centro de Química-Vila Real, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Leticia M Estevinho
- Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, 5301-855 Bragança, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Alfredo Lopes de Carvalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa Insecta, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas da Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, 44380-000 Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil.
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38
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Borsato DM, Prudente AS, Döll-Boscardin PM, Borsato AV, Luz CFP, Maia BHLNS, Cabrini DA, Otuki MF, Miguel MD, Farago PV, Miguel OG. Topical anti-inflammatory activity of a monofloral honey of Mimosa scabrella provided by Melipona marginata during winter in southern Brazil. J Med Food 2014; 17:817-25. [PMID: 24650139 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Melipona marginata is an endangered species of stingless bee from Brazil that produces honey with particular physicochemical features and a remarkable exotic flavor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report devoted to exploring the medicinal potential of this honey. Thus, the aim of this paper was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of honey extract from M. marginata on skin inflammation. The honey sample was classified as a monofloral honey of Mimosa scabrella. The presence of 11 phenolic compounds as kaempferol and caffeic acid was detected using the high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-ESI-MS) method. The anti-inflammatory activity was measured using a 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced ear edema model of inflammation in mice. The topical application of the M. marginata honey extract (1.0 mg/ear) was able to reduce ear edema with an inhibitory effect of 54 ± 5%. This extract decreased the myeloperoxidase activity in 75 ± 3%, which suggests a lower leucocyte infiltration that was confirmed by histological analysis. This extract also provided a reduction of 55 ± 14% in the production of reactive oxygen species. This anti-inflammatory activity could be due to a synergic effect of the phenolic compounds identified in the honey sample. Taken together, these results open up new possibilities for the use of M. marginata honey extract in skin disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora M Borsato
- 1 Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná , Curitiba, Brazil
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Borges AA, Humann FC, Oliveira Campos LA, Tavares MG, Hartfelder K. Transcript levels of ten caste-related genes in adult diploid males of Melipona quadrifasciata (Hymenoptera, Apidae) - A comparison with haploid males, queens and workers. Genet Mol Biol 2011; 34:698-706. [PMID: 22215977 PMCID: PMC3229128 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572011005000050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In Hymenoptera, homozygosity at the sex locus results in the production of diploid males. In social species, these pose a double burden by having low fitness and drawing resources normally spent for increasing the work force of a colony. Yet, diploid males are of academic interest as they can elucidate effects of ploidy (normal males are haploid, whereas the female castes, the queens and workers, are diploid) on morphology and life history. Herein we investigated expression levels of ten caste-related genes in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata, comparing newly emerged and 5-day-old diploid males with haploid males, queens and workers. In diploid males, transcript levels for dunce and paramyosin were increased during the first five days of adult life, while those for diacylglycerol kinase and the transcriptional co-repressor groucho diminished. Two general trends were apparent, (i) gene expression patterns in diploid males were overall more similar to haploid ones and workers than to queens, and (ii) in queens and workers, more genes were up-regulated after emergence until day five, whereas in diploid and especially so in haploid males more genes were down-regulated. This difference between the sexes may be related to longevity, which is much longer in females than in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia A Borges
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
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40
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Tavares MG, Carvalho CR, Soares FAF, Fernandes A. Detection of diploid males in a natural colony of the cleptobiotic bee Lestrimelitta sp (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Genet Mol Biol 2010; 33:491-3. [PMID: 21637422 PMCID: PMC3036126 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572010000300019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 11/11/2009] [Accepted: 03/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
When working at quantifying the genome size of stingless bees, it was observed that males of Lestrimelitta sp possessed the same amount of nuclear DNA as the females. Thus, we used flow cytometry (FCM) and cytogenetic analysis to confirm the ploidy of these individuals. The males analyzed proved to be diploid, since, through cytometric analysis, it was demonstrated that the mean genome size of both males and females was the same (C = 0.463 pg), and, furthermore, cytogenetic analysis demonstrated that both had 2n = 28 chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Garcia Tavares
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG Brazil
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