scholarly journals Gut and Colony Microbiota of Honey Bees: Social Immunity and Opportunism Overwinter

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk E. Anderson ◽  
Patrick Maes
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Social Immunity ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Opportunistic Disease ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Colony Loss

Abstract Overwintering is a major contributor to honey bee colony loss and involves factors that influence disease susceptibility. Honey bees possess a secretory head gland that interfaces with the extended social environment on many levels. With the coming of winter, colonies produce a long-lived (diutinus) worker phenotype that survives until environmental conditions improve. We used a known-age worker cohort to investigate microbiome integrity and social gene expression of diutinus workers overwinter. We provide additional context by contrasting host-microbial interactions from warm outdoor and cold indoor overwintering environments. Our results provide the first evidence that social immune gene expression is associated with diutinus bees, and highlight the midgut as a target of opportunistic disease overwinter. Host microbial interactions suggest opportunistic disease progression and resistance in diutinus workers, but susceptibility to opportunistic disease in younger workers that emerged during the winter, including increases in Enterobacteriaceae, fungal load and bacterial diversity abundance. The results are consistent with increased social immunity overwinter, including host associations with the colony microbiota, and a social immune response by long-lived diutinus workers to combat microbial opportunism. The cost/benefit ratio associated with limited expression of the diutinus phenotype may be a strong determinant of colony survival overwinter.

scholarly journals Gut and Colony Microbiota of Honey Bees Apis mellifera: Social Immunity, Opportunistic Disease and Survival Overwinter.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk E. Anderson ◽  
Patrick Maes
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Social Immunity ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Opportunistic Disease ◽  
Fungal Load

Abstract BackgroundOverwintering is a major contributor to honey bee colony loss and involves changes in environmental conditions, host physiology and group behavior that influence disease susceptibility. Honey bees possess a secretory head gland that interfaces with the extended colony environment on many levels, producing pro-oxidants, antioxidants and antimicrobial peptides. With the coming of winter, colonies produce a long-lived (diutinus) worker phenotype that survives until environmental conditions improve. We used a known-age worker cohort to investigate microbiome integrity and social gene expression of diutinus workers overwinter. We provide additional context by contrasting host-microbial interactions from warm outdoor and cold indoor overwintering environments. ResultsWe produce the first evidence that social immune gene expression is associated with the core hindgut and colony microbiota in honey bees, and highlight the midgut as a target of opportunistic disease overwinter. We discovered a distinct physiological and microbiological trajectory for diutinus workers that differs drastically from younger, short-lived workers in the colony. Diutinus bees were associated with decreased fungal load and decreased bacterial diversity, and increased core microbiota and longevity. Colonies overwintered indoors maintained a stable or improved microbiota structure and complimentary gene expression overwinter. In contrast, workers from colonies overwintered outdoors in warm southern conditions possessed changes co-occurring throughout the alimentary tract microbiota that suggest opportunistic disease progression and resistance in diutinus workers, but susceptibility to opportunistic disease in younger workers that emerged during the winter, including increases in Enterobacteriaceae, fungal load and bacterial diversity abundance. ConclusionsOur results highlight social selection pressures that shaped the colony and hindgut microbiome with evolution to a perennial life history. The results are consistent with a “group level” explanation of social immunity, including host associations with the colony microbiota, and a social immune response by long-lived diutinus workers to accompany microbial opportunism. The cost/benefit ratio associated with limited expression of the diutinus phenotype may be a strong determinant of colony survival overwinter. The relationship of colony and gut microbiota with social immune function highlights the range of host-microbial interaction associated with the honey bee superorganism, and its potential influence on colony health, disease resistance and gut integrity.

scholarly journals Response of adult honey bees treated in larval stage with prochloraz to infection with Nosema ceranae

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uros Glavinic ◽  
Tanja Tesovnik ◽  
Jevrosima Stevanovic ◽  
Minja Zorc ◽  
Ivanka Cizelj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Nosema Ceranae ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Immune Gene Expression ◽  
Bee Colony

Among numerous factors that contribute to honey bee colony losses and problems in beekeeping, pesticides and Nosema ceranae have been often reported. In contrast to insecticides, whose effects on bees have been widely studied, fungicides did not attract considerable attention. Prochloraz, an imidazole fungicide widely used in agriculture, was detected in honey and pollen stored inside hives and has been already proven to alter immune gene expression of honey bees at different developmental stages. The aim of this study was to simulate the realistic conditions of migratory beekeeping, where colonies, both uninfected and infected with N. ceranae, are frequently transported to the vicinity of crop fields treated with prochloraz. We investigated the combined effect of prochloraz and N. ceranae on honey bees that faced fungicide during the larval stage through food consumption and microsporidium infection afterwards. The most pronounced changes in gene expression were observed in newly emerged Nosema-free bees originating from colonies previously contaminated with prochloraz. As exclusively upregulation was registered, prochloraz alone most likely acts as a challenge that induces activation of immune pathways in newly emerged bees. The combination of both stressors (prochloraz and Nosema infection) exerted the greatest effect on six-day-old honey bees. Among ten genes with significantly altered expression, half were upregulated and half downregulated. N. ceranae as a sole stressor had the weakest effects on immune gene expression modulation with only three genes significantly dysregulated. In conclusion, food contaminated with prochloraz consumed in larval stage could present a threat to the development of immunity and detoxification mechanisms in honey bees.

scholarly journals Imidacloprid Decreases Honey Bee Survival Rates but Does Not Affect the Gut Microbiome

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasie Raymann ◽  
Erick V. S. Motta ◽  
Catherine Girard ◽  
Ian M. Riddington ◽  
Jordan A. Dinser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Colony Loss ◽  
Honey Bee Colony ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Accumulating evidence suggests that pesticides have played a role in the increased rate of honey bee colony loss. One of the most commonly used pesticides in the United States is the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. Although the primary mode of action of imidacloprid is on the insect nervous system, it has also been shown to cause changes in insects' digestive physiology and alter the microbiota of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. The honey bee gut microbiome plays a major role in bee health. Although many studies have shown that imidacloprid affects honey bee behavior, its impact on the microbiome has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the impact of imidacloprid on the gut microbiome composition, survivorship, and susceptibility to pathogens of honey bees. Consistent with other studies, we show that imidacloprid exposure results in an elevated mortality of honey bees in the hive and increases the susceptibility to infection by pathogens. However, we did not find evidence that imidacloprid affects the gut bacterial community of honey bees. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that honey bee gut bacteria can grow in the presence of imidacloprid, and we found some evidence that imidacloprid can be metabolized in the bee gut environment. However, none of the individual bee gut bacterial species tested could metabolize imidacloprid, suggesting that the observed metabolism of imidacloprid within in vitro bee gut cultures is not caused by the gut bacteria. Overall, our results indicate that imidacloprid causes increased mortality in honey bees, but this mortality does not appear to be linked to the microbiome. IMPORTANCE Growing evidence suggests that the extensive use of pesticides has played a large role in the increased rate of honey bee colony loss. Despite extensive research on the effects of imidacloprid on honey bees, it is still unknown whether it impacts the community structure of the gut microbiome. Here, we investigated the impact of imidacloprid on the gut microbiome composition, survivorship, and susceptibility to pathogens of honey bees. We found that the exposure to imidacloprid resulted in an elevated mortality of honey bees and increased the susceptibility to infection by opportunistic pathogens. However, we did not find evidence that imidacloprid affects the gut microbiome of honey bees. We found some evidence that imidacloprid can be metabolized in the bee gut environment in vitro , but because it is quickly eliminated from the bee, it is unlikely that this metabolism occurs in nature. Thus, imidacloprid causes increased mortality in honey bees, but this does not appear to be linked to the microbiome.

scholarly journals The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chauncy Hinshaw ◽  
Kathleen C. Evans ◽  
Cristina Rosa ◽  
Margarita M. López-Uribe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Immune Gene ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Immune Gene Expression ◽  
Pathogen Dynamics ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Overwintering Survival ◽  
Bee Colonies

Studies of the ecoimmunology of feral organisms can provide valuable insight into how host–pathogen dynamics change as organisms transition from human-managed conditions back into the wild. Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) offer an ideal system to investigate these questions as colonies of these social insects often escape management and establish in the wild. While managed honey bee colonies have low probability of survival in the absence of disease treatments, feral colonies commonly survive in the wild, where pathogen pressures are expected to be higher due to the absence of disease treatments. Here, we investigate the role of pathogen infections [Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Nosema ceranae] and immune gene expression (defensin-1, hymenoptaecin, pgrp-lc, pgrp-s2, argonaute-2, vago) in the survival of feral and managed honey bee colonies. We surveyed a total of 25 pairs of feral and managed colonies over a 2-year period (2017–2018), recorded overwintering survival, and measured pathogen levels and immune gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results showed that feral colonies had higher levels of DWV but it was variable over time compared to managed colonies. Higher pathogen levels were associated with increased immune gene expression, with feral colonies showing higher expression in five out of the six examined immune genes for at least one sampling period. Further analysis revealed that differential expression of the genes hymenoptaecin and vago increased the odds of overwintering survival in managed and feral colonies. Our results revealed that feral colonies express immune genes at higher levels in response to high pathogen burdens, providing evidence for the role of feralization in altering pathogen landscapes and host immune responses.

scholarly journals Seed Yield Increase in Niger Crop in to Relation to Honeybee and Other Pollinators

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81
Author(s):  
Prashant B. Sandipan ◽  
P.K. Jagtap ◽  
M.C. Patel ◽  
B.P. Solanki ◽  
Sapana R. Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Yield ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Oilseed Crop ◽  
Guizotia Abyssinica ◽  
Yield Increase ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Number Of Seeds

AbstractNiger (Guizotia abyssinicaCass) is an important minor oilseed crop of hilly and tribal regions and it is used for oil as well as for various other purposes only by the tribal people. Therefore, a systematic study was arranged to document about the increase in the seed yield of niger crop in relation to honeybees (Aphis mellifera), as a pollinator in niger crop with paired plot technique at the Niger Research Station (NRS) at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) and at farmer’s field, Vanarasi, Navsari, Gujarat (India) and also studied its relation in terms of cost benefit ratio (CB). The trial was conducted at Niger Research Station (NRS), Vanarasi for 3 years (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) and also at farmer's field to ascertain the role and involvement of honey bees (Aphis mellifera) in swelling the seed yield of niger crop (due to pollination) and its effect on income due to increase in the niger seed yield. Significant differences were observed for number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitula, 1000 seed weight and seed yield in both the location for the consecutive 3 years. However, the seed yield and gross returns were considerably higher in first location of T1Natural plot/open pollinated with beehive (Aphis mellifera)in all the 3 years data with the maximum seed yield with the gross return was obtained in this treatment.

scholarly journals Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus: Honey Bee Queen–Worker Interaction and Potential Virus Transmission Pathways

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmaeil Amiri ◽  
Gregory Seddon ◽  
Wendy Zuluaga Smith ◽  
Micheline K. Strand ◽  
David R. Tarpy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Social Immunity ◽  
Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Colony Loss ◽  
Honey Bee Queen ◽  
Paralysis Virus

Queen loss or failure is an important cause of honey bee colony loss. A functional queen is essential to a colony, and the queen is predicted to be well protected by worker bees and other mechanisms of social immunity. Nevertheless, several honey bee pathogens (including viruses) can infect queens. Here, we report a series of experiments to test how virus infection influences queen–worker interactions and the consequences for virus transmission. We used Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) as an experimental pathogen because it is relevant to bee health but is not omnipresent. Queens were observed spending 50% of their time with healthy workers, 32% with infected workers, and 18% without interaction. However, the overall bias toward healthy workers was not statistically significant, and there was considerable individual to individual variability. We found that physical contact between infected workers and queens leads to high queen infection in some cases, suggesting that IAPV infections also spread through close bodily contact. Across experiments, queens exhibited lower IAPV titers than surrounding workers. Thus, our results indicate that honey bee queens are better protected by individual and social immunity, but this protection is insufficient to prevent IAPV infections completely.

Methods and clinical applications in nuclear cardiology: a position statement

2002 ◽  
Vol 41 (01) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schäfers
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Cardiology ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
Electron Beam Tomography ◽  
Partial Functions ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
Medicine Today

SummaryNuclear cardiological procedures have paved the way for non-invasive diagnostics of various partial functions of the heart. Many of these functions cannot be visualised for diagnosis by any other method (e. g. innervation). These techniques supplement morphological diagnosis with regard to treatment planning and monitoring. Furthermore, they possess considerable prognostic relevance, an increasingly important issue in clinical medicine today, not least in view of the cost-benefit ratio.Our current understanding shows that effective, targeted nuclear cardiology diagnosis – in particular for high-risk patients – can contribute toward cost savings while improving the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic measures.In the future, nuclear cardiology will have to withstand mounting competition from other imaging techniques (magnetic resonance imaging, electron beam tomography, multislice computed tomography). The continuing development of these methods increasingly enables measurement of functional aspects of the heart. Nuclear radiology methods will probably develop in the direction of molecular imaging.

Calisthenics and bodyweight exercises: different concepts or scientific synonyms?

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Leury Max Da Silva Chaves ◽  
Gabriel Vinicius Santos ◽  
Cauê La Scala Teixeira ◽  
Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Training Method ◽  
Benefit Ratio ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio ◽  
The 19Th Century

 Bodyweight exercises (also popularly known as calisthenics) is a classic training method and its practice has been widespread since the 19th century, but little evidenced in the scientific literature over the years. This type of training aims to promote multi-system adaptations using body weight as an overload with no or few implements [1–3]. This characteristic makes exercise with body weight easy to apply, in addition to having an excellent cost-benefit ratio when compared to other training possibilities that require machines or materials [4,5].

Alternaria and Cercospora Leaf Spot Diseases of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) – A Traditional Tribal Crop of South Gujarat, India, with Cost Benefit Ratio in Relation to Different Fungicides

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-99
Author(s):  
P.B. Sandipan ◽  
P.K. Jagtap ◽  
M.C. Patel
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Leaf Spot ◽  
Foliar Spray ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Guizotia Abyssinica ◽  
Cercospora Leaf Spot ◽  
Benefit Ratio ◽  
Cost Benefit Ratio

Abstract Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) is an important minor oil seed crop grown in dry areas grown mostly by tribal and interior places as life line of tribal segment. Tribal people mainly use its oil for cooking purpose, above than that there were also other uses. Hence, the niger crop should be protected from the infection. The crop is affected by number of fungal diseases. Therefore, a field experiment was formulated for three years with the four replications at the Niger Research Station (NRS) at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Vanarasi, Navsari (Gujarat) on the foliar diseases of GN-1 variety of niger crop. In this experiment, six different fungicides along with one control have been evaluated to control the Alternaria and Cercospora leaf spot diseases, out of which all the fungicidal treatments were significantly superior over the control. Here, foliar spray on the incidence of diseases was compared with the control (without any treatment). All the fungicidal treatments were significantly superior over the control to reduce Alternaria and Cercospora leaf spot diseases of Niger crop. Treatment of Carbendazim + Mancozeb (0.2 %) with two sprays first from the initiation of the disease and second after the interval of 15 days recorded the lowest incidence of Alternaria (14.56) and Cercospora (14.94) leaf spot diseases of niger and recorded the highest seed yield 337 seed yield kg/ha along with the net return with cost benefit ratio graph.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document