Pharmacological action and physiological effect of the venom of the honey bee Apis mellifera Caucasica

The present’s experimental data on the influence of the venom of the honey bee on the life span of experimental animals irradiated with small doses of gamma radiation on physiological and pharmacological action venom of the honey bee Apis mellifera Caucasica. The aim of the studies was to study the radioprotective effect of the pre-introduced venom Apis mellifera Caucasica with a single gamma irradiation of 60Co mice at doses of 1.3, 5, 7, 10 Gy at irradiation dose rates of 1 Gr / min. Injection of venom followed by gamma irradiation of 60Co at a dose of D = 1, 3, 5 and 7 Gy at an irradiation dose rate of 1 Gy / min increased the life span of the experimental groups of mice ranging from 45% to 56 % and from 52% to 67%, respectively. An increase in the lifespan of experimental rats exposed to radiation with the preliminary introduction of the venom of the honey bee.

Genetic diversity among queen bee, worker bees and larvae in terms of retrotransposon movements

Objective Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is a model organism, contributing significant effect on global ecology by pollination and examining due to its social behaviour. Methods In this study, barley-specific Sukkula and Nikita retrotransposons were analysed using IRAP (Inter-Retrotransposon Amplification Polymorphism) marker technique, and the relationships between retrotransposon movements and development were also investigated in three different colonies of the Caucasian bee (Apis mellifera caucasica). Furthermore, transposon sequences belonging to Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris, Triticum turgidum and Hordeum vulgare were also examined to figure out evolutionary relationships. Results For this purpose, a queen bee, five worker bees, and five larvae from each colony were studied. Both retrotransposons were found in all samples in three colonies with different polymorphism ratios (0-100% for Nikita and 0-67% for Sukkula). We also determined polymorphisms in queen-worker (0-83% for Nikita, 0-63% for Sukkula), queen-larvae (0-83% for Nikita, 0-43% for Sukkula) and worker-larvae comparisons (0-100% for Nikita, 0-63% for Sukkula) in colonies. Moreover, close relationships among transposons found in plant and insect genomes as a result of in silico evaluations to verify experimental results. Conclusion This work could be one of the first studies to analyse plant-specific retrotransposons’ movements in honeybee genome. Results are expected to understand evolutionary relationships in terms of horizontal transfer of transposons among kingdoms.

Chemical and biological characteristics of propolis from Apis mellifera caucasica from the Ardahan and Erzurum provinces of Turkey: a comparative study

The aim of this study was to compare the biological activities of ethanolic propolis extracts of Apis mellifera caucasica obtained from Ardahan and Erzurum provinces of Turkey. Samples were tested for antioxidant, anticytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, and antifungal potentials using different techniques. Propolis samples from the two provinces had different mineral and organic compositions related to their geographical origin. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test showed superiority of Ardahan propolis over the Erzurum. Regardless of origin and the presence of mitomycin C in the culture medium, propolis enhanced human peripheral lymphocyte viability, which depended on the duration and propolis concentration. Antiperoxidative activity on MCF-7 breast cancer cells was concentration-dependent. Erzurum propolis showed the highest anticarcinogenic activity at the concentrations of 62.5 µg/mL and 125 µg/ mL, which dropped at higher concentrations. All propolis samples also showed antibacterial activity against the tested human pathogens similar to ampicillin and penicillin controls, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, they did not exert any antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Yarrowia lipolytica. In conclusion, propolis samples from both provinces showed promising biological activities, but further research should focus on finding the right concentrations for optimal effect and include the cell necrosis pathway to get a better idea of the anticarcinogenic effects.

The Effects of Wintering in Different Climatic Regions of Turkey on Some Physiological Characteristic of Caucasian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera caucasica) Colonies

This study was conducted in two locations have different altitudes in the cities which have different climates as Ankara, Ordu, Erzurum, Mersin. The purpose of this work was to define some physiological properties of the bees such as the survivability of colony, wintering ability, usage of stoked honey and to discuss all these data. This study lasted two years and the second year was the continuation of the first year. At the beginning of the year, colonies which has the same genotype were equalized as number of combs covered with bees, stocked honey and brood areas and so on. According to the data analysis, it was obtained that the quantity of the stocked honey was not statistically significant by the region×altitude×year interaction. However, year×region and region×altitude interactions were statistically significant. Similarly, it was obtained that the wintering ability was not statistically significant by the region×altitude×year interaction. The only year×region interaction was statistically significant. Also, descriptive statistics obtained for the survivability of the colonies (%) during the first and second year was added statistically to this application. As a result, this work showed that migratory beekeepers could reevaluate the regions which have the microclimate properties in Aegean, Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. And new research should be made by adding different species of honeybees for the performance of overwintering in different climates.

Dataset of wing venation measurements for Apis mellifera caucasica, A. mellifera carnica and A. mellifera mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), their hybrids and backcrosses

Wing venation is used as a tool in honeybee (Apis mellifera L., 1758) subspecies identification. The presented dataset concerns nineteen landmarks located at honeybee worker's forewing vein junctions. Landmarks of Apis mellifera caucasica Pollmann, 1889, A. mellifera carnica Pollmann, 1879 and A. mellifera mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, their hybrids and backcrosses were measured. In total, data from 9590 wings were collected. The dataset could be used in geometric morphometric analysis, studies of degree of inheritance of morphological features and, after further development and supplementation with other local subspecies and hybrids, can contribute to in-depth evolutionary research on honeybees. Baseline dataset for wing venation of hybrids and backcrosses of A. mellifera carnica, A. mellifera caucasica and A. mellifera mellifera.

PSVI-19 Medical nutrition as a factor in increasing the adaptive potential of the honeybee

In the implementation of all modern methods of keeping honey bees and caring for them, physiologically sound medical nutrition using adaptogens and biostimulants of various nature is of crucial importance. The object of the study was the clinically healthy families of two honeybee races: Apis mellifera carpatica and Apis mellifera caucasica. Experimental and control groups were formed on the principle of pairs of analogues. Bee colonies in the experimental groups of both races received 60% sugar syrup with Monclavit-1 (12 ml / 1 liter), and in the control groups they received syrup without additives. Studies have shown that the use of the drug Monclavit-1 (water-polymer system based on iodine in the form of poly-N-vinylamide-cyclo-sulfoiodide complex, total iodine content of 0.35 mg / 100 cm3) in the composition of the liquid carbohydrate feed contributed to a better supply of milk larvae in the milk during the spring development (table 1), so the amount of milk in cells with 3 day brood in the І and ІІ experimental groups ranged from 7.21 ± 0.12 to 5.32 ± 0.78 mg against from 4.29 ± 0.84 up to 4.17 ± 0.29 mg in І and І control, and in autumn, respectively, from 17.73 ± 0.57 to 15.97 ± 0.19 pro from 11.06 ± 0.81 to 10.12 ± 0.98. What is associated with the adaptive effect on the body of therapeutic nutrition and the correction of microflora in the digestive system of bees with Monclavit-1.With the introduction of the drug Monklavit-1 into the diet of the honeybee during medical nutrition, there is a pronounced upward adaptation expressed by a prolonged effect on the body, which indicates the promise of research in the indicated direction with the study of a set of morphophysiological and biochemical indicators.