RESUMO
Nosema ceranae is a ubiquitous microsporidian pathogen infecting the midgut of honey bees. The infection causes bee nosemosis, a disease associated with malnutrition, dysentery, and lethargic behavior, and results in considerable economic losses in apiculture. The use of a rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive DNA-based molecular detection method assists in the surveillance and eventual control of this pathogen. To this end, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the single-copy gene encoding the polar tube protein 3 (PTP3) has been developed. Genomic DNA of N. ceranae-infected forager bees sampled from distant geographic regions could be reliably amplified using the established LAMP assay. The N. ceranae-LAMP showed higher sensitivity than a classical reference PCR (98.6 vs 95.7%), when both approaches were applied to the detection of N. ceranae. LAMP detected a ten-fold lower infection rate than the reference PCR (1 pg vs 10 pg genomic DNA, respectively). In addition, we show highly specific and sensitive detection of N. ceranae from spore preparations in a direct LAMP format. No cross-reactions with genomic DNA and/or spores from N. apis, often co-infecting A. mellifera, or from N. bombi, infecting bumble bees, were observed. This low-cost and time-saving molecular detection method can be easily applied in simple laboratory settings, facilitating a rapid detection of N. ceranae in honey bees in epidemiological studies, surveillance and control, as well as evaluation of therapeutic measures against nosemosis.
Assuntos
Abelhas/parasitologia , Proteínas Fúngicas/genética , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular/métodos , Nosema/genética , Técnicas de Amplificação de Ácido Nucleico/métodos , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , DNA Fúngico/genética , Microsporidiose/diagnóstico , Nosema/isolamento & purificação , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Esporos Fúngicos/genéticaRESUMO
Bees are in decline globally as a result of multiple stressors including pests, pathogens and contaminants. The management of bees in enclosures can identify causes of decline under standardized conditions but the logistics of conducting effect studies in typical systems used across several colonies is complex and costly. This study details a practicable, new and economical cage system that effectively houses live honey bee colonies to investigate the impact of physical conditions, biological factors and environmental contaminants on honey bee health. The method has broad application for a range of effect studies concerning honey bee development, physiology, survival and population dynamics because it enables entire colonies, as opposed to individual workers, to be managed well in captivity.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas/métodos , Abelhas , Ciência dos Animais de Laboratório/métodos , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , Ciência dos Animais de Laboratório/economiaRESUMO
Over the past decade in North America and Europe, winter losses of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies have increased dramatically. Scientific consensus attributes these losses to multifactorial causes including altered parasite and pathogen profiles, lack of proper nutrition due to agricultural monocultures, exposure to pesticides, management, and weather. One method to reduce colony loss and increase productivity is through selective breeding of queens to produce disease-, pathogen-, and mite-resistant stock. Historically, the only method for identifying desirable traits in honey bees to improve breeding was through observation of bee behavior. A team of Canadian scientists have recently identified markers in bee antennae that correspond to behavioral traits in bees and can be tested for in a laboratory. These scientists have demonstrated that this marker-assisted selection (MAS) can be used to produce hygienic, pathogen-resistant honey bee colonies. Based on this research, we present a beekeeping case study where a beekeeper's profit function is used to evaluate the economic impact of adopting colonies selected for hygienic behavior using MAS into an apiary. Our results show a net profit gain from an MAS colony of between 2% and 5% when Varroa mites are effectively treated. In the case of ineffective treatment, MAS generates a net profit benefit of between 9% and 96% depending on the Varroa load. When a Varroa mite population has developed some treatment resistance, we show that MAS colonies generate a net profit gain of between 8% and 112% depending on the Varroa load and degree of treatment resistance.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas/economia , Abelhas/genética , Cruzamento , Animais , Antenas de Artrópodes/metabolismo , Cruzamento/economia , Canadá , Marcadores Genéticos , Seleção GenéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bee larvae are considered to be an important reservoir for proteins. However, little attention has been paid to the release of potential bioactive peptides from bee larva proteins. In this study the major protein in bee larvae was hydrolyzed in vitro by gastrointestinal enzymes. The peptide profile of the hydrolysis was characterized by gel filtration chromatography and tricine-SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, the bioactive peptide was isolated and identified by Q-TOF-MS/MS. RESULTS: The major bee larva protein was identified as apalbumin 2 and was more digestible into peptides with molecular weights lower than 3 kDa. The hydrolysate obtained after 3 h of digestion exhibited angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity and was purified sequentially by gel filtration and RP-HPLC. The molecular weights of peptide fractions with ACE-inhibitory activity were distributed between 0.5 and 1.5 kDa. A novel peptide with highest ACE-inhibitory activity (IC50 54.9 µmol L(-1) ) was purified by further RP-HPLC. The amino acid sequence of this peptide was identified as LLKPY (632.40 Da). CONCLUSION: ACE-inhibitory peptides could be formed from bee larvae through gastrointestinal digestion. The most active peptide (LLKPY) is potentially useful as a therapeutic agent in treating hypertension.
Assuntos
Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/isolamento & purificação , Digestão , Descoberta de Drogas , Proteínas de Insetos/isolamento & purificação , Modelos Biológicos , Oligopeptídeos/isolamento & purificação , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/isolamento & purificação , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/química , Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/metabolismo , Inibidores da Enzima Conversora de Angiotensina/farmacologia , Animais , Anti-Hipertensivos/química , Anti-Hipertensivos/isolamento & purificação , Anti-Hipertensivos/metabolismo , Anti-Hipertensivos/farmacologia , Criação de Abelhas/economia , Abelhas/química , China , Quimotripsina/metabolismo , Proteínas de Insetos/química , Proteínas de Insetos/economia , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Proteínas de Insetos/farmacologia , Larva/química , Peso Molecular , Oligopeptídeos/química , Oligopeptídeos/metabolismo , Oligopeptídeos/farmacologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/farmacologia , Hidrolisados de Proteína/química , Hidrolisados de Proteína/economia , Hidrolisados de Proteína/metabolismo , Hidrolisados de Proteína/farmacologia , Proteólise , Tripsina/metabolismo , Resíduos/análise , Resíduos/economiaRESUMO
A melissopalynological analysis of fifty-one natural honey samples (twenty four spring, fifteen summer and twelve winter) collected during 2010-2011 from two east-coastal districts (20(0)20/ to 22(0)11/ N, 82(0)39/ to 87(0)01/ E) of Orissa, India was performed. Out of 37 unifloral samples found 25 were contributed by Apis cerana indica, seven by A. dorsata and the remaining five by A. florea. Out of 14 multifloral samples five were contributed by A. cerana indica, five by A. dorsata and the remaining four by A. florea. Principal component analysis confirmed the palynological classification of the unifloral honey samples. Eighty-two bee-plant taxa belonging to forty four families were recovered. The predominant nectariferous taxa of the spring season were Acanthus ilicifolius, Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Cocos nucifera, Eucalyptus globulus, Phoenix paludosa, Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Sonneratia apetala and Syzygium cumini. In the summer the predominant nectariferous taxa were Borassus flabellifer, C. nucifera, E. globulus, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, Aegiceras corniculatum, P. paludosa and Sonneratia apetala while those of the winter were Brassica nigra, Coriandrum sativum, Zizyphus jujuba, Alstonia scholaris, E. globulus and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Very low (<0.09) HDE/P for 98% of the samples and absence of toxic palynotaxa assure that these honeys are suitable for human consumption. Quite extended honey flow period with spring and summer as best forage seasons for the honeybees and occurrence of 82% of these honeys with APC Group II, III and IV justify the sustainability of the present study area for establishing moderate to large-scale apicultural entrepreneurship. This should improve the socio-economic status of the people of this region.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas/métodos , Abelhas/fisiologia , Empreendedorismo/estatística & dados numéricos , Mel/análise , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , Abelhas/classificação , Contagem de Células , Empreendedorismo/economia , Geografia , Humanos , Índia , Magnoliopsida/classificação , Magnoliopsida/citologia , Pólen/citologia , Análise de Componente Principal , Estações do Ano , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Using precise pollen species determination by conventional microscopic methods, accompanied by molecular genetic markers, we found bees collect GMO (genetically modified) soybean pollen and incorporate it in Yucatan honey. Honey comb samples from Las Flores, Campeche, Mexico, often contained soybean pollen. Pollen in honey was analyzed in nine samples; six contained substantial soy pollen and two tested positive for soybean GMO. Our analyses confirm field observations that honey bees, Apis mellifera, gather soybean pollen and nectar. The resultant risk for honey production in the Yucatán Peninsula and Mexico is evident in wholesale price reduction of 12% when GMO products are detected and honey consignments are rejected. Although this affects only 1% of current export honey (2011-2013) GMO soybean is an unacknowledged threat to apiculture and its economics in one of the world's foremost honey producing areas.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas/economia , Glycine max/genética , Mel , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas , Pólen/genética , Animais , Abelhas , União Europeia , Rotulagem de Alimentos/legislação & jurisprudência , Rotulagem de Alimentos/normas , Alimentos Orgânicos/economia , Alimentos Orgânicos/normas , Marcadores Genéticos , MéxicoAssuntos
Criação de Abelhas/história , Abelhas/microbiologia , Abelhas/fisiologia , Colapso da Colônia , Mel/história , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , História do Século XIX , História do Século XX , História do Século XXI , Mel/economia , Mel/estatística & dados numéricos , Mel/provisão & distribuição , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Nosemosis caused by the microsporidia Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are among the most common pathologies affecting adult honey bees. N. apis infection has been associated with a reduced lifespan of infected bees and increased winter mortality, and its negative impact on colony strength and productivity has been described in several studies. By contrast, when the effects of nosemosis type C, caused by N. ceranae infection, have been analysed at the colony level, these studies have largely focused on collapse as a response to infection without addressing the potential sub-clinical effects on colony strength and productivity. Given the spread and prevalence of N. ceranae worldwide, we set out here to characterize the sub-clinical and clinical signs of N. ceranae infection on colony strength and productivity. We evaluated the evolution of 50 honey bee colonies naturally infected by Nosema (mainly N. ceranae) over a one year period. Under our experimental conditions, N. ceranae infection was highly pathogenic for honey bee colonies, producing significant reductions in colony size, brood rearing and honey production. These deleterious effects at the colony level may affect beekeeping profitability and have serious consequences on pollination. Further research is necessary to identify possible treatments or beekeeping techniques that will limit the rapid spread of this dangerous emerging disease.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas , Abelhas/microbiologia , Nosema/fisiologia , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , Mel/análise , Estações do Ano , EspanhaRESUMO
Here, we present a farm-level, Canada-wide analysis of Canadian bee farms in 2006; this article is the first report to distinguish between honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) farms and non-Apis bee (Hymenoptera) farms. Farms are characterized according to bee species, bee stocks, and whether the farm makes 50% or more of gross sales from bee-related activities. Farm characteristics, including bee stocks, gross sales, capital investments, land base, specialization, location, and operator demographics, are reported for the different farm types and sizes. Non-Apis bee farms are revealed to be a nontrivial part of the Canadian bee industry: 21.2% of Canadian bee farms have non-Apis bees and 16.6% have exclusively non-Apis bees. Important differences between honey bee farms and non-Apis bee farms also are found. These differences include the more land-intensive nature of non-Apis bee farms and the finding that non-Apis bee farms have greater diversity in terms of their primary commodity, even at higher bee stock levels.
Assuntos
Criação de Abelhas/estatística & dados numéricos , Abelhas , Animais , Criação de Abelhas/economia , CanadáRESUMO
We evaluated a year-long treatment regime testing synthetic, 10-component, honey bee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), brood pheromone (SuperBoost; Contech Enterprises Inc., Delta, BC, Canada) on the productivity and vigor of package bee colonies in the lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Fifty-eight newlyestablished 1.3-kg (3-lb) colonies treated three times with SuperBoost at 5-wk intervals starting 30 April 2009 were compared with 52 untreated control colonies. Treated colonies produced 84.3% more honey than untreated control colonies. By 8 September 2009, SuperBoost-treated colonies had 35.4% more adults than untreated colonies. By 28 September, net survival of treated and control colonies was 72.4 and 67.3%, respectively. On 5 October, treated and control colonies were divided into two additional groups, making up four cohorts: SuperBoost-treated colonies treated again during fall and spring build-up feeding with pollen substitute diet (BeePro, Mann Lake Ltd., Hackensack, MN; TIT); controls that remained untreated throughout the year (CCC); colonies treated with SuperBoost in spring-summer 2009 but not treated thereafter (TCC); and original control colonies treated with SuperBoost during the fall and spring build-up feeding periods (CTT). There was no difference among cohorts in consumption of BeePro during fall feeding, but TTT colonies (including daughter colonies split off from parent colonies) consumed 50.8% more diet than CCC colonies during spring build-up feeding. By 21 April, the normalized percentages of the original number of colonies remaining (dead colonies partially offset by splits) were as follows: CCC, 31.4%; CTT, 43.8%; TCC, 53.59%; and TTT, 80.0%. The net benefit of placing 100 newly established package bee colonies on a year-long six-treatment regime with SuperBoost would be US$6,202 (US$62.02 per colony). We conclude that treatment with SuperBoost enhanced the productivity and survival of package bee colonies and hypothesize that similar results could be achieved with established colonies.