Identification of Immune Regulatory Genes in Apis mellifera through Caffeine Treatment

• DOI: 10.3390/insects11080516
• Publication Date: 2020-08-10T13:04:16Z
• Authors: Yun-Heng Lu; Carol-P Wu; Cheng-Kang Tang; Yu-Hsien Lin; Houda Ouns Maaroufi; Yi-Chi Chuang; Yueh-Lung Wu
• Keywords: Deformed wing virus

Plants and pollinators are mutually beneficial: plants provide nectar as a food source in return their pollen is disseminated by such honeybees. Some secrete chemicals to deter herbivores protective measure, among which caffeine, naturally occurring, bitter tasting, pharmacologically active secondary compound. It can be found low concentrations the nectars of some such, when consume nectar, they also take small amounts caffeine. Whilst caffeine has been indicated an antioxidant both mammals insects, effect on insect immunity unclear. In present study, honeybees were treated with expression profiles genes involved immune responses measured evaluate influence immunity. addition, infected deformed wing virus (DWV) study how affects response against pathogens. Our results showed that increase reduce copy numbers, indicating it potential help fight viral infection. The provides valuable insight into mechanism react biotic stress serve positive contributor, thus having application beekeeping.