A5075108392- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Technology Assessment and Management
Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory
2016-2025
North Carolina State University
2012-2024
United States Department of Agriculture
2021-2024
Agricultural Research Service
2019-2024
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
2020-2021
University of Pennsylvania
2015
University of Minnesota
2007-2010
Social immunity, which describes how individual behaviors of group members effectively reduce disease and parasite transmission at the colony level, is an emerging field in social insect biology. An understudied, but significant behavioral resistance mechanism honey bees their collection use plant resins. Honey harvest resins with antimicrobial properties from various species bring them back to where they are then mixed varying amounts wax utilized as propolis. Propolis apicultural term for...
Diverse animals have evolved an ability to collect antimicrobial compounds from the environment as a means of reducing infection risk. Honey bees battle extensive assemblage pathogens with both individual and "social" defenses. We determined if collection resins, complex plant secretions diverse properties, acts colony-level immune defense by honey bees. Exposure extracts two sources bee propolis (a mixture resins wax) led significantly lowered expression immune-related genes (hymenoptaecin...
Propolis is one of the most fascinating honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) products. It a plant derived product that bees produce from resins they collect different organs and with which mix beeswax. building material protective agent in hive. also plays an important role social immunity, widely used by humans as ingredient nutraceuticals, over-the-counter preparations cosmetics. Its chemical composition varies geographic location, climatic zone local flora. The understanding diversity propolis...
The constant pressure posed by parasites has caused species throughout the animal kingdom to evolve suites of mechanisms resist infection. Individual barriers and physiological defenses are considered main against in invertebrate species. However, behavioral traits other non-immunological can also effectively reduce parasite transmission infection intensity. In social insects, behaviors that colony-level loads termed "social immunity." One example a defense is resin collection. Honey bees...
Abstract Most pollination in large-scale agriculture is dependent on managed colonies of a single species, the honey bee Apis mellifera . More than 1 million hives are transported to California each year just pollinate almonds and bees trucked across country for various cropping systems. Concerns have been raised about whether such “migratory management” causes undue stress; however date there no longer-term studies rigorously addressing migratory management detrimental health. To address...
Understanding the complexities of social insect immunity, that is, how insects combat pathogens, parasites and pests, is a fundamental question not only has broad applications for understandin...
The ongoing decline of honey bee health worldwide is a serious economic and ecological concern. One major contributor to the are pathogens, including several viruses. However, information limited on biology viruses molecular interactions with their hosts. An experimental protocol test these systems was developed, using injections Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) into pupae reared ex-situ under laboratory conditions. infected developed pronounced but variable patterns disease. Symptoms...
Several costs and benefits arise as a consequence of eusociality group-living. With increasing group size, spread disease among nest-mates poses selective pressure on both individual immunity group-level mechanisms resistance (social immunity). Another factor known to influence colony-level expression is intracolony genetic diversity, which in honeybees ( Apis mellifera ) direct function the number mates queen. Colonies headed by queens with higher mating numbers have less variable...
Honeybees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within hive. One method includes collection chemically complex plant resins combined with wax form propolis, which is deposited throughout Propolis believed play a significant role in reducing disease load colony due its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little known about how propolis may interact bee-associated microbial symbionts, if alters community structure. In this...
Abstract We evaluated the microalga Arthrospira platensis (commonly called spirulina), as a pollen substitute for honey bees. Nutritional analyses indicated that spirulina is rich in essential amino acids and wide variety of functional lipids (i.e., phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols) common pollen. Feeding bioassays were used to compare dry fresh laboratory-grown with bee-collected commercial using sucrose syrup control. Diets fed ad libitum paste newly emerged bees cages...
Abstract The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is the greatest threat to managed honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) colonies globally. Despite significant efforts, novel treatments control mite and its vectored pathogens have shown limited efficacy, as host remains naïve. A prospective solution lies in development of -resistant stocks, but a paucity rigorous selection data restricts widespread adoption. Here, we characterise parasite viral dynamics stock, designated ‘Pol-line’, using large-scale...
Abstract Declines in managed honey bee populations are multifactorial but closely associated with reduced virus immunocompetence and thus, mechanisms to enhance immune function likely reduce viral infection rates increase colony viability. However, gaps knowledge regarding physiological or ‘druggable’ target sites has prevented therapeutics development infection. Our data bridge this gap by identifying ATP-sensitive inward rectifier potassium (K ATP ) channels as a pharmacologically...
Abstract Background The population genetics of U.S. honey bee stocks remain poorly characterized despite the agricultural importance Apis mellifera as major crop pollinator. Commercial and research-based breeding programs have made significant improvements favorable genetic traits (e.g. production disease resistance). variety bees produced by artificial selection provides an opportunity to characterize diversity regions genome undergoing in commonly managed stocks. Results Pooled sequencing...
Transgenerational immune priming is the process of increased resistance to infection in offspring due parental pathogen exposure. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) are hosts multiple pathogens, and this complex function could help protect against overwhelming infection. have demonstrated transgenerational for bacterial Paenibacillus larvae; however, evidence viral lacking across insects general. Here we test presence honey with Deformed wing virus (DWV) by injecting pupae...
Abstract Managed bees are important agricultural pollinators threatened by declines linked to multi-host RNA viruses. Here, we developed a novel antiviral platform for using the edible photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973. Cyanobacterial biomass was engineered induce interference (RNAi) immune responses when fed bees. Treatments targeting deformed wing virus—a notorious pathogen—suppressed viral infection and improved survival in honey This design presents...
Honeybees use a variety of defence mechanisms to reduce disease infection and spread throughout the colony. Many these defences rely on collective action multiple individuals prevent, or eradicate pathogens—often referred as ‘social immunity’. Glucose oxidase (GOX) some antimicrobial peptides (e.g. defensin-1 Def1) are secreted by hypopharyngeal gland adult bees larval food for their antiseptic properties. Because workers secrete compounds protect larvae, they have been used ‘biomarkers’...
The effects of honey bee management, such as intensive migratory beekeeping, are part the ongoing debate concerning causes colony health problems. Even though comparisons disease and pathogen loads among differently managed colonies indicate some effects, direct impact practices on pathogens is poorly understood. To test long- short-term impacts migration immunity, experimental were maintained with or without movement. Individuals that experienced juveniles (e.g., larval pupal development),...