Article
Entomology
Hongwei Tan, Muhammad Naeem, Hussain Ali, Muhammad Shakeel, Haiou Kuang, Ze Zhang, Cheng Sun
Summary: In Pakistan, Apis cerana, the Asian honeybee, is utilized for honey production and pollination services. Through whole genome sequencing of A. cerana samples collected from its main rearing region in Pakistan, a remarkably complete genome sequence containing 11,864 protein-coding genes was obtained. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between A. cerana in Pakistan and those in China, suggesting possible human introduction of the species between the two countries. These findings will aid in genetic improvement and conservation efforts for A. cerana in Pakistan.
Article
Entomology
Qi Long, Ming-Hui Sun, Xiao-Xue Fan, Zong-Bing Cai, Kai-Yao Zhang, Si-Yi Wang, Jia-Xin Zhang, Xiao-Yu Gu, Yu-Xuan Song, Da-Fu Chen, Zhong-Min Fu, Rui Guo, Qing-Sheng Niu
Summary: This study provides a systematic characterization of piRNAs in the larval guts of Apis cerana cerana, revealing their role in gut development. A total of 621 piRNAs were identified, with similar characteristics to piRNAs in other insects and mammals. Differentially expressed piRNAs were found to target mRNAs involved in important pathways related to growth and development. These findings offer new insights into the regulatory mechanism of gut development in A. cerana.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Dong, Minjie Huang, Haikun Guo, Jiawen Zhang, Xiaodong Tan, Deqian Wang
Summary: There is a need for a safety assessment of honeybees exposed to multiple commonly used fungicides. This study tested the acute oral toxicity of a ternary mixed fungicide on honeybees and evaluated its sublethal effect. The results showed negative effects on the health of foragers, indicating the potential harm of fungicide exposure on non-target pollinators.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yancan Li, Jun Yao, Huiling Sang, Quangui Wang, Long Su, Xiaomeng Zhao, Zhenyu Xia, Feiran Wang, Kai Wang, Delong Lou, Guizhi Wang, Robert M. Waterhouse, Huihua Wang, Shudong Luo, Cheng Sun
Summary: In this study, a pan-genome approach was applied to map and explore genetic variations in populations of the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana). The research found that 31.32% of genes in the pan-genome were variable across populations, providing a broad gene pool for environmental adaptation. Structural variations were found to be closely associated with transposable elements, rather than single nucleotide polymorphisms. Additionally, a novel ecological group of A. cerana was identified using structural variations. The study also identified 44 structural variations likely to be associated with environmental adaptation. One of these structural variations, a deletion in the Atpalpha gene, was found to promote cold adaptation by altering gene expression.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Shi, Yi Guo, Yan-Yan Wu, Ping-Li Dai, Shao-Jun Dai, Qing-Yun Diao, Jing Gao
Summary: This study aimed to determine the acute and chronic toxic effects of thiacloprid on behavioral and physiological performance, as well as the genome-wide transcriptome in A. cerana. The results showed that thiacloprid significantly impaired the learning and memory abilities of A. cerana, but had no effects on sucrose responsiveness and phototaxis climbing ability. Short-term exposure increased the activities of detoxification enzymes, while prolonged exposure suppressed CarE activity. The transcriptomic profiles revealed consistent upregulation of immune- and stress-related genes in response to thiacloprid stress.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Xiaoxue Fan, Wende Zhang, Sijia Guo, Leran Zhu, Yiqiong Zhang, Haodong Zhao, Xuze Gao, Haibin Jiang, Tianze Zhang, Dafu Chen, Rui Guo, Qingsheng Niu
Summary: This study investigated the role of miRNAs in the developmental process of Asian honey bee guts. Through transcriptome-wide identification and analysis, differentially expressed miRNAs were found to target genes associated with growth and development. The results highlight the importance of miRNAs in gene regulation and their involvement in various life activities.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiri Kubasek, Karolina Svobodova, Frantisek Puta, Alena Bruce Krejci
Summary: Some bee species use wax to build their nests, and the developing brood can breathe and develop properly through microscopic pores in the wax, while honey cappings are nearly impermeable to protect honey from fermenting.
Article
Virology
Liping Sun, Xueqi Zhang, Shufa Xu, Chunsheng Hou, Jin Xu, Dongxiang Zhao, Yanping Chen
Summary: The study demonstrated the antiviral activity of Radix isatidis extract against Chinese Sacbrood virus (CSBV) infection in honey bees. The extract inhibited CSBV replication, alleviated impacts on larval growth and development, reduced mortality in infected larvae, and modulated immune gene expression in infected bees. This provides a potential strategy for controlling SBV infection.
Article
Microbiology
Lucsame Gruneck, Eleni Gentekaki, Kitiphong Khongphinitbunjong, Siam Popluechai
Summary: This study compared gut bacterial profiles of Asian honey bees and European honey bees, finding significant differences in gut bacterial communities between the two species. Bacteroides was more abundant in Asian honey bees, while Proteobacteria was higher in European honey bees. Different tasks performed by bees (nurse bees and foragers) were associated with specific gut bacterial species.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kaiyao Zhang, Zhongmin Fu, Xiaoxue Fan, Zixin Wang, Siyi Wang, Sijia Guo, Xuze Gao, Haodong Zhao, Xin Jing, Peiyuan Zou, Qiming Li, Mengjun Chen, Dafu Chen, Rui Guo
Summary: Ascosphaera apis exclusively infects bee larvae, causing chalkbrood disease and reducing adult bees and colony productivity. This study found that A. apis infestation significantly decreases the activities of antioxidant enzymes in bee larvae and negatively affects their survival rate.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Zhiwei Zhu, Jie Wang, Xiaoxue Fan, Qi Long, Huazhi Chen, Yaping Ye, Kaiyao Zhang, Zhongmin Ren, Yang Zhang, Qingsheng Niu, Dafu Chen, Rui Guo
Summary: This study identified the impact of Nosema ceranae infection on the expression pattern of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in Asian honey bees and their role in regulating host immune response to microsporidian infection. The findings provide a foundation for understanding the mechanisms underlying the host immune response to N. ceranae infection and shed light on the interaction between Asian honey bees and microsporidian.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Patcharin Phokasem, Wang Liuhao, Poonnawat Panjad, Tang Yujie, Jilian Li, Panuwan Chantawannakul
Summary: The health of honeybee drones has an impact on the fitness of offspring and the survivability of the colony. This study identified common honeybee viruses in different tissues of drones and found differences in virus prevalence between Apis mellifera and Apis cerana, with some viruses only detected in specific species.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Shunsuke Takashima, Yuma Ohari, Tadashi Itagaki
Summary: The study investigated the prevalence of Nosema microsporidia infections in honeybees in the Tohoku region of Japan, finding Nosema ceranae and an unidentified species of Nosema. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the unidentified Nosema species is closely related to N. thomsoni and N. pieriae, which have not been previously detected in honeybees. Further analysis of spore morphology is needed for species identification in the Nosema sp.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Yong-Chao Su, Yi-Fan Chiu, Natapot Warrit, Gard W. Otis, Deborah Roan Smith
Summary: We conducted a study on the phylogenetic relationships of Asian cavity-nesting honeybees, focusing on identifying potential unrecognized species within the widely distributed Apis cerana. Our analysis utilized genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and involved the largest sample size and geographic coverage of Asian cavity-nesting honeybees to date. Through various analytical methods, we identified four species within A. cerana: the yellow plains honeybee found in India and Sri Lanka, the Philippine island lineage, the Sundaland lineage in Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of southeast Asia, and a Mainland lineage provisionally classified as A. cerana in a narrow sense.
INSECT SYSTEMATICS AND DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Khalid Ali Khan
Summary: The study analyzed mitochondrial gene sequences of Asian and European honey bee species from Pakistan, revealing differences in genetic diversity levels and variations between the COI and ND5 genes among different species. The ND5 gene segment showed potential in studying interactions among bee species.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
