Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aleksandra Patenkovic, Marija Tanaskovic, Pavle Eric, Katarina Eric, Milica Mihajlovic, Ljubisa Stanisavljevic, Slobodan Davidovic
Summary: Urbanization impacts the genetic diversity of honey bees, causing high genetic differentiation between feral and managed colonies. Feral honey bees in urban areas have distinct patterns of genetic diversity and can adapt to human-modified environments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuqi Wu, Yufei Zheng, Shuai Wang, Yanping Chen, Junyi Tao, Yanan Chen, Gongwen Chen, Hongxia Zhao, Kai Wang, Kun Dong, Fuliang Hu, Ye Feng, Huoqing Zheng
Summary: The intra-species diversity of gut microbiota in two closely related honey bee species, A. cerana and A. mellifera, shows distinct functional differences in core bacterial species between the hosts. However, the overall functional profiles of the gut microbiomes of the two honey bee species converge, likely due to overlapping ecological niches. This study provides critical insights into the evolution and functional roles of mutualistic microbiota in honey bees.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Shannon Holt, Naomi Cremen, Julia Grassl, Paul Schmid-Hempel, Boris Baer
Summary: The study reveals that honey bee seminal fluid contains antimicrobial molecules that can kill N. apis spores, suggesting a genetically driven interaction between honey bee genotype and different N. apis strains/ecotypes. Chitinases found in honey bee seminal fluid play a crucial role in killing N. apis, with activity varying significantly between genotypes. Host colony has a stronger effect on N. apis infections than seminal fluid treatment, indicating genotypic effects in N. apis-honey bee interactions that could be useful for breeding disease-resistant honey bee stock in the future.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Karoline Wueppenhorst, Jakob H. Eckert, Michael Steinert, Silvio Erler
Summary: The loss of honey bee colonies is attributed to factors such as habitat degradation, parasites, pathogens, and exposure to pesticides. Bee products like honey, wax, and pollen can be contaminated by pesticides, potentially affecting colony health. Understanding pesticide residues in larval food jelly and factors influencing contaminant concentration is important for risk assessment and protecting honey bee brood.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Teweldemedhn Gebretinsae Hailu, Paul D'Alvise, Martin Hasselmann
Summary: The population study of Ethiopian honey bees using morphometric and genetic methods revealed high diversity and differentiation based on size and genetic information according to prevailing agro-ecological conditions. Local adaptation was demonstrated through morphological and molecular signatures. Ethiopian honey bees were found to differ from neighboring populations and showed extensive gene flow within the country, with differentiation increasing slightly with elevation difference. It was suggested that future research in highland agro-ecological zones could contribute to conservation management.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher Mayack, Anthony Macherone, Asal Ghaffari Zaki, Elif Filiztekin, Burcu Ozkazanc, Yasameen Koperly, Sassicaia J. Schick, Elizabeth J. Eppley, Moniher Deb, Nicholas Ambiel, Alexis M. Schafsnitz, Robert L. Broadrup
Summary: The study used biomarkers to predict pesticide exposure and diseases in bees, and identified chemical features and biological pathways through a systems biology approach. Novel external environmental exposures associated with bee diseases and pesticide exposures were found, revealing previously unknown connections to bee health. The exposure-outcome paradigm was highlighted for identifying interactions responsible for honey bee health decline.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katarzyna Bozek, Laetitia Hebert, Yoann Portugal, Greg J. Stephens
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive computational method for tracking an entire colony of honey bees in natural conditions, achieving high accuracy and demonstrating long-term monitoring of sociometric colony fluctuations. The results reveal important phenomena such as 24-hour cycles in bee populations, negative correlations between bees and brood, and increased bee activity inside comb cells at night.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yating Du, Shiqi Luo, Xin Zhou
Summary: This study presents the first complete genome sequence of Enterococcus faecium isolated from honey bee gut, and investigates the interactions between E. faecium and honey bees through transcriptome and miRNA analysis. It was found that colonization of E. faecium increased honey bee gut weight, with up-regulation of developmental genes and enrichment of down-regulated miRNAs in developmental pathways. The study adds insights on how E. faecium affects honey bee gut weight at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, as well as the role of miRNAs in mediating host and bacteria interactions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha R. Shih, Dunay M. Bach, Nicole C. Rondeau, Jessica Sam, Natalie L. Lovinger, Allison J. Lopatkin, Jonathan W. Snow
Summary: Pollination services by honey bees are critical in ecosystems, but increased death rates in bee colonies in recent years stem from complex stressors. Studying specific cellular processes and stress responses impacted by multiple stresses is crucial in understanding these interactions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Entomology
Thomas D. Seeley
Summary: Thomas Seeley's research focuses on collective intelligence and natural lives of honey bees. By studying their behavior and social life, he reveals how a honey bee colony functions as a single decision-making unit in the wild.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Maxime Eeraerts, Emma Rogers, Bob Gillespie, Lincoln Best, Olivia M. Smith, Lisa W. DeVetter
Summary: This study investigated the factors influencing honey bee and wild bee visitation in highbush blueberry fields. The results showed that honey bee visitation was mainly determined by the number of honey bee hives in the surrounding landscape. Semi-natural habitat and blueberry planting area within a radius of 1000 m had different impacts on wild bee visitation. Honey bee visitation had a positive effect on blueberry seed set.
Article
Entomology
Matthieu Guichard, Benoit Droz, Evert W. Brascamp, Adrien von Virag, Markus Neuditschko, Benjamin Dainat
Summary: Selection of honey bee traits related to resistance against Varroa destructor requires easily measurable field traits. Two new evaluation protocols, 'Recapping' and 'Solidness', were introduced to assess potential colony resistance traits. However, both traits showed low repeatability, with 'Recapping' having low heritability and a negative correlation with hygienic behavior. Further research is needed to confirm results due to the small number of evaluated colonies.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Patrick J. Lariviere, Sean P. Leonard, Richard D. Horak, J. Elijah Powell, Jeffrey E. Barrick
Summary: Honey bees are important pollinators and model organisms for studying social behavior, development, and cognition. Researchers have engineered a bee gut bacterium, Snodgrassella alvi, to induce a sustained host RNA interference response that reduces the expression of targeted genes. This method offers a streamlined and scalable approach for studying honey bee biology.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ashley L. St Clair, Ge Zhang, Adam G. Dolezal, Matthew E. O'Neal, Amy L. Toth
Summary: Large scale agricultural production can reduce habitat availability for wild bees and lead to population declines. The presence of managed honey bee colonies may not have an immediate negative impact on wild bees. Instead, wild bees respond strongly to landscape composition, with lower species richness in landscapes dominated by crops. Woodland and grassland habitats have the greatest positive effect on bee richness.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Wenting Su, Weihua Ma, Qi Zhang, Xiao Hu, Guiling Ding, Yusuo Jiang, Jiaxing Huang
Summary: The study demonstrates the significant impact of pear flower volatiles on honey bee foraging choices.
Article
Entomology
Georgi Radoslavov, Peter Hristov, Rositsa Shumkova, Ivan Mitkov, Daniela Sirakova, Maria Bouga
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rositsa Shumkova, Ani Georgieva, Georgi Radoslavov, Daniela Sirakova, Gyulnas Dzhebir, Boyko Neov, Maria Bouga, Peter Hristov
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rositsa Shumkova, Boyko Neov, Daniela Sirakova, Ani Georgieva, Dimitar Gadjev, Denitsa Teofanova, Georgi Radoslavov, Maria Bouga, Peter Hristov
Article
Entomology
Iosif Papanastasiou, Vassiliki Evangelou, Laetitia Papoutsis, Maria Bouga, Nikolaos Emmanouil
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2018)
Editorial Material
Entomology
Maria Bouga, Melanie Parejo
JOURNAL OF APICULTURAL RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vesela Mitkovska, Spas Dzhoglov, Doychin Boyadzhiev, Penka Vasileva, Ivan Stoyanov, Teodora Popova, Teodora Staykova, Evgeniya N. Ivanova
Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess potential relationships between diagnoses for male infertility and the levels of sperm nuclei with damaged DNA. The study found significant correlations between sperm quality parameters, infertility diagnoses, and the level of DNA damage in sperm nuclei.
COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE BULGARE DES SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Vesela Mitkovska, Spas Dzhoglov, Doychin Boyadzhiev, Teodora Staykova, Teodora Popova, Penka Vasileva, Ivan Stoyanov, Evgeniya N. Ivanova
Summary: Male infertility is a serious public health problem with a direct connection to negative demographic trends. This study analyzed the degree of DNA damage in the spermatozoa of men with reproductive problems. The results showed significant relationships between sperm DNA damage and environmental factors, and confirmed the negative impact of certain factors on sperm health.
Article
Zoology
Evgeniya N. Ivanova, Ivan T. Vulchev, Teodora A. Staykova, Miroslav Antov, Teodora P. Popova, Penka L. Vasileva, Ivan E. Stoyanov
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Teodora A. Staykova, Panomir Tzenov, Yolanda B. Vasileva, Nikoleta D. Takova, Evgeniya N. Ivanova, Ivan I. Stoyanov, Penka L. Vasileva, Teodora P. Popova, Miroslav Antov
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2020)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ivan Stoyanov, Penka Vasileva, Teodora Staykova, Veronika Ivanova, Teodora Popova, Evgeniya Ivanova
JOURNAL OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Miroslav Antov, Ivan Stoyanov, Anelia Stojanova, Teodora Staykova
NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Zoology
Ivan Y. Stoyanov, Teodora A. Staykova, Penka L. Vasileva, Evgeniya N. Ivanova
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2017)
Article
Zoology
Vida H. Georgieva, Plamen P. Petrov, Teodora A. Staykova, Svilen Lazarov, Ivan Y. Stoyanov, Evgeniya N. Ivanova
ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA
(2017)