Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Leska, Adriana Nowak, Ireneusz Nowak, Anna Gorczynska
Summary: Over the past two decades, there has been a significant decline in honey bee colonies, known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The main factors contributing to CCD include pesticides and microorganisms, particularly their detrimental effects on bees' nervous and immune systems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michaela Korena Hillayova, Lubomir Koreny, Jaroslav Skvarenina
Summary: Colony collapse disorder is a global problem that affects beekeepers and agriculture. This study found that an increase in temperature and a decrease in humidity can lead to a higher number of Varroa mites falling off honey bees.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Rodrigo Aaron Burciaga, Gloria Ruiz-Guzman, Humberto Lanz-Mendoza, Indrikis Krams, Jorge Contreras-Garduno
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time that honey bees have immune memory, which helps improve their survival rate and immune activity, and has potential applications in combating natural parasites.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yuntao Lu, Wei Hong, Zhenguo Liu, Ying Wang, Hongfang Wang, Wenfeng Chen, Shengping Liu, Yinfa Yan, Baohua Xu
Summary: This study uses Internet of Things technology to monitor the relationship between the orientation flight activities of young bees and colony development. The findings show that the ratio of young bees is closely associated with the trend in colony development, and can be used to predict colony trends and explore factors that trigger abnormal colony losses.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zih-Ting Chang, Yu-Feng Huang, Yue-Wen Chen, Ming-Ren Yen, Po-Ya Hsu, Tzu-Han Chen, Yi-Hsuan Li, Kuo-Ping Chiu, Yu-Shin Nai
Summary: Deformed wing virus (DWV) has a high prevalence in honey bee populations, infecting bees through vertical and horizontal transmission. Infection with DWV in artificially reared honey bee larvae did not cause significant mortality, but survival rates decreased at the pupal stage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to metabolic pathways and stress responses, indicating potential impacts on gene expression levels from larval to pupal stages.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Wei Hong, Bingxue Chen, Yuntao Lu, Chuanqi Lu, Shengping Liu
Summary: Frequent outbreaks of bee colony collapse in recent years have posed a serious threat to food production and ecological balance. Scholars have found that multiple factors contribute to the collapse, but understanding the impact of these factors on bee colony development remains a challenge. This study models the macroscopic dynamics of bee colonies and examines the effects of multiple factors on key states such as food stocks and bee populations. The findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding and diagnosing the health of bee colonies.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Kathy Baylis, Elinor M. Lichtenberg, Erik Lichtenberg
Summary: Many food crops depend on animal pollination. Recently, pollination services are mainly provided through organized markets by renting honey bees. Commercially provided pollination services face challenges, but economic analyses suggest that honey bee rental markets have been able to adapt so far. The future sustainability of rental markets requires more understanding of the contributions of wild pollinators and the value of pollination services from wild and managed organisms.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF RESOURCE ECONOMICS, VOL 13
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Evan C. Palmer-Young, Rosemary Malfi, Yujun Zhou, Bryanna Joyce, Hannah Whitehead, Jennifer Van Wyk, Kathy Baylis, Kyle Grubbs, Dawn L. Boncristiani, Jay D. Evans, Rebecca E. Irwin, Lynn S. Adler
Summary: Landscapes can play a role in parasite control in wild and agricultural animals. Honey bees are threatened by parasites and the viruses they carry, and current control methods often harm bees. This study found that landscapes with sunflower crops and pollen supplementation can reduce Varroa mite infestation in honey bees. This suggests the potential for using sunflower plantings or pollen supplements to counteract honey bee losses globally.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Julia Ebeling, Anne Fuenfhaus, Elke Genersch
Summary: Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood, a serious honey bee brood disease. The species has five ERIC-genotypes with differences in virulence. Several virulence factors, including ADP-ribosylating toxins Plx1, Plx2, and C3larvin, have been identified, providing insights into the molecular basis of pathogen-host interactions during P. larvae infections.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Shuang Gao, Wei-Feng Chen, Hong-Fei Ling, Li-Qiang Sun, Quan Ren, Guo-Ai Xie, Kai-Xing Wang, Rong-Song Tian
Summary: In this study, an A-type granite (Yingongshan granite) dated at 150 Ma was discovered in the Late Jurassic period in the western part of the northern margin of the North China Craton. The geochemical characteristics suggest that the Yingongshan granite originated from partial melting of preexisting calc-alkaline granitoids in the crust under the influence of magma intrusion from the enriched lithospheric mantle. This discovery indicates local extension occurred as early as 150 Ma in the western North China Craton.
News Item
Medicine, General & Internal
Jennifer Abbasi
Summary: The article discusses EG.5, an Omicron descendant that may soon become the dominant variant globally.
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Minhyeok Kwon, Chuleui Jung, Eui-Joon Kil
Summary: In this study, virome analysis was conducted on honey bees in Korea to investigate the viral diversity after the massive winter losses in 2021. The analysis revealed the presence of previously reported viruses such as black queen cell virus, deformed wing virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus, and sacbrood virus. Additionally, several new viruses including Apis rhabdovirus 5, bee macula-like virus, Varroa orthomyxovirus-1, and Hubei partiti-like virus 34 were discovered, along with plant viral sequences resembling Arabidopsis latent virus 1. This study provides valuable insights into the diversity of honey bee viruses in Korea.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Evan C. Palmer-Young, Lindsey M. Markowitz, Kyle Grubbs, Yi Zhang, Miguel Corona, Ryan Schwarz, Yanping Chen, Jay D. Evans
Summary: Trypanosomatid gut parasites are common and costly for social bees. The potential of antimicrobial plant compounds as a treatment for honey bees infected with a widespread intestinal parasite has been explored. Several floral volatiles were found to inhibit the growth of the parasite in vitro, but they also have negative effects on bee survival.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2022)
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
Biology
David C. Elzinga, W. Christopher Strickland
Summary: Hive-forming bees are important for agricultural sustainability and ecosystem preservation. The recent decline in bee populations, especially honeybees in the United States, has prompted the need to understand the causes. This study integrates and enhances previous mathematical models to create a new model that explores the effects of stressors on bees. It highlights the importance of stressor characteristics and timing in causing colony collapse disorder.
BULLETIN OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)