Comparison of transcriptional changes of immune genes to experimental challenge in the honey bee (Apis mellifera)
- 1 January 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Apicultural Research
- Vol. 51 (4) , 320-328
Abstract
SummaryHoney bee colony losses of the last decade have been alarming. Besides the most critical factors, such as parasites and pathogens, losses have been claimed to be linked to immunodeficiency. For the evaluation of this suggestion powerful immunological tests are required. The aim of this study was to obtain further data to characterize common markers of immunity with respect to their experimental practicability. Honey bees were challenged by mechanical and pathogen-like stressors. These were wounding and the injection of buffers and acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), lipopolysaccharides, lipoteichoic acid, Paenibacillus larvae suspensions and petidoglycan. All experiments were conducted with bees in hoarding cages at a laboratory scale. Immune reactions were quantified by inhibition zone assays and by expression analysis of the genes coding for abaecin, apidaecin, defensin1, hymenoptaecin, hopscotch, Toll and prophenoloxidase. Wounding and injections led to significant immune responses, but the additi... ResumenLa pérdida de colonias de abejas melíferas en la última década ha sido alarmante. Además de los factores más críticos, como parásitos y agentes patógenos, las pérdidas se han relacionado también con la inmunodeficiencia. Para evaluar esta posibilidad se requieren pruebas inmunológicas potentes. El objetivo de este estudio fue el de obtener datos adicionales que permitieran caracterizar marcadores comunes de inmunidad en relación a su viabilidad experimental. Las abejas fueron sometidas a agentes estresantes mecánicos y a patógenos. Éstos fueron las heridas e inyecciones de tampones y del virus de la parálisis aguda de la abeja (ABPV), lipopolisacáridos, ácido lipoteicoico, suspensiones de Paenibacillus larvae y petidoglicanos. Todos los experimentos se llevaron a cabo con las abejas en cajas de almacenamiento a escala de laboratorio. Las reacciones inmunitarias se cuantificaron mediante ensayos de zonas de inhibición y mediante análisis de expresión de los genes que codifican para abaecina, apidaec...Keywords
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