Volume: 3, 2024
3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A002
Published online: 24 April 2024
ICDSUPL, 3, A002 (2024)
Immunity components of honey bees present in scientific research
Maciej S. Bryś1*, Piotr Dziechciarz2, Krzysztof Olszewski2, Aneta Strachecka1
1 Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Doświadczalna 50a, 20-280, Lublin, Poland
2 Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: maciej.brys@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
As a multi-environmental species, a Apis mellifera L. is exposed to many harmful factors such as viruses, fungi, pesticides, medicines used by beekeepers, and an improper diet. All factors directly or indirectly affect the immune system of insects. At the individual level, bees’ first line of defense consists of anatomical barriers (cuticle). The bees’ cuticle is covered with a thin layer of proteins that have protease and protease inhibitor activity. Proteolytic enzymes associated with the intracellular digestion of pathogen proteins are also found in the hemolymph, gastrointestinal tract, bee venom, etc. Bees have serine, cysteine, aspartate, and metal proteases. The activity of these enzymes is associated with protein concentration. Whereas the protein concentration as an individual trait is associated with nutrition status, caste and reflects the organism biochemical transformations potential. Cellular immunity (the second line of defense) is associated with hemocytes, i.e., “bee’s blood” cells responsible for phagocytosis processes. The third line of defense is humoral immunity associated with the production of antimicrobial peptides. Synthesis it starts immediately after 6–12 hours of exposure to the agent. Pathogens, pesticides, and other stressors can stimulate the production of antimicrobial peptides such as apidaecin, abaecin, defensin, and hymenoptacin, which are synthesized in the fat body. Immune proteins are found in lower concentrations in salivary glands and royal jelly. Immune proteins circulate in the hemolymph. Detection of apidaecin isoforms in the hemolymph is possible thanks to ion exchange chromatography with a mass spectrometer. The average content of the apidaecin isoform in bee hemolymph is approximately 13.0 ng/ml. Using qPCR techniques, it is possible to determine the relative amount of apidaecin and abadaecin gene expression. The immunological method used to detect antigen concentrations is Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The test uses the reaction of a chromogenic substrate, which is hydrolyzed to a colored complex and then measured spectrophotometrically. Another polypeptides with fungicidal and antibacterial activity are lysozyme, phenoloxidase, and lectins. Their concentration can be determined in the hemolymph using analytical electrophoresis. Due to the intensity of stress factors affecting the honey bee’s immune system, further research is necessary on the synthesis of immune proteins f.ex. by fat bodies.
Keywords: immune system, antimicrobial peptides, hemolymph, Apis mellifera L.
How to cite
M.S. Bryś, P. Dziechciarz, K. Olszewski, A. Strachecka, 2024. Immunity components of honey bees present in scientific research. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A002