Immune related genes as markers for monitoring health status of honey bee colonies.

Background: Honey bee population decline threatens the beekeeping sector, agriculture and global biodiversity. Early detection of colony mortality may facilitate rapid interventions to contain and prevent mortality spread. Among others, deformed wing virus (DWV) is capable of inducing colony losses, especially when combined with Varroa destructor mite.

Projection length stimulated by oxytocin is modulated by the inhibition of calcium signaling in U-87MG cells.

Neuropeptide oxytocin contributes to the regulation of glial cell morphology. The precise mechanisms, however, are not yet fully understood. In the present study, we have investigated whether an oxytocin-induced increase of intracellular calcium is required for cell extension in astrocyte-like U-87MG cells.

Downregulation of Oxytocin Receptor Decreases the Length of Projections Stimulated by Retinoic Acid in the U-87MG Cells.

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide widely expressed in the brain. Oxytocin plays a role in both proliferation and differentiation of various cells. Previous studies have suggested that oxytocin could affect the morphology of neuronal cells, therefore the objective of the present study was to test whether (1) oxytocin receptor stimulation/inhibition by specific ligands may change cell morphology and gene expression of selected cytoskeletal proteins (2) oxytocin receptor silencing/knockdown may decrease the length of cell projections (3) oxytocin receptor knockdown may affect human glioblastoma U-87MG cell survival.

Asymptomatic presence of Nosema spp. in Spanish commercial apiaries.

Nosemosis is caused by intracellular parasites (Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae) that infect the midgut epithelial cells in adult honey bees. Recent studies relate N. ceranae to Colony Collapse Disorder and there is some suggestion that Nosema spp.