Serratia marcescens GEI strain was isolated from the gut of the workers of Chinese honey bee Apis cerana and evaluated in the laboratory for the control of Varroa destructor, a parasite of western honey bee A. mellifera. The supernatant and the collected proteins by ammonium sulfate from the bacterial cultures showed a strong miticidal effect on the female mites, with 100% mite mortality in 5days. Heat (100 degrees C for 10min) and proteinase K treatment of the collected proteins destroyed the miticidal activity. The improved miticial activity of this bacterial strain on chitin medium indicated the involvement of chitinases. The expressed chitinases ChiA, ChiB and ChiC1 from S. marcescens GEI by recombinant Escherichia coli showed pathogenicity against the mites in the laboratory. These chitinases were active in a broad pH range (5-9) and the optimum temperatures were between 60 and 75 degrees C. Synergistic effects of ChiA and ChiB on the miticidal activity against V. destructor were observed. The workers of both honey bee species were not sensitive to the spraying and feeding chitinases. These results provided alternative control strategies for Varroa mites, by formulating chitinase agents and by constructing transgenetic honey bees.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2010.02.002 | DOI Listing |
Mol Ecol
December 2024
GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
Honeybees, Apis mellifera, have experienced the full impacts of globalisation, including the recent invasion by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, now one of the main causes of colony losses worldwide. The strong selection pressure it exerts has led some colonies to develop defence strategies conferring some degree of resistance to the parasite. Assuming these traits are partly heritable, selective breeding of naturally resistant bees could be a sustainable strategy for fighting infestations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcol Lett
January 2025
Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Insects represent most of terrestrial animal biodiversity, and multiple reports suggest that their populations are declining globally due to anthropogenic impacts. Yet, a high proportion of insect species remain undescribed and limited data on their population dynamics hamper insect conservation efforts. This is particularly critical in tropical biodiversity hotspots such as Southeast Asia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNoncoding RNA Res
April 2025
Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, 625003, Tyumen, Russia.
Eusociality, characterized by reproductive division of labor, cooperative brood care, and multi-generational cohabitation, represents a pinnacle of complex social evolution, most notably manifested within the Hymenoptera order including bees, ants, and wasps. The molecular underpinnings underlying these sophisticated social structures remain an enigma, with noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) emerging as crucial regulatory players. This article delves into the roles of ncRNAs in exerting epigenetic control during the development and maintenance of Hymenopteran eusociality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Parasitol
December 2024
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada T0H 0C0. Electronic address:
Nosema ceranae and Lotmaria passim are two commonly encountered digestive tract parasites of the adult honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). Although these parasites are associated with colony losses, little is known about how they affect individual bee physiology and behaviour at the colony level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Aging
December 2024
Integrative Research Institute, Sacramento, CA, United States.
Background And Objectives: Aging clocks are computational models designed to measure biological age and aging rate based on age-related markers including epigenetic, proteomic, and immunomic changes, gut and skin microbiota, among others. In this narrative review, we aim to discuss the currently available aging clocks, ranging from epigenetic aging clocks to visual skin aging clocks.
Methods: We performed a literature search on PubMed/MEDLINE databases with keywords including: "aging clock," "aging," "biological age," "chronological age," "epigenetic," "proteomic," "microbiome," "telomere," "metabolic," "inflammation," "glycomic," "lifestyle," "nutrition," "diet," "exercise," "psychosocial," and "technology.
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