Nuclear and mitochondrial markers: molecular characterization of Africanized Apis mellifera queens as royal jelly producers Ana Paula Nunes Zago Oliveira, Simone Aparecida dos Santos, Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de Toledo, Claudete Aparecida Mangolim, Leonardo de Oliveira Lopes, et al. Journal of Apicultural Research, 2023 Apis mellifera scutellata was introduced in Brazil in 1956. This subspecies originated from Africanized polyhybrid honey bees (A. mellifera), and quickly spread due to its high adaptability, reproductive behavior, foraging ability, and defensiveness. Good management practices have been developed that allow for good beekeeping performance of this introduced subspecies in Brazil. The selection of queens that produce royal jelly has made it possible to identify molecular markers to select the best matrices for the development of bee breeding programs to increase royal jelly production. We evaluated the ability of different major royal jelly protein-3 (mrjp3) microsatellite markers to verify the polymorphism of selected royal jelly-producing queens, as well as the mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of these queens to identify their African or European origin. We verified the maternal origins of the honey bee workers in eight colony matrices of Africanized A. mellifera belonging to a breeding program of FEI, UEM aimed at producing royal jelly. Analyses were performed for the identification of microsatellite mrjp3 markers in the nuclear DNA, and restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) was used to search for markers in the mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA). Six alleles were found for the mrjp3 locus, and it was possible to use these to infer the genotypes of queens from seven colonies. Throughout the selection period, the main alleles (C, D, and E) remained present in the genomes of queens producing royal jelly. Queens selected for royal jelly production contained a predominance of African mtDNA. Microsatellite markers and mtDNA can be used in bee breeding programs to ensure the genetic origin of the queens used and verify the efficiency of Africanized A. mellifera bee breeding programs.
Toxicological evaluation of different pesticides in Tetragonisca angustula Latreille (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Ana Lúcia Paz Barateiro Stuchi, Daiani Rodrigues Moreira, Adriana Aparecida Sinópolis-Gigliolli, Douglas Galhardo, José Ricardo Penteado Falco, et al. Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences, 2023 The stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula is an important pollinator of different agricultural and native crops. This study evaluated changes in the relative activity of esterases and critical electrolyte concentration in brain cells after exposure to pesticides malathion and thiamethoxam. Lethal concentration 50% showed greater toxicity of thiamethoxam in relation to malathion. Esterases EST-3 and EST-4 (carboxylesterase) were partially inhibited after contamination by contact and ingestion of malathion and contamination by contact with thiamethoxam, suggesting participation of these esterases in the metabolization of these compounds. The lowest critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) was found after contamination by malathion ingestion (0.15 M), indicating changes in gene expression. The alterations observed in the intensity of EST-3 and EST-4 and the chromatin structure indicate that pesticides can act in gene expression and be used as biomarkers of contaminant residues. Furthermore, knowing the susceptibility of T. angustula bees to pesticides, it would be possible to use this species for biomonitoring environmental quality in preserved areas and agroecosystems.
Comparative toxicity of fipronil, malathion, and thiamethoxam on the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Schwarz, 1938) Ana Lúcia Paz Barateiro Stuchi, Daiani Rodrigues Moreira, Douglas Galhardo, Simone Aparecida dos Santos, Ludimilla Ronqui, et al. Acta Scientiarum Biological Sciences, 2022 Stingless bees are important pollinators for various plant crops. We investigated the susceptibility of Tetragonisca fiebrigi to sublethal concentrations of insecticides fipronil, malathion, and thiamethoxam (administered through contact and ingestion) by determining the LC50 values after 24 hours of exposure and analyzing changes in the activity of esterase isoenzymes and the chromatin in brain cells. The LC50 values showed that all three insecticides were highly toxic through contact and ingestion. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that the relative EST-4 (carboxylesterase) activity in T. fiebrigi was partially inhibited by malathion and fipronil ingestion. Moreover, the EST-4 band intensity was increased following high-concentration thiamethoxam (contact) exposure, indicating the increased relative activity of this isoenzyme to detoxify the compound. In the cytochemical analysis of brain cells, the critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) points for the control stingless bees and malathion ingestion-exposed and thiamethoxam-exposed (contact and ingestion) stingless bees were in the range of 0.20-0.30 M MgCl2, whereas that for malathion contact-exposed bees was 0.15 M MgCl2, indicating chromatin relaxation and suggesting an increase in gene expression. In conclusion, T. fiebrigi stingless bees are susceptible to the insecticides tested, and the parameters analyzed may be used as biomarkers to detect the presence of these compounds.
Antimicrobial activity, physical-chemical and activity antioxidant of honey samples of apis mellifera from different regions of Paraná, Southern Brazil Angelívia GREGÓRIO, Douglas GALHARDO, Maria Josiane SEREIA, Priscila WIELEWSKI, Lilian GAVAZZONI, et al. Food Science and Technology Brazil, 2021 Honey is an ancient option of food very appreciated by humanity as it is nutritious and easy to be digested. Moreover, it has numerous therapeutic applications, besides being an excellent food supplement (Pasupuleti et al., 2017). The Normative Instruction number 11/2000 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) establishes the requisites of quality and identity of Apis mellifera honey and the acceptance criteria for the sensorial and technical production characteristics (Brasil, 2000).
Optimization of Protein Feed Fermentation Process for Supplementation of Apis Mellifera Honeybees Erica G. Lima, Rejane S. Parpinelli, Pedro R. Santos, Alexandre S. B. Azevedo, Maria J. Sereia, et al. Journal of Apicultural Science, 2020 An alternative to natural food shortage for honeybees is the provision of supplements. The objective of this research was to develop a method with ideal conditions for the fermentation of a protein supplement for honeybees. The microorganisms used were Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and Saccharomyces and the inulin prebiotic. There was an increase in lactic acid and a decrease in pH over a five-day fermentation period. The amount of acid bacteria present was 108–109 CFU/g of supplement. In the first phase the temperature and the humidity had significantly affected the fermentation but the variables inulin and probiotic didn’t. In the second phase, the lower temperatures and higher humidity produced the best effects on the fermentative responses. It was concluded that an ideal environment with temperature, humidity, inulin and probiotics could be created which allowed the fermentation of the protein supplement in five days obtaining final product fermentative characteristics close to bee bread.
Drone production, semen viability and spermatozoa longevity of africanized apis mellifera André Luiz Halak, Pedro da Rosa Santos, Robson Marcelo Rossi, Priscila Wielewski, Gentil Vanini de Moraes, et al. Acta Scientiarum Animal Sciences, 2020 Characteristics correlated with beekeeping production, less influenced by the environment and that can be controlled by management techniques, can help in the selection of colonies with higher production capacity, aiming to improve breeding programs. This research was carried out to evaluate the production of Africanized Apis mellifera drones and the longevity of spermatozoa from different genetic groups when supplemented with protein or not. Two genetic groups were used: one selected for royal jelly production from the Africanized honeybee breeding program and another without genetic selection. In both groups, the number of drone brood and the quality of semen were evaluated every 30 days, for five months. Statistical analysis was performed using Bayesian Inference. Statistical difference was found for the drone production among the treatments, and colonies without genetic selection produced more males (187.80 ± 11.15) than the selected colonies (93.07 ± 8.88). The selected colonies for royal jelly production presented greater efficiency in the reproductive cycle of males, because they produced fewer drones than colonies without genetic selection, however, with 31% greater semen viability.
Evaluation of the Use of the Inhibition Esterases Activity on Apis mellifera as Bioindicators of Insecticide Thiamethoxam Pesticide Residues Sociobiology, 2003
Plants and pollinating bees in Maringá, State of Paraná, Brazil Vagner de Alencar Arnaut de Toledo, Adriano Ernesto de Toledo Fritzen, Carolina Antunes Neves, Maria Claudia Colla Ruvolo-Takasusuki, Silvia Helena Sofia, et al. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 2003
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