Science updates: Dietary supplementation & honey bee larvae after trauma

 

Science updates:

Dietary supplementation & honey bee larvae after trauma

 


The study investigates the impact of dietary supplementation with L-Arginine and Abscisic Acid (ABA) on the immune response of honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae, particularly focusing on nitric oxide (NO) production and granulocyte immune activation following traumatic events such as wounding or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection.

 


The introduction highlights the importance of honey bees in ecosystems and agriculture, and the concern over their annual losses due to various biotic and abiotic stressors. These stressors can lead to immunosuppression, contributing to colony losses. The study aims to enhance bees' fitness by understanding their immune system, particularly the cellular components.

 


Honey bees have innate immune defenses, including physical and chemical barriers, and cellular and humoral responses as a second line of defense. NO, a multifunctional free radical, plays a significant role in insect immune defense against infections. ABA, a phytohormone found in nectar and honey, has been shown to stimulate immune defenses in animals.

 


The researchers conducted in vitro experiments with honey bee larvae, feeding them diets supplemented with L-Arginine or ABA. The larvae were then subjected to wounding or LPS injection, and the hemolymph was analyzed for immune activation and NO production.

 


Results indicated that both L-Arginine and ABA supplementation enhanced granulocyte spreading and NO production in response to wounding and LPS injection. This suggests that these supplements could systemically enhance the immune response of honey bees.

 


The discussion emphasizes the potential of ABA and NO as key molecules for improving individual immune defenses in honey bees. The study concludes that dietary supplementation with L-Arginine and ABA could be a promising strategy for beekeepers to enhance colony fitness and resilience to environmental stressors.

 


Reference:

Negri, P., Ramirez, L., Quintana, S., Szawarski, N., Maggi, M., Le Conte, Y., ... & Eguaras, M. (2017). Dietary supplementation of honey bee larvae with arginine and abscisic acid enhances nitric oxide and granulocyte immune responses after trauma. Insects, 8(3), 85.

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