38 : From the Lab THE LATEST IN BEE RESEARCH From the Lab New Light on Nosema ceranae
Dr Aneta Ptaszyńska and colleagues from the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, have used scanning electron microscopy to show that Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae spores have different cell walls, the latter being characteristically sculpted. The midgut of infected bees is covered with a layer of spores which could cause malnutrition and higher mortality of foragers. Over three years, Dr Predrag Simeunovic and colleagues from the University of Belgrade, Serbia, showed that as queens age, colony productivity declines. Interestingly, in their third year, the capacity of the queens to lay eggs rose. This may be an influence of nosema infection which was greatest in the oldest queens tested and could be a compensation for losses of heavily infected workers.
References 1 Ptaszyńska, AA, et al (2014). Differentiation of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae spores under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(5), 537–544 (
www.ibrabee.org.uk/index.php/ibra-bee-research-journals-publications/jar/item/3614). 2 Simeunovic, P, et al (2014). Nosema ceranae and queen age influence the reproduction and productivity of the honey bee colony. Journal of Apicultural Research, 53(5), 545–554 (
www.ibrabee.org.uk/index.php/ibra-bee-research-journals-publications/jar/item/3615).
Fighting Foul Brood
American foul brood is spread by spores which can live for over 40 years. The use of antibiotics (in North America) is not very effective. Rod Merrill and colleagues at the University of Guelph, Canada, have identified a toxin, C3larvin, which they believe bacteria need in order to colonise a hive. The aim is to determine how important it is as a virulence factor in honey bee larval infection caused by Paenibacillus larvae. A way of inhibiting it will then be sought to help protect the bees. Field studies are planned this spring with the Institute of Bee Research in Hohen Neuendorf, Germany.
Reference
Krska, D, et al (2014). C3larvin toxin, an ADP-ribosyltransferase from Paenibacillus larvae. Journal of Biological Chemistry (
www.jbc.org/ content/early/2014/12/04/jbc. M114.589846).
www.bee-craft.com Propolis Helps Hair Regrow
Researchers in Japan have found a new characteristic of propolis. It encouraged hair growth in mice. While further tests are necessary, there is hope that it will be able to reverse baldness. Two groups of mice were shaved or waxed and then propolis was applied to the area. The treated mice grew their hair back faster than untreated ones. Another effect was that there was an increase in the number of cells involved in hair growth after application of propolis.
Reference
Miyata S, et al (2014). Stimulatory Effect of Brazilian Propolis on Hair Growth through Proliferation of Keratinocytes in Mice. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62(49), 11854–11861 (
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf503184s).
Could Stress Cause CCD?
Pesticides, poor nutrition and pathogens are all believed to contribute to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Research by Dr Andrew Barron and colleagues from the University of Macquarie tested the effects of stress by tagging thousands of bees and radio-tracking their behaviour. Older bees from three hives were removed, forcing young bees to start foraging. Compared with older foragers from the control hives, these young bees survived a fewer number of days, completed far fewer successful foraging trips and also took longer on each foraging trip. Younger bees were completely unable to support the colony. They are less experienced and have less-well-developed flight muscles. The researchers created a model from their information which showed that the premature deaths set up a vicious cycle. This affected the subsequent generation of foragers and ultimately led to colony demise. The model suggest that a tipping point was reached for the bees when it came to stress which was seen in the rapid transition into societal failure.
Reference
http://au.ibtimes.com/mystery-bee-colony-collapse-may-have-been-solved-1420743 May 2015 Vol 97 No 5 Spider Venom Pesticide
Arch UK Biocides Ltd, together with the University of Durham, the Food and Research Agency (Fera) and i2L Research Ltd, is leading a £1 million project which will receive a grant of over £650,000 from the second round of funding by Agri-Tech Catalyst. The project will undertake further development on an environmentally friendly pesticide that is not harmful to bees and other non-target species. The pesticide will be made from peptides which occur naturally in spider venom. The peptides are fused to a carrier protein and then sprayed on the crops. When pests, such as slugs, eat the crop, the spider toxin is transported to their guts and nervous systems, eliminating them without impacting other species. Initial formulations will be targeted at slugs and beetle pests of oilseed rape and wheat. The £70 million Agri-tech Catalyst is funded by three government departments.
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