| comparison of the energetic stress associated with experimental nosema ceranae and nosema apis infection of honeybees (apis mellifera). | nosema ceranae is a relatively new and widespread parasite of the western honeybee apis mellifera that provokes a new form of nosemosis. in comparison to nosema apis, which has been infecting the honeybee for much longer, n. ceranae seems to have co-evolved less with this host, causing a more virulent disease. given that n. apis and n. ceranae are obligate intracellular microsporidian parasites, needing host energy to reproduce, energetic stress may be an important factor contributing to the inc ... | 2011 | 21360094 |
| two major medicinal honeys have different mechanisms of bactericidal activity. | honey is increasingly valued for its antibacterial activity, but knowledge regarding the mechanism of action is still incomplete. we assessed the bactericidal activity and mechanism of action of revamil-« source (rs) honey and manuka honey, the sources of two major medical-grade honeys. rs honey killed bacillus subtilis, escherichia coli and pseudomonas aeruginosa within 2 hours, whereas manuka honey had such rapid activity only against b. subtilis. after 24 hours of incubation, both honeys kill ... | 2011 | 21394213 |
| detection of honey bee (apis mellifera) viruses with an oligonucleotide microarray. | in recent years, declines in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies have been observed to varying degrees worldwide with the worst losses in the usa being termed colony collapse disorder (ccd). pathogen load and the prevalence of honey bee viruses have been implicated in these losses and many diseased hives have multiple viruses present. we have designed and tested an oligonucleotide microarray which enables the simultaneous detection of nine honey bee viruses: acute bee paralysis virus, black q ... | 2011 | 21419132 |
| effects of propolis on fracture healing: an experimental study. | propolis is a substance of honeybee origin with known antioxidant effects. the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of propolis on fracture healing and the antioxidant system in an experimental setting. thirty-two rats that underwent experimental femur fracture and then fixation were randomly allocated in one of four groups: two control groups (control-3w and control-6w) and two treatment groups (propolis-3w and propolis-6w). treatment groups received propolis until killing (at 3 or ... | 2011 | 21425375 |
| antibacterial effects of brazilian and bulgarian propolis and synergistic effects with antibiotics acting on the bacterial dna and folic acid. | propolis is a honeybee product that has been used since ancient times because of its therapeutic effects. it can be used in the development of alternative therapies for the treatment of many diseases, and because propolis shows antibacterial action, this work was carried out in order to investigate a possible synergism between propolis and antibiotics acting on dna (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin) and on the metabolism (cotrimoxazole) against salmonella typhi. propolis samples collected in brazil ... | 2011 | 21432720 |
| the natural history of nest defence in a stingless bee, tetragonisca angustula (latreille) (hymenoptera: apidae), with two distinct types of entrance guards. | the stingless bee tetragonsica angustula (latreille) is the only social bee known that has two different types of nest entrance guards. as in other stingless bees and the honey bee one type stands on, in or near the nest entrance. the second type, so far only known in t. angustula, hovers near the nest entrance. in order to gain further understanding of this unique situation we studied guarding behaviour in both types of guards. using marked bees, we found that individual worker bees guarded for ... | 2011 | 21437483 |
| the effect of bee pollen on secretion activity, markers of proliferation and apoptosis of porcine ovarian granulosa cells in vitro. | the general objective of this in vitro study was to examine the effect of bee pollen on the release of insulin-like growth factor i (igf-i) and steroid hormone progesterone, and expression of markers of proliferation (pcna) and apoptosis (caspase-3) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. concentrations of igf-i and progesterone were determined by ria method and expression of pcna and caspase-3 by immunocytochemistry. bee pollen addition at the dose of 10 ng/ml significantly (p<0.05) inhibited igf-i ... | 2011 | 21442536 |
| melittin activates trpv1 receptors in primary nociceptive sensory neurons via the phospholipase a2 cascade pathways. | previous studies demonstrated that melittin, the main peptide in bee venom, could cause persistent spontaneous pain, primary heat and mechanical hyperalgesia, and enhance the excitability of spinal nociceptive neurons. however, the underlying mechanism of melittin-induced cutaneous hypersensitivity is unknown. effects of melittin applied topically to acutely dissociated rat dorsal root ganglion neurons were studied using whole-cell patch clamp and calcium imaging techniques. melittin induced int ... | 2011 | 21453681 |
| anti-cancer effect of bee venom in prostate cancer cells through activation of caspase pathway via inactivation of nf-κb. | bee venom has been used as a traditional medicine to treat arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, cancerous tumors, and skin diseases. however, the effects of bee venom on the prostate cancer and their action mechanisms have not been reported yet. | 2011 | 21456063 |
| molecular and pharmacological characterization of two d(1)-like dopamine receptors in the lyme disease vector, ixodes scapularis. | advancements in tick neurobiology may impact the development of acaricides to control those species that transmit human and animal diseases. here, we report the first cloning and pharmacological characterization of two neurotransmitter binding g protein-coupled receptors in the lyme disease (blacklegged) tick, ixodes scapularis. the genes iscagprdop1 and iscagprdop2 were identified in the i. scapularis genome assembly and predicted as orthologs of previously characterized d(1)-like dopamine rece ... | 2011 | 21457782 |
| apamin induces plastic changes in hippocampal neurons in senile sprague-dawley rats. | apamin is a neurotoxin extracted from honey bee venom and is a selective blocker of small-conductance ca(2+) -activated k(+) channels (sk). several behavioral and electrophysiological studies indicate that sk-blockade by apamin may enhance neuron excitability, synaptic plasticity, and long-term potentiation in the ca1 hippocampal region, and, for that reason, apamin has been proposed as a therapeutic agent in alzheimer's disease treatment. however, the dendritic morphological mechanisms implied ... | 2011 | 21465567 |
| why do so many petals have conical epidermal cells? | background the conical epidermal cells found on the petals of most angiosperm species are so widespread that they have been used as markers of petal identity, but their function has only been analysed in recent years. this review brings together diverse data on the role of these cells in pollination biology. scope the published effects of conical cells on petal colour, petal reflexing, scent production, petal wettability and pollinator grip on the flower surface are considered. of these factors, ... | 2011 | 21470973 |
| sampling and rna quality for diagnosis of honey bee viruses using quantitative pcr. | molecular diagnoses of pathogens via ribonucleic acid (rna) signatures are used widely in honey bee pathology. such diagnoses can be compromised by ubiquitous and endogenous rna-degrading enzymes activated after the death of sampled bees. rna degradation can be minimized by storage at ultra-cold temperatures or by immersion in high-salt buffers. however, these methods are not always available in the field or are costly, driving a search for alternative methods to store and transport bees for rna ... | 2011 | 21473885 |
| multiple peptide resistance factor (mprf)-mediated resistance of staphylococcus aureus against antimicrobial peptides coincides with a modulated peptide interaction with artificial membranes comprising lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol. | modification of the membrane lipid phosphatidylglycerol (pg) of staphylococcus aureus by enzymatic transfer of a l-lysine residue leading to lysyl-pg converts the net charge of pg from -1 to +1 and is thought to confer resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides (amps). lysyl-pg synthesis and translocation to the outer leaflet of the bacterial membrane are achieved by the membrane protein mprf. consequently, mutants lacking a functional mprf gene are in particular vulnerable to the action of a ... | 2011 | 21474443 |
| dynamics of immune system gene expression upon bacterial challenge and wounding in a social insect (bombus terrestris). | the innate immune system which helps individuals to combat pathogens comprises a set of genes representing four immune system pathways (toll, imd, jnk and jak/stat). there is a lack of immune genes in social insects (e.g. honeybees) when compared to diptera. potentially, this might be compensated by an advanced system of social immunity (synergistic action of several individuals). the bumble bee, bombus terrestris, is a primitively eusocial species with an annual life cycle and colonies headed b ... | 2011 | 21479237 |
| determination of tylosins a, b, c and d in bee larvae by liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry. | a lc-ms/ms method has been developed to simultaneously quantify tylosins a, b, c and d in bee larvae, compounds currently used to treat one of the most lethal diseases affecting honey bees around the world, american foulbrood (afb). the influence of different aqueous media, temperature and light exposure on the stability of these four compounds was studied. the analytes were extracted from bee larvae with methanol and chromatographic separation was achieved on a luna c(18) (150×4.6mm i.d.) using ... | 2011 | 21498134 |
| conservation of ebp-type pilus genes among enterococci and demonstration of their role in adherence of enterococcus faecalis to human platelets. | ebp are endocarditis and biofilm associated pili of enterococcus faecalis that are also important in experimental utis. our analyses, using available genomes, found that the ebp locus is unique to enterococci. in e. faecalis, the ebp locus is very highly conserved and only 1/473 e. faecalis isolates tested lacked ebpabc while only 1.2% had the bee pilus locus. no other pilus-encoding operon was identified in 55 available genomes indicating that the vast majority of e. faecalis (unlike enterococc ... | 2011 | 21502588 |
| maternity-related plasticity in circadian rhythms of bumble-bee queens. | unlike most animals studied so far in which the activity with no circadian rhythms is pathological or linked to deteriorating performance, worker bees and ants naturally care for their sibling brood around the clock with no apparent ill effects. here, we tested whether bumble-bee queens that care alone for their first batch of offspring are also capable of a similar chronobiological plasticity. we monitored locomotor activity of bombus terrestris queens at various life cycle stages, and queens f ... | 2011 | 21508036 |
| potential of ozone as a fumigant to control pests in honey bee (hymenoptera: apidae) hives. | ozone is a powerful oxidant capable of killing insects and microorganisms, and eliminating odors, taste, and color. thus, it could be useful as a fumigant to decontaminate honey comb between uses. the experiments here are intended to determine the exposure levels required to kill an insect pest and spore forming bee pathogens. ozone was effective against greater wax moth, galleria mellonella (l.) (lepidoptera: pyralidae), even on naturally infested comb. neonates and adults were the easiest life ... | 2011 | 21510179 |
| honeybees increase fruit set in native plant species important for wildlife conservation. | honeybee colonies are declining in some parts of the world. this may have important consequences for the pollination of crops and native plant species. in spain, as in other parts of europe, land abandonment has led to a decrease in the number of non professional beekeepers, which aggravates the problem of honeybee decline as a result of bee diseases in this study, we investigated the effects of honeybees on the pollination of three native plant species in northern spain, namely wildcherry prunu ... | 2011 | 21519875 |
| caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape) derived from propolis, a honeybee product, inhibits growth of breast cancer stem cells. | cancer stem cells (csc) are chemoresistant and implicated in tumor recurrence, metastasis and high patient mortality; thus substances impairing csc activity, could be invaluable as novel cancer therapeutics. we previously showed that cape (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), a component of propolis, a honeybee product, inhibits growth of mda-mb-231 (mda-231) cells, mdr gene expression, nf-κb, egfr, and vegf. we hypothesized that cape also acts by interfering with csc-mediated effects. we isolated bre ... | 2011 | 21537887 |
| effect of honey bee venom on differentiation of cholinergic neurons. | mouse p19 embryonic carcinoma (ec) cells are pluripotent and can differentiate into a population consisting largely of neurons and glia cells using a concentration of 5x10(-7)m of retinoic acid (ra). thus, p19 ec cells are a good model system to study events occurring during the critical phases of neuronal differentiation, in vitro. honey bee venom (bv) consists of mellitin, phospholipase a2, apamin and several other bioactive substances. previous studies have shown that mellitin and phospholipa ... | 2010 | 21544179 |
| honeybees apis mellifera can detect the scent of mycobacterium tuberculosis. | the proboscis extension reflex in honeybees was evaluated for detection of tuberculosis. restrained bees were tested with methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, and methyl nicotinate, previously identified from mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures, to determine honeybee capacity for signature volatile detection. methyl p-anisate and methyl phenylacetate were detectable over eight orders of magnitude, and honeybees showed proboscis extension response down to 0.1 pg loading of methyl p-anisate on ... | 2011 | 21546308 |
| an exposure study to assess the potential impact of fipronil in treated sunflower seeds on honey bee colony losses in spain. | background: there is great concern about the high losses and strong depopulation of honey bee colonies in some areas of spain. some beekeepers have suggested that sunflower seeds treated with the insecticide fipronil could be an important factor in causing those losses. therefore, an in-depth field study has been carried out in two regions of spain where sunflower production is intense (cuenca and andalucía) and where, for some crops and varieties, fipronil has been used as seed insecticide. res ... | 2011 | 21548002 |
| in vitro antiproliferative activity of partially purified trigona laeviceps propolis from thailand on human cancer cell lines. | abstract: | 2011 | 21548933 |
| simultaneous multisite recordings of neural ensemble responses in the motor cortex of behaving rats to peripheral noxious heat and chemical stimuli. | chronic motor cortex (mcx) stimulation (mcs) is an effective approach for patients with chronic, intractable neuropathic pain. however, the underlying neural mechanisms are less known. combining an in vivo simultaneous multisite recording technique with a video-based behavioral tracker, simultaneous neuronal ensemble activities of the mcx and behavioral responses to noxious heat stimuli applied to bilateral hindpaw pads under naïve and inflammatory pain state were studied in freely behaving rats ... | 2011 | 21549760 |
| t cell epitope-based allergy vaccines. | specific immunotherapy (sit) with extracts containing intact allergen molecules is clinically efficacious, but associated with frequent adverse events related to the allergic sensitization of the patient. as a result, treatment is initiated in an incremental dose fashion which ultimately achieves a plateau (maintenance dose) that may be continued for several years. reduction of allergic adverse events may allow safer and more rapid treatment thus, many groups have developed and evaluated strateg ... | 2011 | 21567311 |
| the ontogeny of immunity in the honey bee, apis mellifera l. following an immune challenge. | the honey bee, apis mellifera, is an ideal system for investigating ontogenetic changes in the immune system, because it combines holometabolous development within a eusocial caste system. as adults, male and female bees are subject to differing selective pressures: worker bees (females) exhibit temporal polyethism, while the male drones invest in mating. they are further influenced by changes in the threat of pathogen infection at different life stages. we investigated the immune response of wo ... | 2011 | 21570403 |
| caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape), derived from a honeybee product propolis, exhibits a diversity of anti-tumor effects in pre-clinical models of human breast cancer. | breast cancer (bc) patients use alternative and natural remedies more than patients with other malignancies. specifically, 63-83% use at least one type of alternative medicine and 25-63% use herbals and vitamins. propolis is a naturopathic honeybee product, and cape (caffeic acid phenethyl ester), is a major medicinal component of propolis. cape, in a concentration dependent fashion, inhibits mcf-7 (hormone receptor positive, hr+) and mda-231 (a model of triple negative bc (tnbc) tumor growth, b ... | 2011 | 21570765 |
| the effects of propolis on antibody production by laying hens. | propolis is a honeybee product showing several biological properties that enhance the immune response, depending on the concentration and intake period. because propolis possesses an immunomodulatory action on mammals, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of propolis on the humoral immune response of laying hens by evaluating antibody production. laying hens (isa brown) were divided into 5 groups with 7 birds each. group 1 was a nonimmunized control, whereas birds in group 2 ... | 2011 | 21597063 |
| hyaluronidase and hyaluronan in insect venom allergy. | background: insect venoms contain an allergen hyaluronidase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of hyaluronan (ha), a polymer of disaccharide glcua-glcnac in skin. has depending on their size have variable function in inflammation and immunity. this paper reports on whether hyaluronidase, ha polymers and oligomers can promote antibody response in mice. methods: ha oligomers (8- to 50-mer; 3-20 kda) were obtained by bee venom hyaluronidase digestion of ha polymers (750- to 5,000-mer; 300-2,000 kda). an ... | 2011 | 21597301 |
| phylogenetic analysis of nosema ceranae isolated from european and asian honeybees in northern thailand. | nosema ceranae was found to infect four different host species including the european honeybee (a. mellifera) and the asian honeybees (apis florea, a. cerana and apis dorsata) collected from apiaries and forests in northern thailand. significant sequence variation in the polar tube protein (ptp1) gene of n. ceranae was observed with n. ceranae isolates from a. mellifera and a. cerana, they clustered into the same phylogenetic lineage. n. ceranae isolates from a. dorsata and a. florea were groupe ... | 2011 | 21600213 |
| antifungal activity of brazilian propolis microparticles against yeasts isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis. | propolis, a resinous compound produced by apis mellifera l. bees, is known to possess a variety of biological activities and is applied in the therapy of various infectious diseases. the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis ethanol extract (pe) and propolis microparticles (pms) obtained from a sample of brazilian propolis against clinical yeast isolates of importance in the vulvovaginal candidiasis (vvc). pe was used to prepare the microparticles. yeast ... | 2011 | 21607012 |
| effects of skf-96365, a trpc inhibitor, on melittin-induced inward current and intracellular ca(2+) rise in primary sensory cells. | objective melittin (mel) is a major component of bee venom and can produce both persistent spontaneous nociception and pain hypersensitivity when injected subcutaneously in the periphery. the present study aimed to examine the roles of transient receptor potential canonical (trpc) channels in mediation of mel-induced activation of primary nociceptive cells. methods whole-cell patch-clamp and laser scanning confocal calcium detection were used to evaluate the effects of skf-96365, a trpc inhibito ... | 2011 | 21614096 |
| nosema ceranae in drone honey bees (apis mellifera). | nosema ceranae is a microsporidian intracellular parasite of honey bees, apis mellifera. previously nosema apis was thought to be the only cause of nosemosis, but it has recently been proposed that n. ceranae is displacing n. apis. the rapid spread of n. ceranae could be due to additional transmission mechanisms, as well as higher infectivity. we analyzed drones for n. ceranae infections using duplex qpcr with species specific primers and probes. we found that both immature and mature drones are ... | 2011 | 21621543 |
| complete genome sequence of melissococcus plutonius atcc 35311. | we report the first completely annotated genome sequence of melissococcus plutonius atcc 35311. m. plutonius is a one genus one species bacterium, and the etiological agent of european foulbrood of the honey bee. the genome sequence will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenicity. | 2011 | 21622755 |
| caffeic acid phenethyl ester profoundly modifies protein synthesis profile in type 5 adenovirus-transformed cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells. | caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape), an active component of propolis from bee hives, exerts a plethora of biological changes in diverse systems. these include antimitogenic, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory responses. cape directly induces programmed cell death (apoptosis) in type 5 adenovirus (ad5)-transformed cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells, wt3a. to identify the gene and protein expression changes induced by cape in wt3a cells we used a strategy involving in vitro t ... | 1997 | 21528181 |
| replication of varroa destructor virus 1 (vdv-1) and a varroa destructor virus 1-deformed wing virus recombinant (vdv-1-dwv) in the head of the honey bee. | a country-wide screen for viral pathogens in israeli apiaries revealed significant incidence of deformed wing virus (dwv) and varroa destructor-1 virus (vdv-1). to understand these viruses' possible involvement in deformed wing syndrome of honey bees, we studied their replication in symptomatically and asymptomatically infected bees qualitatively and quantitatively, using rt-pcr, quantitative real-time rt-pcr, and immunodetection of the major viral capsid protein vp1. we found, for the first tim ... | 2011 | 21652054 |
| api m 10, a genuine a. mellifera venom allergen, is clinically relevant but underrepresented in therapeutic extracts. | to cite this article: blank s, seismann h, michel y, mcintyre m, cifuentes l, braren i, grunwald t, darsow u, ring j, bredehorst r, ollert m, spillner e. api m 10, a genuine a. mellifera venom allergen, is clinically relevant but underrepresented in therapeutic extracts. allergy 2011; 66: 1322-1329. abstract: background: generalized systemic reactions to stinging hymenoptera venom constitute a potentially fatal condition in venom-allergic individuals. hence, the identification and characteriza ... | 2011 | 21658068 |
| the effects of brazilian and bulgarian propolis in vitro against salmonella typhi and their synergism with antibiotics acting on the ribosome. | salmonella enterica serovar typhi is the causative agent of typhoid fever in humans, and the use of antibiotics is essential for controlling this infection; however, the excessive use of antibiotics may select resistant strains. propolis is a honeybee product and its antimicrobial activity has been intensively investigated. thus, the objective of this study was to investigate a possible synergism between propolis (collected in brazil and bulgaria) and antibiotics acting on the ribosome (chloramp ... | 2011 | 21660841 |
| cardiac effects of bee venom in rats. | to elucidate the possible effects of bee venom (bv) on cardiac electrophysiological properties in vivo, the inotropic and chronotropic properties of the isolated hearts in vitro, and the cardiac responsiveness to progressive adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol. | 2011 | 21666936 |
| royal jelly protects against ultraviolet b-induced photoaging in human skin fibroblasts via enhancing collagen production. | abstract royal jelly (rj) is a honeybee product containing proteins, carbohydrates, fats, free amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. as its principal unsaturated fatty acid, rj contains 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-hda), which may have antitumor and antibacterial activity and a capacity to stimulate collagen production. rj has attracted interest in various parts of the world for its pharmacological properties. however, the effects of rj on ultraviolet (uv)-induced photoaging of the skin have no ... | 2011 | 21812645 |
| genetic variation and widespread dispersal of nosema ceranae in apis mellifera apiaries from argentina. | using molecular techniques, we documented the presence of nosema ceranae in honeybees (apis mellífera) from argentina. samples were collected from a. mellifera colonies in 38 districts of buenos aires province, argentina. molecular characterization was achieved with a multiplex pcr-based method, which allows parallel diagnosis of n. ceranae and n. osema apis. n. ceranae was identified in all the samples analyzed. moreover, coinfections with n. apis were detected in balcarce and maipú districts. ... | 2011 | 21808980 |
| polar tube protein gene diversity among nosema ceranae strains derived from a greek honey bee health study. | honey bee samples from 54 apiaries originating from 37 geographic locations of greece were screened for nosema apis and nosema ceranae. furthermore 15 samples coming from 12 geographic locations were screened also for paenibacilluslarvae and melissococcus plutonius and seven honey bee virus species, for the first time on a nation-wide level. there was a tendency in finding proportionally higher spore counts in samples from apiaries that suffered important colony losses. p. larvae bacteria were i ... | 2011 | 21802424 |
| insect insulin receptors: insights from sequence and caste expression analyses of two cloned hymenopteran insulin receptor cdnas from the fire ant. | the insulin and insulin-like growth factor (igf) signalling (iis) pathway in the honey bee (apis mellifera) is linked to reproductive division of labour and foraging behaviour. two insulin receptor genes are present in the released genomes of other social hymenopterans. limited information is available on the iis pathway role in ants. the predicted insulin receptor sequences from the recently released draft genome of the fire ant solenopsis invicta (hymenoptera: formicidae) are incomplete and bi ... | 2011 | 21797944 |
| biological activities of chinese propolis and brazilian propolis on streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus in rats. | propolis is a bee-collected natural product and has been proven to have various bioactivities. this study tested the effects of chinese propolis and brazilian propolis on streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus in sprague-dawley rats. the results showed that chinese propolis and brazilian propolis significantly inhibited body weight loss and blood glucose increase in diabetic rats. in addition, chinese propolis-treated rats showed an 8.4% reduction of glycated hemoglobin levels compared ... | 2011 | 21785625 |
| effects of invasive parasites on bumble bee declines. | bumble bees are a group of pollinators that are both ecologically and economically important and declining worldwide. numerous mechanisms could be behind this decline, and the spread of parasites from commercial colonies into wild populations has been implicated recently in north america. commercial breeding may lead to declines because commercial colonies may have high parasite loads, which can lead to colonization of native bumble bee populations; commercial rearing may allow higher parasite v ... | 2011 | 21771075 |
| effects of cold immobilization and recovery period on honeybee learning, memory, and responsiveness to sucrose. | in addition to human error and variation in laboratory conditions, there are numerous factors that can complicate comparisons among studies. furthermore, differences in how experimental methods are executed can make it difficult to distinguish between effects of focal versus extraneous variables. insect neural function is commonly evaluated using pavlovian conditioning techniques; learning and memory in many species can be assessed using the proboscis extension reflex (per). however, there are s ... | 2011 | 21767543 |
| bee venom-associated th1/th2 immunoglobulin class switching results in immune tolerance of nzb/w f1 murine lupus nephritis. | background/aims: bee venom (bv) therapy has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis in humans and in experimental animals. this study was conducted to examine the therapeutic effect of bv on established lupus nephritis in new zealand black/white (nzb/w) f1 female mice. methods: beginning at 18 weeks of age, mice were given a subcutaneous injection of either bv (3 mg/kg bw) or an equal volume of saline once a week until the end of the study. to examine the effect o ... | 2011 | 21757889 |
| hymenoptera venom proteins and peptides for diagnosis and treatment of venom allergic patients. | stings by insects of the order hymenoptera cause systemic, sometimes life threatening allergic reactions in 1 - 5% of the population in europe and north america. responsible for these reactions is an ige mediated sensitization to proteins of the venoms injected during the stings of social hymenoptera species, mainly the honey bee (apis mellifera), vespids like vespula spp, polistes spp and ants, in southern us and central america solenopsis invicta and in australia myrmecia pilosula. the venoms ... | 2011 | 21756243 |
| functional characterization of melanocyte stem cells in hair follicles. | in mice, coat pigmentation requires a stem cell (sc) system in which the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of melanocytes (mcs) are regulated by microenvironments in hair follicles (hfs). in vitro systems are required to analyze the behavior of single melanocyte stem cells (mcscs) and their potential to form sc systems in vivo. we describe here an experimental system for the isolation, self-renewal, and differentiation of mcscs, as well as an in vivo reconstitution assay for assessing ... | 2011 | 21753783 |
| mycobiota and mycotoxins in bee pollen collected from different areas of slovakia. | contamination by microscopic fungi and mycotoxins in different bee pollen samples, which were stored under three different ways of storing as freezing, drying and uv radiation, was investigated. during spring 2009, 45 samples of bee-collected pollen were gathered from beekeepers who placed their bee colonies on monocultures of sunflower, rape and poppy fields within their flying distance. bee pollen was collected from bees' legs by special devices placed at the entrance to hives. samples were ex ... | 2011 | 21749250 |
| bee venom induced cytogenetic damage and decreased cell viability in human white blood cells after treatment in vitro: a multi-biomarker approach. | the aim of this study was to evaluate cytogenotoxic effects of bee venom to human lymphocytes and take a look into the mechanisms behind them. bee venom was tested in concentrations ranging from 0.1++g/ml to 20++g/ml over different lengths of time. cell viability, type of the cell death, and morphological alterations were evaluated using phase-contrast and fluorescent microscopy in addition to dna diffusion assay, whereas cytogenotoxic effects were assessed with the micronucleus test. dna damage ... | 2011 | 21843800 |
| pcr-based detection of a tracheal mite of the honey bee acarapis woodi. | the effects of the tracheal mite acarapis woodi on the health of honey bees have been neglected since the prevalence of varroa mites to apis mellifera colonies. however, tracheal mite infestation of honey bee colonies still occurs worldwide and could impose negative impact on apiculture. the detection of a. woodi requires the dissection of honey bees followed by microscopic observation of the tracheal sacs. we thus developed pcr methods to detect a. woodi. these methods facilitate rapid and sens ... | 2011 | 21839741 |
| temporal analysis of the honey bee microbiome reveals four novel viruses and seasonal prevalence of known viruses, nosema, and crithidia. | honey bees (apis mellifera) play a critical role in global food production as pollinators of numerous crops. recently, honey bee populations in the united states, canada, and europe have suffered an unexplained increase in annual losses due to a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder (ccd). epidemiological analysis of ccd is confounded by a relative dearth of bee pathogen field studies. to identify what constitutes an abnormal pathophysiological condition in a honey bee colony, it is criti ... | 2011 | 21687739 |
| antiproliferative effects of tubi-bee propolis in glioblastoma cell lines. | propolis is a resin formed by a complex chemical composition of substances that bees collect from plants. since ancient times, propolis has been used in folk medicine, due to its biological properties, that include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral and immunomodulatory activities. glioblastoma is the most common human brain tumor. despite the improvements in gbm standard treatment, patients' prognosis is still very poor. the aim of this work was to evaluate in vitro the tubi-bee prop ... | 2011 | 21734835 |
| influence of specific immunotherapy on the activity of human t lymphocyte kv1.3 voltage-gated potassium channels in insect venom allergic patients. | kv1.3 channels play an important role in t lymphocytes function. cd4(+) and cd4(+)cd25(+) t cells are two broad categories of t cells that are critically involved in the immunoresponse to allergens and that are also a major target for allergen immunotherapy. the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of venom immunotherapy (vit) on the activity of kv1.3. channels on noncultured subsets: cd4(+) and cd4(+)cd25(+) t cells of insect venom allergic patients. eleven patients with allergic reacti ... | 2011 | 21706208 |
| long-term cultivation of in vitro apis mellifera cells by gene transfer of human c-myc proto-oncogene. | establishment of cell lines representative of honeybee character would greatly assist in their analysis. here, we show that immortalized cell line, designated as myn9, has been generated from honeybee embryo by the gene transfer of human c-myc proto-oncogene. the morphology of the cell is characteristic of embryonic stem cell, although the cell is stable and does not spontaneously differentiate. polymerase chain reaction analyses show that the cell is originated from authentic honeybee cell. it ... | 2011 | 21688083 |
| production, structure and in vitro degradation of electrospun honeybee silk nanofibers. | honeybees produce silken cocoons containing four related fibrous proteins. high levels of each of the honeybee silk proteins can be produced recombinantly by fermentation in escherichia coli. in this study we have used electrospinning to fabricate a single recombinant honeybee silk protein, amelf3, into nanofibers of around 200nm diameter. infrared spectroscopy found that the molecular structure of the nanofibers was predominantly coiled coil, essentially the same as native honeybee silk. mats o ... | 2011 | 21689795 |
| lactobacillus johnsonii crl1647, isolated from apis mellifera l. bee-gut, exhibited a beneficial effect on honeybee colonies. | lactobacillus johnsonii crl1647, isolated from the intestinal tract of a honeybee and selected due to its high lactic acid production, was assayed as a monoculture on bee colony performance. it was delivered to the bees on a one litre of 125 g/l sugar-cane syrup with a final concentration of 105 cfu/ml lactobacilli. the bees accepted the new nourishment, which was consumed within 24-48 h and was administered in two independent trials (every 14-15 days for 3 consecutive months in one case, and on ... | 2011 | 21831787 |
| chemical analysis of greek pollen - antioxidant, antimicrobial and proteasome activation properties. | | 2011 | 21699688 |
| the honeybee antimicrobial peptide apidaecin differentially immunomodulates human macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells. | we show that apidaecin binds to human macrophages, monocytes and dendritic cells, displaying different intracellular distributions and inducing diversified effects. an apidaecin-cell association was detectable at concentrations as low as 5 ++m and increased without saturation until 60 ++m, was receptor independent and required a physiological temperature (37-¦c). for apidaecin, cytosolic localization was prevalent in macrophages and endosomal localization in monocytes, and associations with the ... | 2011 | 21677421 |
| exposure to sublethal doses of fipronil and thiacloprid highly increases mortality of honeybees previously infected by nosema ceranae. | background: the honeybee, apis mellifera, is undergoing a worldwide decline whose origin is still in debate. studies performed for twenty years suggest that this decline may involve both infectious diseases and exposure to pesticides. joint action of pathogens and chemicals are known to threaten several organisms but the combined effects of these stressors were poorly investigated in honeybees. our study was designed to explore the effect of nosema ceranae infection on honeybee sensitivity to su ... | 2011 | 21738706 |
| accumulation of human egf in nectar of transformed plants of nicotiana langsdorffiiôçâ+ùôçân.-ásanderae and transfer to honey by bees. | honey has been used successfully in wound healing for thousands of years. the peptide hormone human epidermal growth factor (hegf) is also known to have a beneficial effect in various wound healing processes via mechanisms that differ from those for honey. in this study, we show that hegf can be incorporated into honey via nectar. plants of nicotiana langsdorffiiôçâ+ùôçân.-ásanderae were transformed with the gene for hegf, equipped with a nectary-targeted promoter and a signal sequence for secre ... | 2011 | 21815978 |
| first report of israeli acute paralysis virus in asymptomatic hives of argentina. | honey bee mortality has recently been associated with israeli acute paralysis virus (iapv), a proposed etiological agent for a new syndrome known as colony collapse disorder. bees infected with this virus show shivering wings, progress into paralysis, and finally die outside the hive. during the last years, honey bee mortality became a serious problem for argentinean beekeepers. we herein report the preliminary results of a survey carried out to detect iapv in samples taken from several argentin ... | 2011 | 21731968 |
| lack of evidence for an association between iridovirus and colony collapse disorder. | colony collapse disorder (ccd) is characterized by the unexplained losses of large numbers of adult worker bees (apis mellifera) from apparently healthy colonies. although infections, toxins, and other stressors have been associated with the onset of ccd, the pathogenesis of this disorder remains obscure. recently, a proteomics study implicated a double-stranded dna virus, invertebrate iridescent virus (family iridoviridae) along with a microsporidium (nosema sp.) as the cause of ccd. we tested ... | 2011 | 21738798 |
| the genome of the leaf-cutting ant acromyrmex echinatior suggests key adaptations to advanced social life and fungus farming. | we present a high-quality (>100+ù depth) illumina genome sequence of the leaf-cutting ant acromyrmex echinatior, a model species for symbiosis and reproductive conflict studies. we compare this genome with three previously sequenced genomes of ants from different subfamilies and focus our analyses on aspects of the genome likely to be associated with known evolutionary changes. the first is the specialized fungal diet of a. echinatior, where we find gene loss in the ant's arginine synthesis path ... | 2011 | 21719571 |
| cross-species correlation between queen mating numbers and worker ovary sizes suggests kin conflict may influence ovary size evolution in honeybees. | during social evolution, the ovary size of reproductively specialized honey bee queens has dramatically increased while their workers have evolved much smaller ovaries. however, worker division of labor and reproductive competition under queenless conditions are influenced by worker ovary size. little comparative information on ovary size exists in the different honey bee species. here, we report ovariole numbers of freshly dissected workers from six apis species from two locations in southeast ... | 2011 | 21732186 |
| cross-species infection of deformed wing virus poses a new threat to pollinator conservation. | the deformed wing virus (family iflaviridae, genus iflavirus, dwv), one of the most prevalent and common viruses in honey bees, apis mellifera l., is present in both laboratory-reared and wild populations of bumble bees, bombus huntii greene. our studies showed that dwv infection spreads throughout the entire body of b. huntii and that the concentration of dwv is higher in workers than in males both collected in the field and reared in the laboratory, implying a possible association between the ... | 2011 | 21735887 |
| location and reduction of icarapin antigenicity by site specific coupling to polyethylene glycol. | icarapin is a bee venom protein found to induce ige-mediated allergic reaction. in this study, icarapin of asian honey bee was cloned and sequenced. by in silico screening, s198 was found to be the potential antigenic site. this site was changed to cysteine and coupled with peg(5k). compared to the wild type icarapin and the s198c variant, pegylated s198c variant induced lower level of igg and ige antibodies in mice, showing that it is indeed located in an antigenic site. our work may be general ... | 2011 | 21838698 |
| influence of habitat complexity and landscape configuration on pollination and seed-dispersal interactions of wild cherry trees. | land-use intensification is a major cause for the decline in species diversity in human-modified landscapes. the loss of functionally important species can reduce a variety of ecosystem functions, such as pollination and seed dispersal, but the intricate relationships between land-use intensity, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are still contentious. along a gradient from forest to intensively used farmland, we quantified bee species richness, visitation rates of bees and pollination succe ... | 2011 | 21818655 |
| etiopathogenesis of burkitt's lymphoma: a lesson from a bl-like in cd1 mouse immune to plasmodium yoelii yoelii. | abstract: | 2011 | 21740585 |
| melittin restores proteasome function in an animal model of als. | amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als) is a paralyzing disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration and death of motor neurons and occurs both as a sporadic and familial disease. mutant sod1 (mtsod1) in motor neurons induces vulnerability to the disease through protein misfolding, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, cytoskeletal abnormalities, defective axonal transport- and growth factor signaling, excitotoxicity, and neuro-inflammation.melittin is a 26 amino acid protein and is ... | 2011 | 21682930 |
| protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape) on fluoride-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat endometrium. | high fluoride intake may affect biological systems by increasing free radicals, which may enhance lipid peroxidation levels of the tissues, thus leading to oxidative damage. caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape), a component of honeybee propolis, protects tissues from reactive oxygen species mediated oxidative stress in ischemia-reperfusion and toxic injuries. several studies suggest that supplementation with anti-oxidant can influence fluoride induced tissue damage. the aims of this study was to ... | 2007 | 21783794 |
| floral syndromes accurately predict pollination by a specialized oil-collecting bee (rediviva peringueyi, melittidae) in a guild of south african orchids (coryciinae). | the long-standing notion of pollination syndromes, which postulates that plants form recognizable groups according to pollinator type, has been challenged recently on the basis of apparent widespread generalization in pollination systems. as a test of the pollination syndrome concept, i examined the pollination biology of a group of 15 orchids that share a recognizable syndrome of floral features that includes yellow-green coloration, oil secretion, pungent scent, shallow flowers, and a septembe ... | 2006 | 21642155 |
| Allergen structures and epitopes. | Human type 1 hypersensitivity diseases such as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis are characterized by allergen-specific IgE antibodies produced in allergic individuals after allergen exposure. IgE antibodies bound to receptors on the surface of effector cells trigger an allergic response by interacting with three-dimensional (conformational) epitopes on the allergen surface. Crystal structures are available for complexes of antibody specifically bound to five allergens, from birch pollen, bee venom, ... | 2011 | 21668845 |
| Bee venom phospholipase A2 prevents prion peptide induced-cell death in neuronal cells. | Bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) is a prototypic group-áIII enzyme which consists of unique N-terminal and C-terminal domains and a central secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) domain. This sPLA2 domain is highly homologous with human group-áIII sPLA2. Current evidence suggests that group-áIII sPLA2 may affect some neuronal functions, such as neuritogenesis, neurotransmitter release and neuronal survival. The prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the conversion of the normal cellu ... | 2011 | 21701769 |
| reproductive biology of the dioecious canary islands endemic withania aristata (solanaceae). | we confirmed functional dioecy of withania aristata via field and greenhouse studies. male flowers are significantly larger. female flowers bear stamens with no pollen; males bear 220?000 grains. stigmata of male flowers senesce in buds. anatomical observations confirm more ovules in females and an ovarian nectary in both sexes. we detected nectar in female flowers in the greenhouse but found no nectar in males. thus, males offer pollen and females nectar. females bear large numbers of fruits an ... | 2006 | 21642194 |
| To bee or not to bee, this is the question…: The inborn numerical competence of humans and honeybees. | Human inborn numerical competence means our ability to recognize object numbers precisely under circumstances which do not allow sequential counting. This archaic process has been called "subitizing," from the Latin "subito" = suddenly, immediately, indicating that the objects in question are presented to test persons only for a fraction of a second in order to prevent counting. In contrast, however, sequential counting, an outstanding cultural achievement of mankind, means to count "1, 2, 3, 4, ... | 2011 | 22046473 |
| clonality, genetic diversity and support for the diversifying selection hypothesis in natural populations of a flower-living yeast. | vast amounts of effort have been devoted to investigate patterns of genetic diversity and structuring in plants and animals, but similar information is scarce for organisms of other kingdoms. the study of the genetic structure of natural populations of wild yeasts can provide insights into the ecological and genetic correlates of clonality, and into the generality of recent hypotheses postulating that microbial populations lack the potential for genetic divergence and allopatric speciation. nine ... | 2011 | 21851437 |
| The long summer: pre-wintering temperatures affect metabolic expenditure and winter survival in a solitary bee. | The impact of climate change on insect populations depends on specific life cycle traits and physiological adaptations. The solitary bee Osmia lignaria winters as a pre-emergent adult, and requires a period of cold temperature for winter diapause completion. It is a univoltine species, and diapause induction does not depend on photoperiod. To understand the potential effects of longer summers on O. lignaria populations, we exposed individuals to three treatments simulating early, mid and late wi ... | 2011 | 21910996 |
| Socially transmitted gut microbiota protect bumble bees against an intestinal parasite. | Populations of important pollinators, such as bumble bees and honey bees, are declining at alarming rates worldwide. Parasites are likely contributing to this phenomenon. A distinct resident community of bacteria has recently been identified in bumble bees and honey bees that is not shared with related solitary bee species. We now show that the presence of these microbiota protects bee hosts against a widespread and highly virulent natural parasite (Crithidia bombi) in an experimental setting. W ... | 2011 | 22084077 |
| insects, birds and lizards as pollinators of the largest-flowered scrophularia of europe and macaronesia. | it has traditionally been considered that the flowers of scrophularia are mainly pollinated by wasps. we studied the pollination system of four species which stand out for their large and showy flowers: s. sambucifolia and s. grandiflora (endemics of the western mediterranean region), s. trifoliata (an endemic of the tyrrhenian islands) and s. calliantha (an endemic of the canary islands). our principal aim was to test whether these species were pollinated by birds or showed a mixed pollination ... | 2012 | 22021816 |
| critical aspects of the nosema spp. diagnostic sampling in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies. | nosemosis is one of the most widespread of the adult honey bee diseases and causes major economic losses to beekeepers. two microsporidia have been described infecting honey bees worldwide, nosema apis and nosema ceranae, whose seasonality and pathology differ markedly. an increasing prevalence of microsporidian infections in honey bees has been observed worldwide during the last years. because nosemosis has detrimental effects on both strength and productivity of the infected colonies, an accur ... | 2011 | 22193523 |
| Beneficial effects of propolis on human health and neurological diseases. | Propolis is a natural product, collected by honeybees Apis mellifera, from various plant sources. Propolis is extensively used in foods and beverages because it improves human health. It contains more than 300 natural compounds such as polyphenols, phenolic aldehydes, sequiterpene-quinones, coumarins, amino acids, steroids and inorganic compounds. Propolis exhibits a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator ... | 2012 | 22201913 |
| Protective effect of melittin on inflammation and apoptosis in acute liver failure. | Acute hepatic failure remains an extremely poor prognosis and still results in high mortality. Therefore, better treatment is urgently needed. Melittin, a major component of bee venom, is known to inhibit inflammatory reactions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a in various cell types. However, there is no evidence of the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect of melittin on liver cells. In the present study, we investigated the effects of melittin on D: -ga ... | 2011 | 21928088 |
| antimicrobial activity of amazonian oils against paenibacillus species. | the gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium paenibacillus larvae is the primary bacterial pathogen of honeybee brood and the causative agent of american foulbrood disease (afb). one of the feasible alternative treatments being used for their control of this disease is essential oils. in this study in vitro antimicrobial activity of andiroba and copaíba essential oils against paenibacillus species, including p. larvae was evaluated. minimal inhibitory concentration (mic) in mueller-hinton broth by ... | 2011 | 22200645 |
| Molecular detection of Spiroplasma apis and Spiroplasma melliferum in bees. | Spiroplasma apis and Spiroplasma melliferum are known as honey bee pathogens and are detected by unspecific methodologies like culturing or dark field microscopy. We developed a multiplex PCR being able to differentiate between both species and detect the genus Spiroplasma. This PCR can directly be used on culture samples or on DNA extracted bees. By PCR on cultured samples we were able to identify S. apis in Bombus pratorum and S. melliferum in Bombus pascuorum. | 2012 | 22138255 |
| Updated genome assembly and annotation of Paenibacillus larvae, the agent of American foulbrood disease of honey bees. | As scientists continue to pursue various 'omics-based research, there is a need for high quality data for the most fundamental 'omics of all: genomics. The bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of the honey bee disease American foulbrood. If untreated, it can lead to the demise of an entire hive; the highly social nature of bees also leads to easy disease spread, between both individuals and colonies. Biologists have studied this organism since the early 1900s, and a century late ... | 2011 | 21923906 |
| Bees brought to their knees: microbes affecting honey bee health. | The biology and health of the honey bee Apis mellifera has been of interest to human societies for centuries. Research on honey bee health is surging, in part due to new tools and the arrival of colony-collapse disorder (CCD), an unsolved decline in bees from parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia. Although a clear understanding of what causes CCD has yet to emerge, these efforts have led to new microbial discoveries and avenues to improve our understanding of bees and the challenges they ... | 2011 | 22032828 |
| Beyond the antipredatory defence: honey bee venom function as a component of social immunity. | The honey bee colonies, with the relevant number of immature brood and adults, and stable, high levels of humidity and temperatures of their nests, result in suitable environments for the development of microorganisms including pathogens. In response, honey bees evolved several adaptations to face the increased risks of epidemic diseases. As the antimicrobial venom peptides of Apis mellifera are present both on the cuticle of adult bees and on the nest wax it has been recently suggested that the ... | 2011 | 21925197 |
| Lasiocepsin, a novel cyclic antimicrobial peptide from the venom of eusocial bee Lasioglossum laticeps (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). | In the venom of eusocial bee Lasioglossum laticeps, we identified a novel unique antimicrobial peptide named lasiocepsin consisting of 27 amino acid residues and two disulfide bridges. After identifying its primary structure, we synthesized lasiocepsin by solid-phase peptide synthesis using two different approaches for oxidative folding. The oxidative folding of fully deprotected linear peptide resulted in a mixture of three products differing in the pattern of disulfide bridges. Regioselective ... | 2011 | 22038181 |
| melittin attenuates liver injury in thioacetamide-treated mice through modulating inflammation and fibrogenesis. | liver fibrosis represents a process of healing and scarring in response to chronic liver injury. following injury, an acute inflammation response takes place resulting in moderate cell necrosis and extracellular matrix damage. melittin, the major bioactive component in the venom of honey bee apis mellifera, is a 26-residue amphipathic peptide with well-known cytolytic, antimicrobial and proinflammatory properties. however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity o ... | 2011 | 21969711 |
| formation of the immunogenic α1,3-fucose epitope: elucidation of substrate specificity and of enzyme mechanism of core fucosyltransferase a. | glycans of glycoproteins are often associated with ige mediated allergic immune responses. hymenoptera venoms, e.g., carry α1,3-fucosyl residues linked to the proximal glcnac of glycoproteins. this epitope, formed selectively by α1,3-fucosyltransferase (fucta), is xenobiotic and as such highly immunogenic and it also shows cross-reactivity if present on different proteins. production of post-translationally modified proteins in insect cells is however commonly used and, thus, resulting glycoprot ... | 2011 | 22182589 |
| negative correlation between nosema ceranae spore loads and deformed wing virus infection levels in adult honey bee workers. | interactions between pathogens might contribute to honey bee colony losses. here we investigated if there is an association between the microsporidian nosema ceranae and the deformed wing virus (dwv) in different body sections of individual honey bee workers (apis mellifera ligustica) under exclusion of the vector varroa destructor. our data provide correlational evidence for antagonistic interactions between the two pathogens in the midgut of the bees. | 2011 | 21939664 |
| evidence for emerging parasites and pathogens influencing outbreaks of stress-related diseases like chalkbrood. | in agriculture, honey bees play a critical role as commercial pollinators of crop monocultures which depend on insect pollination. hence, the demise of honey bee colonies in europe, usa, and asia caused much concern and initiated many studies and research programmes aiming at elucidating the factors negatively affecting honey bee health and survival. most of these studies look at individual factors related to colony losses. in contrast, we here present our data on the interaction of pathogens an ... | 2011 | 21906600 |
| Molecular characterization of a Ran isoform gene up-regulated in shrimp immunity. | Diseases caused by viruses are the greatest challenge to worldwide shrimp aquaculture. Ran gene was an important antiviral gene identified from shrimp and its mRNA level was up-regulated in response to viral infection. In this investigation, a Ran isoform gene (named Ran-iso) cDNA was cloned from shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus. The full-length cDNA of Ran-iso was 1286bp, including a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 272bp, 3'-terminal UTR of 366bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 648bp ... | 2011 | 22192911 |
| catechols in caffeic acid phenethyl ester are essential for inhibition of tnf-mediated ip-10 expression through nf-κb-dependent but ho-1- and p38-independent mechanisms in mouse intestinal epithelial cells. | caffeic acid phenethyl ester (cape) is an active constituent of honeybee propolis inhibiting nuclear factor (nf)-κb. the aims of our study were to provide new data on the functional relevance and mechanisms underlying the role of cape in regulating inflammatory processes at the epithelial interface in the gut and to determine the structure/activity relationship of cape. | 2011 | 22038897 |
| Dead or alive: Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa destructor reduce the life span of winter honeybees. | Elevated winter losses of managed honey bee colonies are a major concern, but the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. Among the suspects are the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, the microsporidian Nosema ceranae and associated viruses. Here, we hypothesize that pathogens reduce the life expectancy of winter bees, thereby constituting a proximate mechanism for colony losses. A monitoring of colonies was performed over six months in Switzerland from summer 2007 to winter 2007/2008. Indivi ... | 2011 | 22179240 |
| A comparison of the effectiveness of the microscopic method and the multiplex PCR method in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees (Apis mellifera) from winter hive debris. | The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the multiplex PCR method and traditional light microscopy in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees from winter hive debris in the Province of Warmia and Mazury (NE Poland). A total of 1000 beesdead after from the bottom of the hive from bee colonies were analyzed. Spores were identified with the use of a light microscope (400-600x magnification). Spores were assigned to species by the multip ... | 2011 | 21957732 |