Abstract
Fatty acids (FAs) are important in metabolism and in the maintenance of Apis mellifera colonies. Our objective was to identify the variation in FA composition of the bodies of A. mellifera worker bees after immunological challenges with sterile injections and Paenibacillus larvae vegetative cells. The expression of the hymenoptaecin and abaecin genes was studied and the FAs were identified and quantified. After a challenge with P. larvae, the immune system was activated and abaecin and hymenoptaecin peptide genes were overexpressed. Also, the content of short-chain FAs such as caprylic, capric, and tridecylic acids increased significantly; on the contrary, oleic acid decreased. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analysis of changes in the FA profile of honey bee workers after immune stimulation with P. larvae. Health status may be a key factor that alters FA composition. More research about the interaction with other stressors affecting the survival of honey bee colonies is needed.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Code availability
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Abbreviations
- FAs:
-
Fatty acids
- TAGs:
-
Triglycerides
- CH:
-
Cuticular hydrocarbons
- BHT:
-
Butylated hydroxytoluene
- FAMEs:
-
Methyl esters of fatty acids
- GC-FID:
-
Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection
- SFAs:
-
Saturated fatty acids
- MUFAs:
-
Monounsaturated fatty acids
- PUFAs:
-
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
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Acknowledgements
We appreciate the help provided by Dr. Karina Miglioranza (IIMyC-UNMdP) and Carlos Mendez (Fares Taie lab) in the extracting and determining of fatty acids.
Funding
This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) with a scholarship to Lic Enzo Dominguez, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata with subsidy UNMdP-EXA project No. 973/20 to Dr. Martín Eguaras, and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Técnica with subsidy ANPCyT-PICT project No. 2018-1758 to Dra. Natalia Damiani.
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ED developed the study idea, managed the honey bee colonies, collected data and samples, analyzed the samples in the laboratory, statistically analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. PMG managed the honey bee colonies, collected data and samples, and analyzed the samples in the laboratory. SQ, MPM, MC, and SKM analyzed the samples in the laboratory. LBG and ND direct the investigation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Domínguez, E., Giardini, P.M., Quintana, S. et al. Fatty acid profile of Apis mellifera workers in the face of an immune challenge. Apidologie 55, 15 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01059-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-024-01059-7