棉铃虫P450基因CYP6AE12和CYP9A18的克隆与mRNA表达水平

采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆到2个新的棉铃虫细胞色素P450基因：CYP6AE12和CYP9A18。CYP6AE12的cDNA编码区长1 569 bp,编码523个氨基酸;CYP9A18的cDNA编码区长1 590 bp,编码530个氨基酸。用实时定量PCR技术分析了这2个基因在棉铃虫YS敏感品系和YS-FP抗性品系(由氰戊菊酯加辛硫磷混剂筛选YS品系而得) 6龄幼虫脂肪体和中肠中mRNA的表达水平。结果表明：CYP6AE12和CYP9A18的mRNA表达具有组织特异性,CYP6AE12在脂肪体中表达量较高,而CYP9A18在中肠中的表达量较高。与相对敏感品系YS相比,CYP6AE12在YS-FP抗性品系中肠和脂肪体中的mRNA表达量分别为YS品系的3.6倍和1.3倍;CYP9A18在YS-FP品系中肠和脂肪体的mRNA表达量分别为YS品系的0.3倍和1.0倍。CYP6AE12的过量表达与YS-FP品系棉铃虫的抗药性可能有一定关系。     

棉铃虫细胞色素P450 CYP6B7基因的克隆与融合表达

细胞色素P450 CYP6B7被推测与棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的抗性有关,但至今尚无CYP6B7参与杀虫剂代谢方面的直接证据。为揭示CYP6B7的代谢功能,作者以棉铃虫幼虫基因组DNA 为模板,以CYP6B7基因设计特异性引物,扩增出包含321 bp内含子的CYP6B7基因。用反向PCR的方法消除内含子,获得包含完整的CYP6B7基因的开放阅读框。将CYP6B7基因与pMAL-c2X载体连接,并转化E.coli TB1细胞,在IPTG诱导下,CYP6B7能与载体基因编码的麦芽糖结合蛋白（MBP）在大肠杆菌中融合表达,表达产物经直链淀粉（amylose） 柱亲和层析分离洗脱后,得到SDS-PAGE电泳纯的融合蛋白。     

棉铃虫嗅觉受体基因的克隆及组织特异性表达

昆虫嗅觉受体是一个高度变异的蛋白家族,但是其中一类嗅觉受体很特殊,它们在不同昆虫体内高度保守。该文作者从棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera体内克隆得到了这类受体基因,命名为ORHarm。ORHarm编码473个氨基酸残基,序列中有7个跨膜区,是典型的G蛋白偶联的受体。ORHarm与已经报道的昆虫同类嗅觉受体的同源性在60％以上,与近缘种烟芽夜蛾Heliothis virescens嗅觉受体的同源性高达99.4％。半定量RT-PCR研究表明,ORHarm主要在棉铃虫成虫触角中表达,在喙中也有表达,但表达量较低,在成虫其他的部位不表达;在棉铃虫发育的各个时期,如卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫体内,也都有表达。ORHarm不仅在感受挥发性气味物质的过程中起着重要的作用,而且也参与液态化学刺激的识别过程。     

尼日利亚西南部奥孙河沿线黑蝇Simulium damnosum Theobald complex的形态分类研究(双翅目: 蚋科)（英文）

黑蝇Simulium damnosum sensu lato是由多个姊妹种组成的复合体,这些种在生态学和盘尾丝虫病的传播方面各不相同。本文对奥孙河沿线的尼日利亚西南部森林区域的黑蝇S. damnosum s.l.复合体的组成以及成虫的形态学特征进行了研究。本研究所用的黑蝇S. damnosum s.l.成虫标本来源于奥孙河沿线的3个区,分别是Osun Eleja, Osun Ogbere和Osun Budepo。标本采集通过人体诱捕的方式,采集时间从2008年2月至2009年6月上午7:00到下午6:00,每两周采集1次。通过观察成虫的翅毛簇（wing tufts）和其他形态特征,对其进行分类研究。结果表明：存在同域分布的森林种和稀树草原种。在奥孙河沿线3个区内,森林种为优势种,占总捕获量的99.18%,而稀树草原种仅占0.82%;森林种和稀树草原种在多度上存在显著差异(P<0.05)。所捕获的所有稀树草原种的翅毛簇均为灰白色,而捕获的森林种的翅毛簇颜色存在显著差异(P<0.05)。为了更清楚地揭示该地区黑蝇S. damnosum s.l.的物种组成,建议进行更深入的研究。     

家蚕细胞色素P450基因Bmcyp6u1的克隆、序列分析与表达谱

细胞色素P450第6亚家族基因为昆虫所特有,与抗性相关。为了检测家蚕Bombyx mori cyp6u1基因是否与耐氟性相关,首先克隆了cyp6u1基因。采用生物信息学方法获得与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster cyp6u1基因同源的家蚕B. mori cyp6u1基因序列, 预测该序列的开放阅读框（ORF）为1 476 bp, 编码491个氨基酸, 推定的蛋白质分子质量为56.15 kD, 等电点为9.23。以家蚕5龄第3天幼虫精巢cDNA为模板, 设计特异引物PCR扩增出一条约1 500 bp的条带, 大小与家蚕cyp6u1序列的ORF预测值接近, 命名为Bmcyp6u1基因（GenBank登录号：HM130560）。同源性分析表明, Bmcyp6u1基因与蜜蜂Apis mellifera的同源基因cyp6AS13的相似性为56%, 与拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana的cyp72A82的相似性为48%, 与人Homo sapiens的cyp3A7基因的相似性为50%。芯片数据分析表明, Bmcyp6u1基因在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫各组织表达量很低, 只在精巢组织(5龄第3天)稍有表达, 推测该基因具有组织特异性。     

小菜蛾烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体α亚基cDNA的克隆、序列分析与不同发育阶段表达分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nAChR)介导昆虫中枢神经系统中胆碱能突触兴奋性神经递质的快速传递,也是新烟碱类杀虫剂和多杀菌素的作用靶标。本研究利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,克隆了小菜蛾Plutella xylostella nAChR α亚基的一个新基因(Pxα8)的全长cDNA(GenBank登录号为EU914853)。Pxα8的cDNA序列全长1 744 bp,开放阅读框为1 602 bp,编码534个氨基酸,具有nAChR α亚基的典型特征,与其他昆虫nAChR α8亚基具有77%～96%的相似性,与果蝇nAChR β2亚基具有76%的相似性。Pxα8的开放阅读框存在单核苷酸多态性位点,导致多个位点氨基酸的替换。雌性4龄幼虫的多态性位点多于雄性4龄幼虫,而且雌、雄4龄幼虫的多态性位点均不相同。半定量RT-PCR研究结果表明,Pxα8 mRNA在成虫期表达量高于蛹期和4龄幼虫期。本研究结果为进一步研究小菜蛾nAChR 亚基的多样性和对多杀菌素的靶标抗性机制提供重要基础。     

朱砂叶螨热激蛋白HSP70基因TCHSP70-4的克隆与表达

为了研究朱砂叶螨Tetranychus cinnabarinus(Boisduval)热激蛋白HSP70的表达与其适应高温和低温胁迫的关系,我们利用物种的同源性及RACE 技术,获得朱砂叶螨热激蛋白HSP70基因1个,命名为TCHSP70-4（GenBank 登录号为EU977182）。该基因全长2 182 bp,包含1 959 bp的开放阅读框,编码653个氨基酸,理论分子量为70.9 kDa,等电点为5.4,含有HSP70家族高度保守的基序。运用real-time PCR分析冷激（4℃）和热激（40℃）1 h后TCHSP70-4在朱砂叶螨体内的表达量。结果显示冷激后TCHSP70-4表达量明显下降,而热激后TCHSP70-4表达量却明显上升。这些结果一方面表明该基因属于诱导型HSP70基因,另一方面揭示了朱砂叶螨分别受到冷和热胁迫后体内TCHSP70-4的表达及所起的保护作用是不同的。     

光肩星天牛体内纤维素酶活性及其与寄主选择的关系（英文）

为了揭示光肩星天牛Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky纤维素酶与寄主选择的关系, 以4种不同寄主树种（新疆杨Populus alba var. pyramidalis Bunge、箭杆杨Populus nigra var. thevestina (Dode) Bean、合作杨Populus simonii × Populus pyramidalis cv. opera Hsu和漳河柳Salix matsudana f. lobato-glandulosa Faug et Liu来源的光肩星天牛幼虫, 和以取食5种不同树种（臭椿Ailanthus altissima、毛白杨Populus tomentosa、合作杨、旱柳Salix matsudana Koidz.和复叶槭Acer negundo Linn.）的光肩星天牛成虫为实验对象, 测定其纤维素酶活性。结果表明: 不同寄主来源的光肩星天牛幼虫内切-β-1,4-葡聚糖酶活性在1.36~2.71 μmol葡萄糖/ (g FW·h)之间, β-葡萄糖苷酶活性在2.57~4.86 μmol葡萄糖/(g FW·h)之间;取食不同树种的光肩星天牛成虫内切-β-1,4-葡聚糖酶活性在4.08~9.27 μmol葡萄糖/(g FW·h)之间, β-葡萄糖苷酶活性在2.87~6.08 μmol葡萄糖/ (g FW·h)之间。不同寄主树种来源的光肩星天牛幼虫体内纤维素酶活性无显著性差异, 取食与否以及取食树种的不同对光肩星天牛成虫纤维素酶活有较大影响。     

家蚕核型多角体病毒egt基因的分子进化分析

过PCR方法获得家蚕核型多角体病毒（Bombyx mori nuclearpolyhedrosis virus,BmNPV）的蜕皮甾体尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖基转移酶基因（egt）片段,序列分析表明该片段带有EGT的完整ORF,推测的多肽可形成EGT结构域的高级结构。为了研究egt的起源,利用家蚕基因组数据库,电子克隆了多个家蚕尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖醛酸转移酶（UGT）基因,在此基础上进行了进化分析,表明BmNPV的EGT为antennal-enriched型UGT;推测核型多角体病毒（nucleopolyhedrivirus,NPV）和颗粒体病毒（granulovirus,GV）的egt基因在进化上来源于昆虫的UGT基因,但GV的egt基因在进化上的起源可能要早于NPV的egt基因;可能在昆虫祖先种进化形成不同昆虫目的某一时期,杆状病毒的祖先种从昆虫中获得了antennal-enriched型UGT基因,并进化为egt基因。家蚕的部分UGT基因与转座子元件连锁的基因组结构特点反映了杆状病毒的egt基因可能通过转座子的传递而获得。     

Changes of RNA virus infection rates and gut microbiota in young worker Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of a chalkbrood-infected colony after a pollination task in a greenhouse

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) populations recently have been in decline worldwide owing not only to colony collapse disorder but also other infectious diseases. The problem is neither decreasing nor has it been resolved. Chalkbrood (Ascosphaera apis, Maassen ex Claussen) is a well-known fungal brood disease that is now found throughout the world, and there are indications that the incidence of chalkbrood may be on the rise. Here, we conducted comparative studies to analyze infection rates of pathogenic RNA viruses and gut microbiota of young worker honey bees in two colonies: a healthy control colony raised in an open field and a test colony showing the chalkbrood symptom after a 2-month pollination task in a strawberry greenhouse. We found that the number of young worker bees with deformed wing virus (DWV) RNA was significantly elevated in the chalkbrood-infected colony, and two kinds of gut γ-proteobacteria, Frischella perrara gen. nov. and Pasteurellaceae bacterium Trm1, were especially increased in DWV-infected animals. These results showed that the DWV infection rates of worker honey bees were enhanced when their brood was infected with chalkbrood disease and that the gut microbiota in worker bees was significantly affected by the virus infection.     

Behavior and molecular physiology of nurses of worker and queen larvae in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

In a honey bee colony, worker bees rear a new queen by providing her with a larger cell in which to develop and a large amount of richer food (royal jelly). Royal jelly and worker jelly (fed to developing worker larvae) differ in terms of sugar, vitamin, protein and nucleotide composition. Here we examined whether workers attending queen and worker larvae are separate specialized sub-castes of the nurse bees. We collected nurse bees attending queen larvae (AQL) and worker larvae (AWL) and compared gene expression profiles of hypopharyngeal gland tissues, using Solexa/Illumina digital gene expression tag profiling (DGE). Significant differences in gene expression were found that included a disproportionate number of genes involved in glandular secretion and royal jelly synthesis. However behavioral observations showed that these were not two entirely distinct populations. Nurse workers were observed attending both worker larvae and queen larvae, and there was no evidence of a specialized group of workers that preferentially or exclusively attended developing queens. Nevertheless, AQL attended larvae more frequently compared to AWL, suggesting that nurses sampled attending queen larvae may have been the most active nurses. This study serves as another example of the relationship between differences in gene expression and behavioral specialisation in honey bees.     

Effect of royal jelly on longevity and memory-related traits of Apis mellifera workers

Royal jelly (RJ) is a key factor for honey bee caste determination. The queen bee is fed with RJ by worker bees throughout her life, while the worker bees eat bee bread themselves. This study was designed to explore the effect of nutrient-rich RJ on longevity and learning and memory abilities of workers of the western honey bee Apis mellifera. The newly emerged worker bees were randomly divided into three groups and were fed 50% sucrose solution containing 0%, 10%, and 20% RJ. We found that worker bees fed with 10% and 20% RJ showed significantly improved longevity and higher proboscis extension response success rate compared to bees fed with 50% sucrose containing 0% RJ. Additionally, bees fed with 20% RJ showed significantly higher level of expression of memory related genes (GluRA and Nmdar1) compared to the control group. Furthermore, expression of the Nmdar1 gene of worker bees fed with 10% RJ was also significantly higher than in the control group. These results indicate that RJ has potential effects on the longevity and learning and memory abilities of A. mellifera.     

Activity of Some Selected Hydrolases in Worker Honey Bees, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis cerana</Emphasis> (Fabr.). [Apidae:Insecta]

An API ZYM (Bio-Merieux, Lyon, France) test kit was used to examine the activity 19 hydrolases in in-hive bees and out-hive bees of worker Apis cerana. The study indicated that the activity of enzymes was changing in hypopharyngeal gland in in-hive and out-hive worker bees distinctly. The activities of most of the enzymes were observed. The protein hydrolases (acidic hydrolases) viz. leucine arylamidase, and valine arylamidase were more active in in-hive bees than out-hive bees. Rest of the tested enzymes were moderately present both in in-hive and out-hive bees. The hypopharyngeal gland and their secretion play important role affecting digestion of pollen, lipids and carbohydrates.     

Urbanization Increases Pathogen Pressure on Feral and Managed Honey Bees

Given the role of infectious disease in global pollinator decline, there is a need to understand factors that shape pathogen susceptibility and transmission in bees. Here we ask how urbanization affects the immune response and pathogen load of feral and managed colonies of honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus), the predominant economically important pollinator worldwide. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we measured expression of 4 immune genes and relative abundance of 10 honey bee pathogens. We also measured worker survival in a laboratory bioassay. We found that pathogen pressure on honey bees increased with urbanization and management, and the probability of worker survival declined 3-fold along our urbanization gradient. The effect of management on pathogens appears to be mediated by immunity, with feral bees expressing immune genes at nearly twice the levels of managed bees following an immune challenge. The effect of urbanization, however, was not linked with immunity; instead, urbanization may favor viability and transmission of some disease agents. Feral colonies, with lower disease burdens and stronger immune responses, may illuminate ways to improve honey bee management. The previously unexamined effects of urbanization on honey-bee disease are concerning, suggesting that urban areas may favor problematic diseases of pollinators.     

Social Modulation of Stress Reactivity and Learning in Young Worker Honey Bees

Alarm pheromone and its major component isopentylacetate induce stress-like responses in forager honey bees, impairing their ability to associate odors with a food reward. We investigated whether isopentylacetate exposure decreases appetitive learning also in young worker bees. While isopentylacetate-induced learning deficits were observed in guards and foragers collected from a queen-right colony, learning impairments resulting from exposure to this pheromone could not be detected in bees cleaning cells. As cell cleaners are generally among the youngest workers in the colony, effects of isopentylacetate on learning behavior were examined further using bees of known age. Adult workers were maintained under laboratory conditions from the time of adult emergence. Fifty percent of the bees were exposed to queen mandibular pheromone during this period, whereas control bees were not exposed to this pheromone. Isopentylacetate-induced learning impairments were apparent in young (less than one week old) controls, but not in bees of the same age exposed to queen mandibular pheromone. This study reveals young worker bees can exhibit a stress-like response to alarm pheromone, but isopentylacetate-induced learning impairments in young bees are suppressed by queen mandibular pheromone. While isopentylacetate exposure reduced responses during associative learning (acquisition), it did not affect one-hour memory retrieval.     

An information-theory analysis of task specialization among worker honey bees performing hive duties

Worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) performing field duties are known to possess individual task specializations. However, little evidence has been forthcoming about individual specializations among the younger pre-foraging worker bees performing hive duties. This paper reports results obtained from behavioural observations of worker bees in seven hives. An information-theory analysis of these data reveals that the divergence from independence (D₂) of worker bee identity and behavioural pattern performed has a low value in all of the experimental hives. Young worker bees performing hive duties therefore do not possess detectable individual specializations. Environmental and life-history considerations that may account for this difference in behaviour between field and hive worker bees are discussed.     

Senescence in the worker honey bee Apis Mellifera

Honey bees are social insects that exhibit striking caste-specific differences in longevity. Queen honey bees live on average 1-2 years, whereas workers live 2-6 weeks in the summer and about 20 weeks in the winter. It is not clear whether queen-worker differences in longevity are due to intrinsic physiological differences in the rate of senescence, to differential exposure to extrinsic factors such as predation and adverse environmental conditions, or both. To determine if the relatively short lifespan of worker bees involves senescence, we measured age-specific resistance to three different physiological stressors (starvation, thermal, and oxidative stress) while eliminating age-related differences in foraging activity and minimizing age-related differences in energy expenditure. Despite these manipulations, older worker bees were still significantly less resistant to all three stressors than were younger bees. These results indicate that the regulation of worker bee lifespan involves senescence, in addition to extrinsic factors.     

Effects of social environment and worker mandibular glands on endocrine-mediated behavioral development in honey bees

Previous studies suggest that older honey bee workers possess an inhibitory signal that regulates behavioral development in younger bees. To study how this inhibitor is transmitted, bees were reared for 7 days in double-screen cages, single-screen cages, or unrestricted in a typical colony (control bees). Double-screen cages prevented physical contact with colony members while single-screen cages allowed only antennation and food exchange. Bees reared in double-screen cages showed accelerated endocrine and behavioral development; they had significantly higher rates of juvenile hormone biosynthesis and juvenile hormone titers than did control bees and also were more likely to become precocious foragers. Relative to the other two groups, bees reared in single-screen cages showed intermediate juvenile hormone biosynthesis rates and titers, and intermediate rates of behavioral development. These results indicate that physical contact is required for total inhibition. We also began to test the hypothesis that worker mandibular glands are the sources of an inhibitory signal. Old bees with mandibular glands removed were significantly less inhibitory towards young bees than were sham-operated and unoperated bees. These results suggest that an inhibitor is produced by the worker mandibular glands. Accepted: 29 January 1998