中华蜜蜂雄蜂脑部组织结构观察

通过组织化学方法,对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana Fabricius雄蜂的脑部的形态结构进行观察。结果表明,雄蜂的脑由前脑、中脑和后脑三部分构成,前脑视叶两侧具有大而显著的复眼,而其他结构相对较小。蕈形体在脑中所占的比例小于工蜂和蜂王;中心体的比例小于工蜂,与蜂王接近;中脑的嗅叶相对较为发达,这使它们在同蜂王的交配过程中,能够更灵敏地接收来自于蜂王性外激素的刺激。中华蜜蜂雄蜂的嗅叶具有性二态现象,但是与意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera L.雄蜂发达的巨大纤维球复合体相比,中华蜜蜂并不明显;除此之外,它们在脑部结构上没有显著差异。     

Differential antennal proteome comparison of adult honeybee drone, worker and queen (Apis mellifera L.)

To understand the olfactory mechanism of honeybee antennae in detecting specific volatile compounds in the atmosphere, antennal proteome differences of drone, worker and queen were compared using 2-DE, mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Therefore, 107 proteins were altered their expressions in the antennae of drone, worker and queen bees. There were 54, 21 and 32 up-regulated proteins in the antennae of drone, worker and queen, respectively. Proteins upregulated in the drone antennae were involved in fatty acid metabolism, antioxidation, carbohydrate metabolism and energy production, protein folding and cytoskeleton. Proteins upregulated in the antennae of worker and queen bees were related to carbohydrate metabolism and energy production while molecular transporters were upregulated in the queen antennae. Our results explain the role played by the antennae of drone is to aid in perceiving the queen sexual pheromones, in the worker antennae to assist for food search and social communication and in the queen antennae to help pheromone communication with the worker and the drone during the mating flight. This first proteomic study significantly extends our understanding of honeybee olfactory activities and the possible mechanisms played by the antennae in response to various environmental, social, biological and biochemical signals.     

Natural selection of Varroa jacobsoni explains the different reproductive strategies in colonies of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera

In colonies of European Apis mellifera, Varroa jacobsoni reproduces both in drone and in worker cells. In colonies of its original Asian host, Apis cerana, the mites invade both drone and worker brood cells, but reproduce only in drone cells. Absence of reproduction in worker cells is probably crucial for the tolerance of A. cerana towards V. jacobsoni because it implies that the mite population can only grow during periods in which drones are reared. To test if non-reproduction of V. jacobsoni in worker brood cells of A. cerana is due to a trait of the mites or of the honey-bee species, mites from bees in A. mellifera colonies were artificially introduced into A. cerana worker brood cells and vice versa. Approximately 80% of the mites from A. mellifera colonies reproduced in naturally infested worker cells as well as when introduced into worker cells of A. mellifera and A. cerana. Conversely, only 10% of the mites from A. cerana colonies reproduced, both in naturally infested worker cells of A. cerana and when introduced into worker cells of A. mellifera. Hence, absence of reproduction in worker cells is due to a trait of the mites. Additional experiments showed that A. cerana bees removed 84% of the worker brood that was artificially infested with mites from A. mellifera colonies. Brood removal started 2 days after artificial infestation, which suggests that the bees responded to behaviour of the mites. Since removal behaviour of the bees will have a large impact on fitness of the mites, it probably plays an important role in selection for differential reproductive strategies. Our findings have large implications for selection programmes to breed less-susceptible bee strains. If differences in non-reproduction are mite specific, we should not only look for non-reproduction as such, but for colonies in which non-reproduction in worker cells is selected. Hence, in selection programmes fitness of mites that reproduce in both drone and worker cells should be compared to fitness of mites that reproduce only in drone cells. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Structural and functional differences in the antennal olfactory system of worker honey bees of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana

Olfactory cues are important sensory modalities on individual discrimination, perception, and efficient orientation to food sources in most insects. In honey bees, which are well known as eusocial insects, olfactory cues are mainly used to maintain a colony. Although much research has been reported on olfactory systems in honey bee olfaction, little is known about the differences between two major honey bee species, the European honey bee Apis mellifera and the Asian honey bee Apis cerana. In order to understand the differences of olfactory characteristics in the two species, we compared the distribution of sensory hairs on the antennae and antennal olfactory responses, using electron microscopy, electrophysiological recording and molecular expression level of odorant receptors. Our present study demonstrated that the antennae of A. cerana have more olfactory sensilla than A. mellifera, responding more strongly to various floral volatile compounds. At the molecular level, olfactory co-receptor (Orco), which makes heterodimers with other conventional olfactory receptors, is more abundantly expressed in the antenna of A. cerana than of A. mellifera. These findings extend our understanding of the olfactory systems and behavioral responses to various ecological and biological signals in two closely related honey bee species.     

中华蜜蜂Orco嗅觉受体基因的克隆、表达及亚细胞定位

【目的】克隆鉴定中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana的Orco嗅觉受体基因, 并对其在工蜂触角上进行免疫荧光定位。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术克隆中华蜜蜂Orco基因, 并对其编码的氨基酸序列进行生物信息学分析, 使用Real-time PCR技术鉴定其在中华蜜蜂不同发育时期及不同组织的表达谱; 利用免疫荧光定位技术在中华蜜蜂工蜂触角中对Orco进行亚细胞定位。【结果】获得中华蜜蜂Orco基因的全长cDNA序列, 命名为AcerOrco (GenBank登录号： JF968610.1), 其全长为1 434 bp, 编码477个氨基酸, 预测其含7个跨膜结构以及4个位于细胞膜外的亲水区。表达谱分析显示, AcerOrco在卵、 幼虫和蛹期呈低丰度表达, 1日龄及内勤蜂时期主要在触角和足中表达, 且在1日龄的触角中表达量最高; 采集蜂时期的触角、 头(去除触角)、 胸、 腹和翅中均有较高丰度的表达。亚细胞定位结果显示, AcerOrco不仅在采集蜂触角鞭节上大量表达（尤其在触角鞭节第1亚节中表达量较高）, 而且常成对出现, 并且发现AcerOrco可能主要在触角毛形感器的外部神经元(outer dendrite, OD)以及板形感器的树突神经元中表达。【结论】成功克隆了AcerOrco基因全长, 获得了其表达谱, 且将其定位于工蜂采集蜂的触角感器神经元上, 最终推测AcerOrco与中蜂嗅觉发育和触角感器功能密切相关。     

中华蜜蜂气味结合蛋白基因OBP4的分子特性及时空表达

气味结合蛋白OBPs在蜜蜂识别气味分子和生理反应的过程中起到了十分重要的作用。本研究通过利用生物信息学软件预测分析中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana气味结合蛋白基因OBP4(AcerOBP4)编码的蛋白理化特性和结构特征;采用MEGA 5.2软件中的邻位相连法(Neighbor-joining, NJ)构建AcerOBP4及其它昆虫OBPs的系统发育树;通过qRT-PCR技术分析AcerOBP4在中华蜜蜂的哺育蜂、采集蜂和1日龄工蜂各组织的表达情况。结果表明,中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂Apis melliferaOBP4(AmelOBP4)氨基酸同源性为78%,AcerOBP4在中华蜜蜂的触角表达量最高,其次是足和头部组织表明该基因与蜜蜂的嗅觉行为密切相关。此外,AcerOBP4在蜜蜂脑部有一定的表达,但是在腹部组织表达量很低。该研究结果丰富了蜜蜂OBPs表达特性的研究数据,同时也为继续深入研究OBP4在中华蜜蜂中是否影响嗅觉行为提供了基础。     

Monthly changes in various drone characteristics of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera syriaca

This study was conducted to investigate drone rearing activity and semen production of Apis mellifera ligustica and Apis mellifera syriaca . Tendency of worker bees of both subspecies towards egg laying under semiarid conditions were also monitored in the experiments. Differences were not observed in drone brood production between both honeybee subspecies throughout the investigation. Worker bees of both subspecies needed a significantly shorter time to start egg laying during February and March in comparison with the time those workers needed for laying eggs during the remaining months of the study. Syrian bee workers started egg laying earlier than Italian bee workers. Drones from laying workers were much smaller and produced less sperms with more abnormalities than normal drones. Drones produced from queens in May were heavier and produced more sperms with less abnormalities than those produced during the other months. The drone brood rearing of both subspecies tended to follow the same general cycle in 2005 and 2006. The study suggests that virgin queens have a better chance to receive adequate viable sperm amounts from drones in April and May in semiarid Mediterranean conditions.     

中、西蜂间自然交尾干扰问题的观察

中西蜂蜂王性引诱信息素对中、西蜂雄蜂具有交互引诱交尾作用 ,且处女王婚飞和雄蜂出游时间一致。在中、西蜂 (主要指意蜂 )混养区 ,空中交尾竞争处于劣势的中蜂 ,受到西蜂严重干扰而繁殖受阻 ,是中蜂在平原等地区日益缩减多因素中的一个重要原因。蜂种间“自然交尾干扰”论点的提出 ,为保护中蜂资源、发展中蜂生产提供了科学依据。     

Comparative study of the antennal lobes and their afferent pathway in the worker bee and the drone (Apis mellifera)

Summary The topography of the antennal afferent path-ways was studied comparatively in the worker bee and the drone of Apis mellifera L. by cellular marking, following localized application of cobalt chloride to the cut end of one antenna. This study dealt principally with the first relay of the afferent pathway in the glomeruli of the antennal lobe. The counting and measurement of all the glomeruli were performed on 5 worker bees and 5 drones. An important sexual dimorphism, represented by 4 large and easily identifiable glomerular complexes, was demonstrated in the drone. In both worker bee and drone, four main regions of the glomerular neuropil were distinguished according to corresponding afferent bundles. The worker possessed 166 glomeruli and the drone 103. The number, position and dimensions of the glomeruli indicated that the glomerular organization was unvarying in worker bees and in drones. Concerning the internal structure of the glomeruli, two types were distinguished: the great majority (95%) exhibited a cortical layer, whereas in the 7 posterior glomeruli the synaptic fields of association seemed to be scattered throughout the whole volume. The main results of this work (glomerular invariance, sexual dimorphism) support the hypothesis of the functional unit of the glomeruli.Unité de Recherche Associée au CNRS, UA 483     

羽化和性成熟时中华蜜蜂蜂王和雄蜂转录组分析

【目的】为了系统了解中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana蜂王和雄蜂转录组特征,丰富蜜蜂转录组数据信息。【方法】本研究利用高通量测序的方法分别检测中华蜜蜂蜂王和雄蜂刚出房、性成熟时期以及性成熟期蜂王生殖系统和雄蜂生殖系统之间转录组表达差异。【结果】经过测序获得质量值不低于20的碱基比例（Q20）均高于90%;所有reads组装成90 839个unigenes,平均长度1 549 bp;基于5个数据库(NR,Swiss Prot,GO,COG和KEGG)进行比对,共有45 112个unigenes被注释。差异基因表达分析发现,与刚出房时相比,性成熟的蜂王和雄蜂均在表皮蛋白、细胞色素P450、气味结合蛋白等家族基因上存在显著差异表达,而且这些差异表达基因与蜜蜂生长发育和性成熟过程中蜜蜂骨骼发育、生殖系统发育、嗅觉发育等方面有关;性成熟蜂王与性成熟雄蜂之间以及它们生殖系统之间在气味结合蛋白基因方面存在显著差异。【结论】结果表明,中华蜜蜂在性成熟过程中,体内大量基因的表达发生了变化。这些结果揭示了中华蜜蜂性成熟发育的整体基因表达特征,在得到大量转录组unigene序列的同时,获得了一批与蜜蜂性成熟有关的基因序列,为深入开展中华蜜蜂生长发育与繁殖研究提供了丰富的数据资源。     

中华蜜蜂气味结合蛋白AcerOBP14的表达及配体结合特性分析

[目的]气味结合蛋白(odorant binding proteins,OBPs)在昆虫寄主定位、产卵地选择等行为中发挥着重要作用,明确中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana AcerOBP14与配体的结合特性有助于阐明中华蜜蜂嗅觉识别的分子机制.[方法]通过qRT-PCR测定OBP14在20日龄中华蜜蜂成年工蜂...     

意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera ligustica)与中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana ceraca)的生态位比较

为了明确中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂在皖南山区生态适应性,研究两种蜜蜂的食物生态位、时间生态位和空间生态位及其差异,结果是中蜂与意蜂食物(蜜源植物)资源生态位宽度分别是 0.923、0.765,中蜂对蜜源植物采集喜好性差异小,而意蜂差异大,中蜂对意蜂生态位重迭为0.160,中蜂对意蜂生态位相似性为0.755;油菜花期,中蜂与意蜂时间资源生态位宽度分别是0.879、0.801,枇杷花期,分别是0.760、0.677,中蜂与意蜂的空间资源生态位宽度分别是0.797、0.670.中蜂3种生态位宽度均大于意蜂,中蜂三维生态位值是意蜂的1.61倍和1.57倍.表明中蜂在皖南山区生态适应性比意蜂强.     

中华蜜蜂精巢和卵巢差异表达基因分析

[目的]在蜂群中,雄蜂与蜂王都有着发育完全的性腺,但两者达到性成熟的时间却是不同步的.本研究旨在探究中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana雄蜂与蜂王生殖腺的基因表达差异.[方法]利用Illumina测序技术对中华蜜蜂雄蜂精巢与蜂王卵巢转录组差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes...     

Identification of honeybee antennal proteins/genes expressed in a sex- and/or caste selective manner

We identified three candidate proteins/genes involved in caste and/or sex-specific olfactory processing in the honeybee Apis mellifera L., that are differentially expressed between the antennae of the worker, queen, and drone honeybees using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or the differential display method. A protein was identified, termed D-AP1, that was expressed preferentially in drone antennae when compared to those of workers. cDNA cloning revealed that D-AP1 is homologous to carboxylesterases. Enzymatic carboxylesterase activity in the drone antennae was higher than in the workers, suggesting its dominant function in the drone antennae. In contrast, two proteins encoded by genes termed W-AP1 and Amwat were expressed preferentially in worker antennae when compared to those of queens. W-AP1 is homologous to insect chemosensory protein, and Amwat encodes a novel secretory protein. W-AP1 is expressed selectively in worker antennae, while Amwat is expressed both in the antennae and legs of the workers. These findings suggest that these proteins are involved in the antennal function characteristic to drone or worker honeybees.     

Drone and Worker Brood Microclimates Are Regulated Differentially in Honey Bees,Apis mellifera

Background

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones and workers show differences in morphology, physiology, and behavior. Because the functions of drones are more related to colony reproduction, and those of workers relate to both survival and reproduction, we hypothesize that the microclimate for worker brood is more precisely regulated than that of drone brood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We assessed temperature and relative humidity (RH) inside honey bee colonies for both drone and worker brood throughout the three-stage development period, using digital HOBO^® Data Loggers. The major findings of this study are that 1) both drone and worker castes show the highest temperature for eggs, followed by larvae and then pupae; 2) temperature in drones are maintained at higher precision (smaller variance) in drone eggs and larvae, but at a lower precision in pupae than the corresponding stages of workers; 3) RH regulation showed higher variance in drone than workers across all brood stages; and 4) RH regulation seems largely due to regulation by workers, as the contribution from empty honey combs are much smaller compared to that from adult workers.

Conclusions/Significance

We conclude that honey bee colonies maintain both temperature and humidity actively; that the microclimate for sealed drone brood is less precisely regulated than worker brood; and that combs with honey contribute very little to the increase of RH in honey bee colonies. These findings increase our understanding of microclimate regulation in honey bees and may have implications for beekeeping practices.     

中华蜜蜂dynactin p62基因的克隆及不同发育阶段表达分析

为探究中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana dynactin p62基因的表达特性, 本研究克隆了中华蜜蜂dynactin p62的基因组DNA序列(GenBank登录号： JX101463) 和mRNA序列（GenBank登录号： JX101464）; 采用荧光定量PCR检测了中华蜜蜂dynactin p62在不同发育时期（3日龄和6日龄幼虫、 刚羽化出房蜜蜂）三型蜂中mRNA的表达量。结果表明： 该基因基因组DNA序列全长为2 403 bp, mRNA序列全长为1 491 bp, 编码496个氨基酸残基, 预测的蛋白分子量为56.49 kD, 等电点为8.31。系统发育分析表明中华蜜蜂dynactin p62与西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera dynactin p62聚成一支。该基因在不同发育时期均有表达, 在雌性蜜蜂（蜂王和工蜂）中, 刚羽化成虫期的表达量显著高于幼虫期(P<0.05), 并且同一发育时期相比, 工蜂的表达量显著高于蜂王(P<0.05); 而该基因在雄蜂中表达量没有明显的规律性。这些结果提示该基因可能与中华蜜蜂级型分化有关。     

T-RFLP analysis of bacterial communities in the midguts of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana honey bees in Thailand

This study investigated bacterial community structures in the midguts of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana in Thailand to understand how bacterial communities develop in Apis species. The bacterial species present in replicate colonies from different locations and life stages were analysed. PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses revealed a total of 16 distinct terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs), 12 of which were shared between A. mellifera and A. cerana populations. The T-RFs were affiliated to Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinomycetes. The Gammaproteobacteria were found to be common in all stages of honey bee, but in addition, the Firmicutes group was found to be present in the worker bees. Bacterial community structure showed no difference amongst the replicate colonies, but was affected to some degree by geographical location, life stage and species of honey bees.     

Selection on a haploid genotype for discrimination learning performance: Correlation between drone honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their worker progeny (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Successful bidirectional selection for discriminative olfactory learning is reported for drone honey bees (Apis mellifera). Learning performance was evaluated using a discrimination conditioning procedure that required drones to discriminate between an appetitively reinforced odorant and one that was followed by punishment. Selective breeding produced high- and low-learning-performance lines of worker progeny that diverged from performance of workers whose fathers were selected at random. Furthermore, we show that levels of sucrose-induced sensitization are not correlated to learning performance. These results corroborate earlier findings and further demonstrate the power of selection on a haploid (drone) genotype. In addition, this study now shows that the demonstrated differences in learning performance cannot be completely accounted for by alteration of sucrose-induced sensitization. Thus, using this technique, it may be possible to select for associative conditioning without a pleiotropic increase in sensitization. The honey bee will be ideally suited to these types of correlation analyses in future studies.