Meeting Abstract
P1.53 Saturday, Jan. 4 15:30 Extending a hormetic stress model for ethanol to other chemical stresses affecting honey bees. BOWER, C.D.*; ABRAMSON, C.I.; GUNEŞ, N.; ÇAKMAK, I.; HRANITZ, J.M.; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Uludağ University, Bursa, TURKEY; Uludağ University, Bursa, TURKEY; Uludağ University, Bursa, TURKEY; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania cdb84667@huskies.bloomu.edu
Stress proteins are molecular chaperones, assisting nascent protein folding during cellular stress. These proteins are highly conserved among all organisms and allow for organisms to survive environmental stresses. Previous research shows that ethanol ingestion affects bee physiology and behavior in ways similar to humans. Increased alcohol dose raises blood alcohol content, reduces locomotor activity and coordination, disrupts memory and learning, increases aggression, and impairs communication among worker bees. Honey bees also exhibit dose-dependent responses to ethanol; low doses stimulate compensatory stress responses and high doses yield lethal stress responses. We used honey bee microarrays to investigate gene expression in the brain at 0 hr and 4 hr post-feeding of an ethanol dose that stimulates a maximum compensatory stress response. Microarray analysis detected 603 reporters that differed between treatment and control bees. Ethanol-induced stress altered expression of gene networks for cellular processes and pathways that regulate cell signaling and stress tolerance, promote oxidoreduction balance, maintain chemical homeostasis, regulate locomotion, and foster communication. In parallel studies, we observed sublethal dose responses for several pesticides used to control mite infestations (acaracides). If similar to our ethanol studies, sublethal doses of acaracides may alter gene expression with unforeseen consequences for honey bee performance. Candidate gene networks are useful to integrate genetic mechanisms of ethanol- or pesticide-induced impairment with specific biological processes, including locomotion, communication, memory, and learning in honey bees.
