Meeting Abstract
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) has been reported consistently over the past decade, however the root cause of CCD has not been determined. Because of a variety of hypothesized pathogens associated with the progression of CCD, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how the honeybee immune system responds to immunological threats. Our goal in this study was to identify how two different subspecies of honey bees (Italians [Apis mellifera ligustica] and ferals [A. m. scutellata]) commonly utilized by the pollination and honey industry differ in their immune response. Using Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS), we simulated a pathogenic infection in each subspecies of bee and then used colorimetric assays to detect and quantify circulating proteins associated with the invertebrate immune response. After feeding bees an LPS solution, they were incubated for 0, 2, or 4 hours to identify how immune investment changes over time since infection. After the allotted time, hemolymph was collected for immunological assessment. Our data show that feral bees survived pathogenic challenge at moderately higher rates than their Italian counterparts. Italian bees also decreased their circulating proteins concentrations over time, while ferals increased these values. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not statistically significant between subspecies, however both subspecies increased their SOD activity over time. Italians had higher prophenoloxidase (PPO) activity than feral bees at all time-points tested, however feral bees decreased their circulating PPO over time, while Italian bees did not. These data provide evidence that there are differences in how each subspecies combat infections, however the proteins responsible for these differences have not yet be identified.
