http://www.nature.com/articles/srep11779#t2Article | Open - no pay wall


Detoxification mechanisms of honey bees (Apis mellifera) resulting in
tolerance of dietary nicotine.

Abstract:

Insecticides are thought to be among the major factors contributing to
current declines in bee populations. However, detoxification mechanisms in
healthy, unstressed honey bees are poorly characterised. Alkaloids are
naturally encountered in pollen and nectar, and we used nicotine as a model
compound to identify the mechanisms involved in detoxification processes in
honey bees. Nicotine and neonicotinoids have similar modes of action in
insects. Our metabolomic and proteomic analyses show active detoxification
of nicotine in bees, associated with increased energetic investment and also
antioxidant and heat shock responses. The increased energetic investment is
significant in view of the interactions of pesticides with diseases such as
Nosema spp which cause energetic stress and possible malnutrition.
Understanding how healthy honey bees process dietary toxins under unstressed
conditions will help clarify how pesticides, alone or in synergy with other
stress factors, lead to declines in bee vitality.


Published online: 02 July 2015.

Kind regards,

Ghislain De Roeck
Belgium.

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