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Alison R. Mercer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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social modulation of stress reactivity and learning in young Worker Honey Bees
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Elodie Urlacher, Ingrid Tarr, Alison R. MercerAbstract: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.
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queen pheromone modulates stress responsiveness in young adult Worker Honey Bees
2014Co-Authors: Elodie Urlacher, Ingrid Tarr, Alison R. MercerAbstract:33 - Behavioural ecology and neurobiology of cognition in social insects, Oral Presentation
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Queen pheromone blocks aversive learning in young Worker Bees
Science, 2007Co-Authors: Vanina Vergoz, Haley A. Schreurs, Alison R. MercerAbstract:Queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) has profound effects on dopamine signaling in the brain of young Worker Honey Bees. As dopamine in insects has been strongly implicated in aversive learning, we examined QMP's impact on associative olfactory learning in Bees. We found that QMP blocks aversive learning in young Workers, but leaves appetitive learning intact. We postulate that QMP's effects on aversive learning enhance the likelihood that young Workers remain in close contact with their queen by preventing them from forming an aversion to their mother's pheromone bouquet. The results provide an interesting twist to a story of success and survival.
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queen pheromone modulates brain dopamine function in Worker Honey Bees
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2007Co-Authors: Kyle T Beggs, Vanina Vergoz, Kelly A Glendining, Nicola M Marechal, Ikumi Nakamura, K N Slessor, Alison R. MercerAbstract:Honey bee queens produce a sophisticated array of chemical signals (pheromones) that influence both the behavior and physiology of their nest mates. Most striking are the effects of queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), a chemical blend that induces young Workers to feed and groom the queen and primes Bees to perform colony-related tasks. But how does this pheromone operate at the cellular level? This study reveals that QMP has profound effects on dopamine pathways in the brain, pathways that play a central role in behavioral regulation and motor control. In young Worker Bees, dopamine levels, levels of dopamine receptor gene expression, and cellular responses to this amine are all affected by QMP. We identify homovanillyl alcohol as a key contributor to these effects and provide evidence linking QMP-induced changes in the brain to changes at a behavioral level. This study offers exciting insights into the mechanisms through which QMP operates and a deeper understanding of the queen's ability to regulate the behavior of her offspring.
Christina M Grozinger - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Chronic parasitization by Nosema microsporidia causes global expression changes in core nutritional, metabolic and behavioral pathways in Honey bee Workers (Apis mellifera).
BMC Genomics, 2013Co-Authors: Holly L. Holt, Katherine A. Aronstein, Christina M GrozingerAbstract:Background Chronic infections can profoundly affect the physiology, behavior, fitness and longevity of individuals, and may alter the organization and demography of social groups. Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are two microsporidian parasites which chronically infect the digestive tract of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera). These parasites, in addition to other stressors, have been linked to increased mortality of individual Workers and colony losses in this key pollinator species. Physiologically, Nosema infection damages midgut tissue, is energetically expensive and alters expression of immune genes in Worker Honey Bees. Infection also accelerates Worker transition from nursing to foraging behavior (termed behavioral maturation). Here, using microarrays, we characterized global gene expression patterns in adult Worker Honey bee midgut and fat body tissue in response to Nosema infection.
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Regulation of behaviorally associated gene networks in Worker Honey bee ovaries.
The Journal of experimental biology, 2012Co-Authors: Ying Wang, Robert E Page, Sarah D Kocher, Timothy A Linksvayer, Christina M Grozinger, Gro V AmdamAbstract:Several lines of evidence support genetic links between ovary size and division of labor in Worker Honey Bees. However, it is largely unknown how ovaries influence behavior. To address this question, we first performed transcriptional profiling on Worker ovaries from two genotypes that differ in social behavior and ovary size. Then, we contrasted the differentially expressed ovarian genes with six sets of available brain transcriptomes. Finally, we probed behavior-related candidate gene networks in wild-type ovaries of different sizes. We found differential expression in 2151 ovarian transcripts in these artificially selected Honey bee strains, corresponding to approximately 20.3% of the predicted gene set of Honey Bees. Differences in gene expression overlapped significantly with changes in the brain transcriptomes. Differentially expressed genes were associated with neural signal transmission (tyramine receptor, TYR) and ecdysteroid signaling; two independently tested nuclear hormone receptors (HR46 and ftz-f1) were also significantly correlated with ovary size in wild-type Bees. We suggest that the correspondence between ovary and brain transcriptomes identified here indicates systemic regulatory networks among hormones (juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids), pheromones (queen mandibular pheromone), reproductive organs and nervous tissues in Worker Honey Bees. Furthermore, robust correlations between ovary size and neuraland endocrine response genes are consistent with the hypothesized roles of the ovaries in Honey bee behavioral regulation.
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Regulation of behaviorally associated gene networks in Worker Honey bee ovaries.
Journal of Experimental Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Ying Wang, Robert E Page, Sarah D Kocher, Timothy A Linksvayer, Christina M Grozinger, Gro V AmdamAbstract:Several lines of evidence support genetic links between ovary size and division of labor in Worker Honey Bees. However, it is largely unknown how ovaries influence behavior. To address this question, we first performed transcriptional profiling on Worker ovaries from two genotypes that differ in social behavior and ovary size. Then, we contrasted the differentially expressed ovarian genes with six sets of available brain transcriptomes. Finally, we probed behavior-related candidate gene networks in wild-type ovaries of different sizes. We found differential expression in 2151 ovarian transcripts in these artificially selected Honey bee strains, corresponding to approximately 20.3% of the predicted gene set of Honey Bees. Differences in gene expression overlapped significantly with changes in the brain transcriptomes. Differentially expressed genes were associated with neural signal transmission (tyramine receptor, TYR ) and ecdysteroid signaling; two independently tested nuclear hormone receptors ( HR46 and ftz-f1 ) were also significantly correlated with ovary size in wild-type Bees. We suggest that the correspondence between ovary and brain transcriptomes identified here indicates systemic regulatory networks among hormones (juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids), pheromones (queen mandibular pheromone), reproductive organs and nervous tissues in Worker Honey Bees. Furthermore, robust correlations between ovary size and neuraland endocrine response genes are consistent with the hypothesized roles of the ovaries in Honey bee behavioral regulation. * Egf : epidermal growth factor E75 : ecdysone-induced protein 75 : FDR false discovery rate ftz-f1 : ftz transcription factor-1 GO : gene ontology GPCR : G protein-coupled receptor HR46 : hormone receptor-like in 46 JH : juvenile hormone JHi-26 : juvenile hormone-inducible protein 26 LAO : large ovary LSD : least significant difference MRJP : major royal jelly protein MRJP1 : major royal jelly protein 1 OR : olfactory receptor PDK1 : phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 QMP : queen mandibular pheromone QTL : quantitative trait loci RQ : relative quantification SMO : small ovary TYR : tyramine receptor gene
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cgmp modulates responses to queen mandibular pheromone in Worker Honey Bees
Journal of Comparative Physiology A-neuroethology Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology, 2011Co-Authors: Brendon L Fussnecker, Christina M Grozinger, Alexander M MckenzieAbstract:Responses to social cues, such as pheromones, can be modified by genotype, physiology, or environmental context. Honey bee queens produce a pheromone (queen mandibular pheromone; QMP) which regulates aspects of Worker bee behavior and physiology. Forager Bees are less responsive to QMP than young Bees engaged in brood care, suggesting that physiological changes associated with behavioral maturation modulate response to this pheromone. Since 3′,5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a major regulator of behavioral maturation in Workers, we examined its role in modulating Worker responses to QMP. Treatment with a cGMP analog resulted in significant reductions in both behavioral and physiological responses to QMP in young caged Workers. Treatment significantly reduced attraction to QMP and inhibited the QMP-mediated increase in vitellogenin RNA levels in the fat bodies of Worker Bees. Genome-wide analysis of brain gene expression patterns demonstrated that cGMP has a larger effect on expression levels than QMP, and that QMP has specific effects in the presence of cGMP, suggesting that some responses to QMP may be dependent on an individual Bees’ physiological state. Our data suggest that cGMP-mediated processes play a role in modulating responses to QMP in Honey Bees at the behavioral, physiological, and molecular levels.
Robert E Page - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Regulation of behaviorally associated gene networks in Worker Honey bee ovaries.
The Journal of experimental biology, 2012Co-Authors: Ying Wang, Robert E Page, Sarah D Kocher, Timothy A Linksvayer, Christina M Grozinger, Gro V AmdamAbstract:Several lines of evidence support genetic links between ovary size and division of labor in Worker Honey Bees. However, it is largely unknown how ovaries influence behavior. To address this question, we first performed transcriptional profiling on Worker ovaries from two genotypes that differ in social behavior and ovary size. Then, we contrasted the differentially expressed ovarian genes with six sets of available brain transcriptomes. Finally, we probed behavior-related candidate gene networks in wild-type ovaries of different sizes. We found differential expression in 2151 ovarian transcripts in these artificially selected Honey bee strains, corresponding to approximately 20.3% of the predicted gene set of Honey Bees. Differences in gene expression overlapped significantly with changes in the brain transcriptomes. Differentially expressed genes were associated with neural signal transmission (tyramine receptor, TYR) and ecdysteroid signaling; two independently tested nuclear hormone receptors (HR46 and ftz-f1) were also significantly correlated with ovary size in wild-type Bees. We suggest that the correspondence between ovary and brain transcriptomes identified here indicates systemic regulatory networks among hormones (juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids), pheromones (queen mandibular pheromone), reproductive organs and nervous tissues in Worker Honey Bees. Furthermore, robust correlations between ovary size and neuraland endocrine response genes are consistent with the hypothesized roles of the ovaries in Honey bee behavioral regulation.
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Regulation of behaviorally associated gene networks in Worker Honey bee ovaries.
Journal of Experimental Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Ying Wang, Robert E Page, Sarah D Kocher, Timothy A Linksvayer, Christina M Grozinger, Gro V AmdamAbstract:Several lines of evidence support genetic links between ovary size and division of labor in Worker Honey Bees. However, it is largely unknown how ovaries influence behavior. To address this question, we first performed transcriptional profiling on Worker ovaries from two genotypes that differ in social behavior and ovary size. Then, we contrasted the differentially expressed ovarian genes with six sets of available brain transcriptomes. Finally, we probed behavior-related candidate gene networks in wild-type ovaries of different sizes. We found differential expression in 2151 ovarian transcripts in these artificially selected Honey bee strains, corresponding to approximately 20.3% of the predicted gene set of Honey Bees. Differences in gene expression overlapped significantly with changes in the brain transcriptomes. Differentially expressed genes were associated with neural signal transmission (tyramine receptor, TYR ) and ecdysteroid signaling; two independently tested nuclear hormone receptors ( HR46 and ftz-f1 ) were also significantly correlated with ovary size in wild-type Bees. We suggest that the correspondence between ovary and brain transcriptomes identified here indicates systemic regulatory networks among hormones (juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids), pheromones (queen mandibular pheromone), reproductive organs and nervous tissues in Worker Honey Bees. Furthermore, robust correlations between ovary size and neuraland endocrine response genes are consistent with the hypothesized roles of the ovaries in Honey bee behavioral regulation. * Egf : epidermal growth factor E75 : ecdysone-induced protein 75 : FDR false discovery rate ftz-f1 : ftz transcription factor-1 GO : gene ontology GPCR : G protein-coupled receptor HR46 : hormone receptor-like in 46 JH : juvenile hormone JHi-26 : juvenile hormone-inducible protein 26 LAO : large ovary LSD : least significant difference MRJP : major royal jelly protein MRJP1 : major royal jelly protein 1 OR : olfactory receptor PDK1 : phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 QMP : queen mandibular pheromone QTL : quantitative trait loci RQ : relative quantification SMO : small ovary TYR : tyramine receptor gene
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Support for the reproductive ground plan hypothesis of social evolution and major QTL for ovary traits of Africanized Worker Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.).
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2011Co-Authors: Allie M. Graham, Robert E Page, Michael D Munday, Osman Kaftanoglu, Gro V Amdam, Olav RueppellAbstract:Background The reproductive ground plan hypothesis of social evolution suggests that reproductive controls of a solitary ancestor have been co-opted during social evolution, facilitating the division of labor among social insect Workers. Despite substantial empirical support, the generality of this hypothesis is not universally accepted. Thus, we investigated the prediction of particular genes with pleiotropic effects on ovarian traits and social behavior in Worker Honey Bees as a stringent test of the reproductive ground plan hypothesis. We complemented these tests with a comprehensive genome scan for additional quantitative trait loci (QTL) to gain a better understanding of the genetic architecture of the ovary size of Honey bee Workers, a morphological trait that is significant for understanding social insect caste evolution and general insect biology.
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Regulation of life history determines lifespan of Worker Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.).
Experimental Gerontology, 2007Co-Authors: Olav Rueppell, Cédric Bachelier, M. Kim Fondrk, Robert E PageAbstract:Life expectancy of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.) is of general interest to gerontological research because its variability among different groups of Bees is one of the most striking cases of natural plasticity of aging. Worker Honey Bees spend their first days of adult life working in the nest, then transition to foraging and die between 4 and 8 weeks of age. Foraging is believed to be primarily responsible for the early death of Workers. Three large-scale experiments were performed to quantitatively assess the importance of flight activity, chronological age, extrinsic mortality factors and foraging specialization. Forager mortality was higher than in-hive bee mortality. Most importantly however, reducing the external mortality hazards and foraging activity did not lead to the expected strong extension of life. Most of the experimental effects were attributable to an earlier transition from hive tasks to foraging. This transition is accompanied by a significant mortality peak. The age at the onset of foraging is the central variable in Worker life-history and behavioral state was found more important than chronological age for Honey bee aging. However, mortality risk increased with age and the negative relation between pre-foraging and foraging lifespan indicate some senescence irrespective of behavioral state. Overall, Honey bee Workers exhibit a logistic mortality dynamic which is mainly caused by the age-dependent transition from a low mortality pre-foraging state to a higher mortality foraging state.
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the role of wax comb in Honey bee nestmate recognition
Animal Behaviour, 1995Co-Authors: Michael D. Breed, Melissa F Garry, Alison N Pearce, Louis B Bjostad, Bruce E Hibbard, Robert E PageAbstract:Abstract Worker Honey Bees,Apis mellifera, are able to discriminate between combs on the basis of genetic similarity to a learned comb. The nestmate recognition cues that they acquire from the comb also have a genetically correlated component. Cues are acquired from comb in very short exposure periods (5 min or less) and can be transferred among Bees that are in physical contact. Gas chromatographic analysis demonstrates that Bees with exposure to comb have different chemical surface profiles than Bees without such exposure. These results support the hypothesis that comb-derived recognition cues are highly important in Honey bee nestmate recognition. These cues are at least in part derived from the wax itself, rather than from floral scents that have been absorbed by the wax.
Michael D. Breed - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Post-stinging behavior of Worker Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 1998Co-Authors: S. J. Cunard, Michael D. BreedAbstract:Following sting autotomy, Honey bee Workers continue to participate in colony defense by following and harassing potential predators. Bees that pursue a human observer are highly likely to have previously stung a leather target at the colony entrance, Wing wear and other characteristics of the pursuing Bees suggest that they are soldier or guard Bees rather than foragers or younger Bees. We compared the responses of different behavioral castes by inducing a bee to sting and then assessing the response of that bee to other Bees; after stinging, guard Bees displayed heightened activity, but soldiers, foragers, or hive Bees did not. Removal of the sting in cold-narcotized Bees showed that the physiological stimulus for pursuit behavior was not solely the removal of the sting. The continued defensive role for Bees that have lost their sting retains the residual value of individual Workers to the colony.
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the role of wax comb in Honey bee nestmate recognition
Animal Behaviour, 1995Co-Authors: Michael D. Breed, Melissa F Garry, Alison N Pearce, Louis B Bjostad, Bruce E Hibbard, Robert E PageAbstract:Abstract Worker Honey Bees,Apis mellifera, are able to discriminate between combs on the basis of genetic similarity to a learned comb. The nestmate recognition cues that they acquire from the comb also have a genetically correlated component. Cues are acquired from comb in very short exposure periods (5 min or less) and can be transferred among Bees that are in physical contact. Gas chromatographic analysis demonstrates that Bees with exposure to comb have different chemical surface profiles than Bees without such exposure. These results support the hypothesis that comb-derived recognition cues are highly important in Honey bee nestmate recognition. These cues are at least in part derived from the wax itself, rather than from floral scents that have been absorbed by the wax.
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Honey bee, Apis mellifera, nestmate discrimination: hydrocarbon effects and the evolutionary implications of comb choice
Animal Behaviour, 1992Co-Authors: Michael D. Breed, Tammy M. StillerAbstract:Abstract Comb wax in Honey bee colonies serves as a source and medium for transmission of recognition cues. Worker Honey Bees learn the identity of their primary nesting material, the wax comb, within an hour of emergence. In an olfactometer, Bees discriminate between combs on the basis of odour; they prefer the odours of previously learned combs. Representatives of three of the most common compound classes in bee's wax were surveyed for effects on nestmate discrimination behaviour. Hexadecane, octadecane, tetracosanoic acid and methyl docosanoate make Worker Honey Bees less acceptable to their untreated sisters. Other similar compounds did not have this effect. These findings support the hypothesis that nestmate recognition in Honey Bees is mediated by many different compounds, including some related to those found in comb wax.
Elodie Urlacher - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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social modulation of stress reactivity and learning in young Worker Honey Bees
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: Elodie Urlacher, Ingrid Tarr, Alison R. MercerAbstract: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.
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queen pheromone modulates stress responsiveness in young adult Worker Honey Bees
2014Co-Authors: Elodie Urlacher, Ingrid Tarr, Alison R. MercerAbstract:33 - Behavioural ecology and neurobiology of cognition in social insects, Oral Presentation
