Forager bees (Apis mellifera) highly express immune and detoxification genes in tissues associated with nectar processing.

ABSTRACT: Pollinators, including honey bees, routinely encounter potentially harmful microorganisms and phytochemicals during foraging. However, the mechanisms by which honey bees manage these potential threats are poorly understood. In this study, we examine the expression of antimicrobial, immune and detoxification genes in Apis mellifera and compare between forager and nurse bees using tissue-specific RNA-seq and qPCR. Our analysis revealed extensive tissue-specific expression of antimicrobial, immune signaling, and detoxification genes. Variation in gene expression between worker stages was pronounced in the mandibular and hypopharyngeal gland (HPG), where foragers were enriched in transcripts that encode antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and immune response. Additionally, forager HPGs and mandibula

SUBMITTER: Vannette RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4637902 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature