Fatty acid profile of Apis mellifera workers in the face of an immune challenge

DOMÍNGUEZ, ENZO; GIARDINI, PALOMA MORÁN; QUINTANA, SILVINA; DE LA PAZ MOLINÉ, MARÍA; CHIERICHETTI, MELISA; MEDICI, SANDRA K.; GENDE, LIESEL B.; DAMIANI, NATALIA

APIDOLOGIE

EDP SCIENCES S A

Año: 2024 vol. 55 p. 3 - 15

0044-8435

Fatty acids (FAs) are important in metabolism and in the maintenance of Apis mellifera colonies.Our objective was to identify the variation in FA composition of the bodies of A. mellifera worker bees afterimmunological challenges with sterile injections and Paenibacillus larvae vegetative cells. The expression of thehymenoptaecin and abaecin genes was studied and the FAs were identified and quantified. After a challenge withP. larvae, the immune system was activated and abaecin and hymenoptaecin peptide genes were overexpressed.Also, the content of short-chain FAs such as caprylic, capric, and tridecylic acids increased significantly; onthe contrary, oleic acid decreased. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first analysis of changes in the FAprofile of honey bee workers after immune stimulation with P. larvae. Health status may be a key factor thatalters FA composition. More research about the interaction with other stressors affecting the survival of honeybee colonies is needed.