A Genetically Modified Anti-Plasmodium Bacterium Is Harmless to the Stingless Bee Partamona Helleri

Abstract

Paratransgenesis consists of genetically engineering an insect symbiont to control vector-borne diseases. Biosafety assessments are a prerequisite for the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Assessments rely on the measurement of the possible impacts of GMOs on different organisms, including beneficial organisms, such as pollinators. The bacterium Serratia AS1 has been genetically modified to express anti-Plasmodium effector proteins and does not impose a fitness cost on mosquitoes that carry it. In the present study, we assessed the impact of this bacterium on the native bee Partamona helleri (Meliponini), an ecologically important species in Brazil. Serratia eGFP AS1 (recombinant strain) or a wild strain of Serratia marcescens were suspended in a sucrose solution and fed to bees, followed by measurements of survival, feeding rate, and behavior (walking and flying). These bacteria did not change any of the variables measured at 24, 72, and 144 h after ingestion. Recombinant and wild bacteria were detected in the digestive tract up to 144 h after ingestion, but their numbers decreased with time. The recombinant strain was detected in the midgut at 24 h and in the hindgut at 72 h and 144 h after ingestion. As reported for mosquitoes, Serratia eGFP AS1 is a safe candidate for combating vector-borne diseases, as it did not compromise the native and ecologically relevant bee, P. helleri.

Ethoflow: Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence-Based Software for Automatic Behavior Analysis

“…Finally, (v) we evaluated parameters associated with Ethoflow’s performance. Thus, the proposed software: has a graphical user interface (GUI) and has already been successfully applied in other studies [ 11 , 12 ]; performs animal tracking in homogeneous or heterogeneous environments; can maintain the identity among individuals in animal group tracking; evaluates various kinematic variables (e.g., mean speed, turning angle, and group interaction); supports complex behavior assessment (e.g., mating, grooming, and trophallaxis). …”

“…has a graphical user interface (GUI) and has already been successfully applied in other studies [ 11 , 12 ];…”