Nutrition affects longevity and gene expression in honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers

Abstract

Nutrition is a major factor affecting animal health, resistance to disease, and survival. In honey bees (Apis mellifera), nectar or honey (carbohydrates) is the energy source, while pollen, which is the sole dietary source of protein, is essential for both larval and adult development. Royal jelly (RJ), a secretion from workers with high protein content, plays a critical role in which queens are fed throughout their lives, is responsible for switching the worker phenotype into the queen one. The role of RJ in extending the lifespan of caged workers is not clear. In this study, we determined longevity of caged workers fed with different diets (carbohydrate only, pollen, and pollen+ RJ) and also expression of six genes in these bees. We found that workers fed with pollen and royal jelly together (P+ RJ+) showed the best survival, followed by workers fed with pollen only (P + RJ−), and workers fed with neither pollen nor RJ (P− RJ−) had the shortest life. Pollen only (P + RJ−) and royal jelly together (P+ RJ+) significantly affected four of the six genes studied. While pollen and royal jelly together (P+ RJ+) only affected the vitellogenin gene compared to pollen only (P+ RJ−). These results demonstrate that pollen and RJ extended worker longevity, suggesting that they may improve the nutritional conditions of bees or contain health and longevity-promoting factors. Further analysis of the lifespanextending genes may broaden our understanding of gene network involved in the regulation of longevity.

Timing and size of daily pollen meals eaten by adult females of a solitary bee (Nomia melanderi) (Apiformes: Halictidae)

“…Such regular pollen feeding highlights the importance of pollen, not just nectar, in the diet of adult solitary bees. These results support Richard's (1994) assertion that dietary pollen underpins a female solitary bee's ability to reproduce and, extrapolating from honeybee studies (Mao et al 2013;Brunner et al 2014;Wang et al 2014), may generally extend bees' longevity and maintain a healthy immune system. Given the magnitude and regularity of pollen feeding by adult female N. melanderi , combined with Taniguchi's (1956) broad taxonomic survey, we expect similar ingestion patterns from nesting females of other solitary bee species.…”

Omega-3 deficiency impairs honey bee learning

“…Malnutrition may be due to low pollen quantity, quality, or diversity, a condition that is aggravated in agricultural monocultures (12)(13)(14), and in greenhouses (15). Malnourished bees have smaller hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs) (a source of queen and worker jelly) (9,16), are more susceptible to deformed wing virus (16), are less tolerant to parasitism by Nosema ceranae (9), are more vulnerable to pesticides (17), have a compromised immune system (18), and have a shorter lifespan (19). Whereas diet quality is affected by amino acid content and composition, proteins alone cannot explain some of the effects of diet on bee health and colony functioning and deficits in additional nutritional factors: specifically, lipids are suspected (9).…”

Longevity extension of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) by royal jelly: optimal dose and active ingredient

“…The main nutrition sources for honey bees are nectar or honey and pollen, which provides protein, lipids and vitamins (Yang et al, 2013). Longevity extension of caged workers is observed when bees are provided with bee-collected pollen (Schmidt, Thoenes & Levin, 1987; Wang et al, 2014). The suitable amount of proteins or amino acid consumed in their diet is positively correlated with longevity (Standifer, 1967; De Groot, 1953).…”

“…The suitable amount of proteins or amino acid consumed in their diet is positively correlated with longevity (Standifer, 1967; De Groot, 1953). Workers fed with pollen and RJ survive better than those fed with pollen only (Wang et al, 2014). …”