Enhanced immune response and antimicrobial activity in honey bees (Apis mellifera) following application of oxalic acid-glycerine strips

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15310%2F25%3A73634386" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15310/25:73634386 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60460709:41210/25:102722 RIV/00216224:14310/25:00144705

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357525000665" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357525000665</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106353" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106353</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Enhanced immune response and antimicrobial activity in honey bees (Apis mellifera) following application of oxalic acid-glycerine strips

Original language description

Bee health is influenced by multiple factors, including nutrition, immunity, and parasitic pressures. Since the spread of Varroa destructor, overwintering survival has significantly declined, making it one of the most serious threats to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations worldwide. Natural acaricides, such as oxalic acid (OA), are widely employed for managing Varroa mites; however, their pharmacodynamics, particularly their impacts on honey bee physiology and immunity, remain insufficiently understood. We studied effects of oxalic acid on honey bee workers. The study compared three treatments: flumethrin, OA-glycerine strips (OA-G), and OA trickling (OA-T). Twelve colonies were divided into four groups, with samples collected at five time points (0, 24, 48, 72, and 192 h). Physiological changes were assessed through markers of oxidative stress, longevity, and immune parameters. Exposure to oxalic acid via glycerine strips induced a humoral immune response in adult bees. The antimicrobial activity of hemolymph and levels of antimicrobial peptides (abaecin, apidaecin, defensin, and hymenoptaecin) were elevated between 48 and 192 h after OA-G treatment compared to the control group. In contrast, these parameters were not influenced by OA-T or flumethrin treatment. These findings suggest that OA- G strips activate the honey bee&apos;s immune system, providing insights into broader implications of OA use in beekeeping. It is crucial to determine whether the activation of humoral immune systems has positive or negative effects, as well as to develop standardized and reliable treatment protocols that ensure both- health of colonies and their effectiveness in controlling Varroa mite infestations.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10616 - Entomology

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

ISSN

0048-3575

e-ISSN

1095-9939

Volume of the periodical

209

Issue of the periodical within the volume

APR

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

"106353-1"-"106353-11"

UT code for WoS article

001440631400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85219009132