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EXPRESSION PROFILE OF WATER–SOLUBLE PROTEINASES OF Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 INVESTIGATED BY ZYMOGRAPHY, FOR A NEW APPROACH IN NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT DETERMINATION
No full textThe aim of this study was to provide a preliminary contribute in describing the expression profile of water-soluble proteinases of digestive gland of adult octopus at different pH and temperature conditions.
The octopus (Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797) were caught as sub—adult and randomly distributed in two groups.
Broodstock was fed the same diet but the experimental group was boosted with 3 “crab tablets” per crab and 2 “sardine tablets” per sardine supplied. Tablets were formulated in function of crab, sardine octopus composition and its “supposed” nutritional requirements.
Octopus digestive glands of females of both groups (5 for control, 3 for experimental) were sampled at the end of June and frozen at -20 °C until used for analysis.
Zymograms of the octopus digestive gland, shows mainly 7 detectable activity bands ranging between 97 and 20kDa. The animals fed with tablets clearly show lower proteinases activity of both band 30 and 20kDa at ranges between 2 and 5 pH and 9-11 pH. In conclusion, zymography seems to be a useful tool to study the effect of different diets on octopus digestive proteinase
Proline enriched diet effects on haemolymph amino acid composition in Osmia bicornis (L.) females and males
No full textDetection of deformed wing virus in Vespa crabro
Full text linkSpecimens of Vespa crabro L. queen were found to be infected by deformed wing virus (DWV). The abdomen and the thorax of asymptomatic and symptomatic wasps were positive for the virus by strand specific RT-PCR, indicating active replication. This finding confirms the ability of the virus to infect not only bees (Apoidea) but also wasps (Vespoidea) suggesting a possible transmission route by ingestion of infected honey bees by waspâs larva. This is the first report concerning the detection of DWV in V. crabro. In the view of this finding the possibility of using naturally infected bees as a tool for the biological control of its predators is discussed
Parasitization of a wild and reared population of the solitary bee Osmia cornuta Latr. by the parasitoid Anthrax anthrax Schrank (Diptera, Bombylidae): comparison between two types of artificial nest
No full textA nest-trapping (NT) and a releasing and rearing (RR) campaign were performed in two similar areas of Tuscany (Italy), towards nest inducing and reproduction of Osmia cornuta Latr. For the NT campaign, artificial nests built with reed segments (Arundo donax L.) (reed nests) and grooved hardboard plates were used. The latter type was termed Artificial Assembled Trap Nest (AATN). The RR campaign utilized the same nest types and a reared O. cornuta population, with 100 cocoons having a sex-ratio of 2:1 (female:male). Nests were removed from fields during the first week of August, placed in mesh bags and kept in the laboratory at room temperature up to the month of October, when each nest was opened in order to analyse its content. Results showed that in both investigated areas, the wild and reared population were parasitized by the bombylid dipteran Anthrax anthrax Schrank. A. anthrax parasitization of O. cornuta was found to be greater in assembled (AATN) compared to reed nests. Highest prevalence of parasitization was found in the innermost portion of the tunnel, where Osmia cocoons usually contains females. Additional damage is cocoon crashing, caused by A. anthrax armed pupae as it forces its way out of the tunnel. Both O. cornuta population (reared and wild) resulted parasitized by A. anthrax specimens. In October, when broodnests were opened, exuviae of newly emerged specimens, armed pupae and mature diapausing A. anthrax Schrank larvae were, in some cases, found inside together, suggesting that the life cycle of this dipteran is parsivoltine
Complete genome sequence of deformed wing virus isolated from Vespa crabro in Italy
Full text linkIn this article, we document the first isolation of a replication-competent deformed wing virus from Vespa crabro in Italy. Although the virus has never been isolated from this insect, the sequence of this virus shows a strong sequence homology with isolates obtained from Apis mellifera, which is considered its natural host
BEE - GATHERED POLLEN LOADS SUSPENSION: PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTION WITH MICROBIAL GROWTH FOR A POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT AS A NATURAL FOOD ADDITIVE
Full text linkRole of non protein amino acids in nectars: effects on bees behaviour
No full textFloral nectar mediates interactions that are much more complex than
simply alimentary relations. Nectar secondary compounds appear to have a special
role in regulating interaction with other organisms. Although very few is known
about their ecological roles, recently it was proved that secondary compounds may
affect the nectar feeders‟ behaviour interacting with their neurobiology. We
addressed a special focus on the class of non-protein amino acids. Their presence in
floral nectar has been reported since long time but their ecological function has not
been investigated. Data from several phylogenetically unrelated species indicate
that they may represent a consistent part of the total amino acid content of floral
nectar (25-45%) and generally the more abundant ones are γ-amino butyric acid
(GABA) and β-alanine. The aim of the study was to test the effect of these nonprotein
amino acids on bees behaviour. We tested an artificial diet consisting of
sucrose solutions enriched with GABA and β-alanine at two concentrations on
Bombus terrestris and Apis mellifera. Results show that B. terrestris and, only
partially, A. mellifera, increase their walking activity when fed with the solution
enriched with β-alanine at high concentration, while they increase their flying
activity with the same solution at low concentration. Moreover, bumble bees
greatly increase their survival time when fed with the solution enriched with
GABA. These results push us to further consider the role of β-alanine and GABA
in increasing the mobility of insects between flowers and their foraging activity and
thus their pollination performances
The colors of Tuscan bee pollen: phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity
No full textBee pollen's nutritional and beneficial health properties depend on the botanical origin and storage conditions. Palynological analysis determines the botanical composition of the multiflora and colour fractions. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tuscan bee pollen stored at freezing temperature for 2 years to verify the preservation of nutraceutical properties of the multiflora and colour fractions. Polyphenols, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds profiles were measured. Non-terpene derivatives (acids and aldehydes) represented the main class of volatile compounds in most analysed samples. Among the colour fractions, coral showed significant differences in the antioxidant compounds. In the multiflora were also determined the soluble sugar content (128.33 mg/g of fresh weight) and mineral content, with the prevalence of K, organic N and Ca. The results suggest that the freezing storage of bee pollen for a long period can be still used as food
Preliminary evaluation of glucose oxidase and its products in vitro antimicrobial activities on Paenibacillus larvae ATCC9545 vegetative form
Full text linkPaenibacillus larvae is the pathogen responsible for American foulbrood disease in honeybees. Today, no useful tool has been identified to contrast its spreading due to the spores diffusion, except for hives burning. The effect of glucose oxidase and its reaction products, hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid, was evaluated against P. larvae ATCC9545. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by microdilution method. MIC values were employed to evaluate the survival growth rates of P. larvae after each treatment in a macromethod test. Results showed an inhibitory effect of glucose oxidase, gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide at a minimum concentration of 0.28 μg/mL, 3.71 μg/mL and 0.74 μg/mL, respectively. For hydrogen peroxide MIC value corresponded to MBC value, while P. larvae survival growth rates at observed MIC was 98.3% and 91.6% for glucose oxidase and gluconic acid, respectively. Glucose oxidase MBC value (74.20 μg/mL) was remarkably higher than its MIC value. Even thought, the present work focused on the in vitro inhibitory effect of glucose oxidase and its reaction products only on P. larvae ATCC9545 vegetative form, the obtained results were promising and repeatable
Water activity of fresh bee pollen and mixtures of bee pollen-honey of different botanical origin
Full text linkA mixture of bee pollen and honey could represent a complete food supplement for human diet. In this study, for three bee pollen-honey mixtures ratios at two storage times (0 and 90 days) at room temperature, water activity (aw) were investigated. For the mixtures were employed Castanea and Eucalyptus pollen species, and acacia, chestnut and “beach” honeys. In the mixtures, Castanea and Eucalyptus pollen showed a different aw trend in relation to pollen concentration and to storage time. In Castanea-honeys mixtures and in Eucalyptus-honey mixtures (only at time 0) aw values were higher than each component of the corresponding mixtures. In Eucalyptus-honeys mixtures (only at time 90) aw values were lower than each component. This investigation highlights that honey, bee-pollen and their mixtures, stored at room temperature, could have a little change in their aw content, in time. Results shows that aw values of bee pollen mixed with honey were all lower than 0.7, although bee pollen-honey mixtures were stored at room temperature instead at freezing temperature (−15 °C) for 90 days
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