Mating precedes selective immune priming which is maintained throughout bumblebee queen diapause

Area of Science:

• Ecology and evolutionary biology
• Insect physiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Diapause is a crucial dormancy strategy for insects to survive unfavorable conditions.
• Mating before diapause can impact female physiology, including immunity, but this is poorly understood.
• The buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is an important pollinator that undergoes mating before diapause.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the molecular changes in bumblebee haemolymph following mating and during diapause.
• To understand how mating influences long-term immunity throughout the diapause period.

Main Methods:

• Mass-spectrometry-based proteomics was used to analyze haemolymph protein expression.
• Quantification of protein changes in pre-diapause, during diapause, and post-diapause stages.
• Comparison of proteome profiles to identify immune-related molecular adaptations.

Main Results:

• Mating pre-diapause led to increased abundance of antimicrobial peptides.
• Elevated levels of these immune proteins were maintained throughout the diapause period.
• Diapause also altered proteins involved in cuticular maintenance and olfaction.

Conclusions:

• Mating provides immune benefits by selectively increasing antimicrobial peptides sustained through diapause.
• These findings offer insights into bumblebee diapause preparation, survival, and recovery.
• The study may inform our understanding of diapause and immunity in other insect species.