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Monitoring Colony-level Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees
Published on: November 15, 2017
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Using the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Cell Line AmE-711 to Evaluate Insecticide Toxicity
Michael Goblirsch1, John J Adamczyk1
1Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Poplarville, Mississippi, USA.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
|October 20, 2022
Summary
Insecticide exposure harms honey bees. This study used a honey bee cell line (AmE-711) to show insecticides reduce cell viability and increase stress gene expression, aiding toxicology research.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Apiculture Science
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Insecticide exposure is a major threat to global honey bee productivity and survival.
- Previous studies focused on whole-organism and colony levels, highlighting insecticide-pathogen interactions.
- There is a need for in vitro models to understand cellular and molecular impacts of insecticides on honey bees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize a honey bee embryonic cell line (AmE-711) for in vitro assessment of insecticide effects.
- To determine the impact of different insecticide formulations on honey bee cell viability and stress responses.
- To establish a foundation for high-throughput screening and detailed analysis of honey bee toxicology.
Main Methods:
- Established and utilized the AmE-711 continuous cell line derived from honey bee embryonic tissues.
- Exposed AmE-711 cells to four different insecticide formulations.
- Assessed cell viability using concentration-dependent and time-course exposure assays, including LC50 determination and morphological analysis.
- Quantified changes in cellular stress gene expression (410087a) via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Main Results:
- Insecticide exposure caused a concentration-dependent reduction in AmE-711 cell viability after 24-hour exposure.
- Long-term exposure (120 hours) to sublethal insecticide concentrations had minimal impact on cell viability.
- Morphological changes indicative of stress and death were observed at the predicted half-maximal lethal concentration (LC50).
- Expression of the cellular stress response gene 410087a significantly increased after 18-hour exposure to the LC50.
Conclusions:
- The AmE-711 cell line is a valuable tool for in vitro assessment of insecticide toxicity in honey bees.
- This cell-based approach complements whole-organism studies and provides mechanistic insights into insecticide effects.
- Findings support further research into honey bee cellular toxicology and the development of safer pest control agents.
