Propolis envelope in Apis mellifera colonies supports honey bees against the pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae

Honey bees have immune defenses both as individuals and as a colony (e.g., individual and social immunity). One form of honey bee social immunity is the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and the deposition of the resins as a propolis envelope within the nest. In this study, we tested the efects of the propolis envelope as a natural defense against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB) disease. Using colonies with and without a propolis envelope, we quantifed: 1) the antimicrobial activity of larval food fed to 1–2day old larvae; and 2) clinical signs of AFB. Our results show that the antimicrobial activity of larval food was signifcantly higher when challenged colonies had a propolis envelope compared to colonies without the envelope. In addition, colonies with a propolis envelope had signifcantly reduced levels of AFB clinical signs two months following challenge. Our results indicate that the propolis envelope serves as an antimicrobial layer around the colony that helps protect the brood from bacterial pathogen infection, resulting in a lower colony-level infection load

Honeybee microbiome is stabilized in the presence of propolis

Honeybees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within the hive. One method includes the collection of chemically complex plant resins combined with wax to form propolis, which is deposited throughout the hive. Propolis is believed to play a significant role in reducing disease load in the colony due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little is known about how propolis may interact with bee-associated microbial symbionts, and if propolis alters microbial community structure. In this study, we found that propolis appears to maintain a stable microbial community composition and reduce the overall taxonomic diversity of the honeybee microbiome. Several key members of the gut microbiota were significantly altered in the absence of propolis, suggesting that it may play an important role in maintaining favourable abundance and composition of gut symbionts. Overall, these findings suggest that propolis may help to maintain honeybee colony microbial health by limiting changes to the overall microbial community

Propolis counteracts some threats to honey bee health

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are constantly dealing with threats from pathogens, pests, pesticides and poor nutrition. It is critically important to understand how honey bees’ natural immune responses (individual immunity) and collective behavioral defenses (social immunity) can improve bee health and productivity. One form of social immunity in honey bee colonies is the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and their use in the nest architecture as propolis. We review research on the constitutive benefits of propolis on the honey bee immune system, and its known therapeutic, colony-level effects against the pathogens Paenibacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis. We also review the limited research on the effects of propolis against other pathogens, parasites and pests (Nosema, viruses, Varroa destructor, and hive beetles) and how propolis may enhance bee products such as royal jelly and honey. Although propolis may be a source of pesticide contamination, it also has the potential to be a detoxifying agent or primer of detoxification pathways, as well as increasing bee longevity via antioxidant-related pathways. Throughout this paper, we discuss opportunities for future research goals and present ways in which the beekeeping community can promote propolis use in standard colonies, as one way to improve and maintain colony health and resiliency

Estudo da marcha em idosos: resultados preliminares

The objectives of this pilot study, were the evaluation of, time-spatial, parameters of Brazilian elderly gait and to compare comfortable gait speed’s value with foreign reference data (from Oberg). Methods: Subjects were 15 healthy volunteers (8 men, 7 women) 60 to 79 years of age. The measurements were made in theirs building playground. Gait was timed over a 6 m distance; step length, stride width and foot angle were measured from footprints. Cadence was calculated from velocity and step length. Results: mean comfortable speed was ranged from 1,05 + 0,14 m/s for women in their sixties to 1,10 + 0,13 m/s for men in their seventies. Mean step length, stride width, cadence and foot angle were respectively 52,1 + 8,75 cm; 11,2 + 3,49 cm; 119,4 + 11,07 step/min and 13,5 + 8,53 degree for men and 46,6 + 8,08 cm; 6,75 + 7,07cm; 137,4 + 22,64 step/min and 7,5 + 5,1 degree for women. Conclusion: The lowest elderly’s gait speed obtained despite the sample’s small number in confronting with Oberg data, suggest the importance of comprehensive studies to supply the lack of normative gait data for the Brazilian population.Os objetivos foram avaliar parâmetros tempo-espaciais da marcha de idosos brasileiros e comparar o valor médio da velocidade confortável da marcha com um banco de dados estrangeiro (de Oberg) de parâmetros básicos da marcha. Metodo: Foram estudados 15 voluntários saudáveis (8 homens, 7 mulheres) dos 60 aos 79 anos de idade. As medidas foram realizadas no playgroung dos prédios onde residiam. A velocidade da marcha foi medida para uma distância de 6 m; o comprimento do passo, a largura da passada e o ângulo dos pés foram medidos a partir de impressões plantares. A cadência foi calculada a partir da velocidade da marcha e do comprimento do passo. Resultados: O valor médio da velocidade confortável da marcha variou de 1,05 + 0,14 m/s para mulheres da faixa etária de 60 anos a 1,10 + 0,13 m/s para homens da faixa etária de 70 anos. Os valores médios do comprimento do passo, da largura da passada, do ângulo dos pés e da cadência foram respectivamente 52,1 + 8,75 cm; 11,2 + 3,49 cm; 119,4 + 11,07 passos/min e 13,5 + 8,53 graus para os homens e 46,6 + 8,08 cm; 6,75 + 7,07cm; 137,4 + 22,64 passos/min e 7,5 + 5,1 graus para as mulheres. Conclusão: O menor valor da velocidade da marcha encontrado para os nossos idosos (apesar da casuística pequena), quando confrontado com os dados de Oberg, sugere a importância de estudos completos para suprir a falta de dados normativos de parâmetros da marcha para a população brasileira

Honeybee microbiome is stabilized in the presence of propolis

Honeybees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within the hive. One method includes the collection of chemically complex plant resins combined with wax to form propolis, which is deposited throughout the hive. Propolis is believed to play a significant role in reducing disease load in the colony due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little is known about how propolis may interact with bee-associated microbial symbionts, and if propolis alters microbial community structure. In this study, we found that propolis appears to maintain a stable microbial community composition and reduce the overall taxonomic diversity of the honeybee microbiome. Several key members of the gut microbiota were significantly altered in the absence of propolis, suggesting that it may play an important role in maintaining favourable abundance and composition of gut symbionts. Overall, these findings suggest that propolis may help to maintain honeybee colony microbial health by limiting changes to the overall microbial community

Viabilidade e autenticação molecular de cepas de Coccidioides immitis da Coleção de Culturas do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2020-01-01T17:03:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CintiaMBorb_RenataLima_etal_IOC_2006.pdf: 64670 bytes, checksum: c4e224253c7c9e58fc68ed34581344af (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2020-01-01T17:17:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 CintiaMBorb_RenataLima_etal_IOC_2006.pdf: 64670 bytes, checksum: c4e224253c7c9e58fc68ed34581344af (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2020-01-01T17:17:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CintiaMBorb_RenataLima_etal_IOC_2006.pdf: 64670 bytes, checksum: c4e224253c7c9e58fc68ed34581344af (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Servico de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Servico de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas. Servico de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Vinte cepas de Coccidioides immitis foram avaliadas. Cinco das 20 cepas preservadas sob óleo mineral mantiveram-se viáveis, todas as 5 subculturas preservadas em água permaneceram viáveis e nenhuma das 13 subculturas mantidas em solo foi viável. Um produto de PCR de 519 pb do gene csa confirmou a identidade das cepas.Twenty Coccidioides immitis strains were evaluated. Only 5 of the 20 strains kept under mineral oil maintained their viability while all 5 subcultures preserved in water remained viable and none of the 13 subcultures kept in soil were viable. A 519 bp PCR product from the csa gene confirmed the identity of the strains