Ability to neutralize toxic insecticides of honey bees

Researchers at the University of Illinois, USA, discovered intestinal enzymes of honey bees that can neutralize poisons of pesticides commonly used to kill ticks in honeybees.

This is the first study to find the exact molecular mechanisms that allow a pollinative insect to be immune to exposure to potentially deadly compounds.

The results of the study were published in the March Journal of the National Academy of Sciences.

Previous research has shown that honeycombs are being polluted with a variety of agricultural chemicals, which are caused by bees that have been brought to the hives of pollen and nectar that have been contaminated with pesticides, According to May Berenbaum, professor of entomology, University of Illinois, USA, and head of new research.

Frequently exposed to the defensive compounds present in flowering plants in self
Of course, honey bees are allowed to decompose some pesticides
Synthetic use to kill ticks in honeycomb.

" Agricultural pesticides are everywhere ," May Berenbaum said. " Pesticides are accumulated in the bees' wax over time, so honey bees actually live with this toxic chemical. Because the habit of finding food varies from different types of flowers (from different plants), which exist in different types of habitats, and may also have many different chemicals that remain in these flowers. "

Besides, some other chemicals are sprayed directly on the honeycomb, Berenbaum said. For the past 20 years, beekeepers have used acaricides, which are designed to kill ticks but do not affect honey bee members in beehives.

Although the evidence so far does not support the idea that exposure to synthetic pesticides is a cause or significant contribution to the disorder that reduces herd;

But in the first report at the end of 2006 about mass deaths of honey bees: " This is still a very clear proof that pesticides are not really good for any species. What insects , "Berenbaum said. " Therefore, we realize it is time to warn people about the risk of using chemicals during the pollination process of plants. "

The researchers focused on P450s, a type of enzyme known by its detoxifying ability " in the bodies of most breathing organisms ," Berenbaum said. Other research has shown that P450s cellular pigments play a key role in disintegrating pyrethroid insecticides, such as fluvalinate tau, which is used to kill mites in the nest. . But none of the previous studies specifically identified P450s in pig bees or other pollinators that helped to neutralize pyrethroid toxicity, Berenbaum added.

In a series of experiments, the scientists found three P450s in the middle intestine of honey bees that act as chemical agents for fluorescence. They discovered that the enzyme also neutralizes the toxicity of coumaphos, in terms of the different pesticide-based organic compounds that are also used to kill ticks inside the hive.

" This makes us think that P450s cellular pigments in this honey bee's body are not specialized ," Berenbaum added. " This leads to the possibility that a toxic chemical dose of tau-fluvalinate will actually develop toxicity, if a major enzyme involved in its detoxification is busy with a variety of different chemicals . "

This evidence also shows honey bees " before being able to detoxify " pyrethroid insecticides, Berenbaum adds. Chemical structure of pesticides Pyrethroids are similar in the natural structure of defensive compounds, called pyrethrins, produced by some flowering plants. Honey bees may have had a long history of exposure to pyrethrins, which are found even in some daisy flowers. It seems that enzymes that help honey bees disintegrate pyrethrins in nature, can also help honey bees to neutralize poisons, when exposed to relatively new plant protection drugs.

The finding will lead to an effort to develop methods to control ticks in the new honeycomb, so as to reduce harmfulness to honey bees, Berenbaum said.

The co-author of this study is Mary Schuler, professor of cell biology and development, University of Illinois, USA, and apprentice doctor Wenfu Mao.