Abstract
Amitraz is an acaricide that is widely used in apiculture. Several studies have reported that in honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus; Hymenoptera: Apidae), amitraz affects learning, memory, behavior, immunity, and various other physiological processes. Despite this, few studies have explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of amitraz on honeybees. Here, we investigated the transcriptome of honeybees after exposure to 9.4 mg/L amitraz for 10 d, a subchronic dose. Overall, 279 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (237 upregulated, 42 downregulated). Several, including Pla2, LOC725381, LOC413324, LOC724386, LOC100577456, LOC551785, and P4504c3, were validated by quantitative PCR. According to gene ontology, DEGs were mainly involved in metabolism, biosynthesis, and translation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that amitraz treatment affected the relaxin signaling pathway, platelet activation, and protein digestion and absorption.
Highlights
80% of flowering plants, including many crops, require insects to pollinate [1,2,3]
We exposed honeybees to 9.4 mg/L amitraz for 10 d, which led to the identification of 279 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (237 upregulated and 42 downregulated genes) in the honeybee transcriptome
In order to further study the metabolic pathways influenced in honey bees after amitraz exposure, 91 detailed related pathways of the differential genes were constructed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis
Summary
80% of flowering plants, including many crops, require insects to pollinate [1,2,3]. Honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus; Hymenoptera: Apidae) are the most important pollinators worldwide [4]. One-third of global food is linked to the pollination activity of honeybees [4]. The substantial decline in apiculture has garnered much attention [5,6,7,8]; the underlying reasons for this remain poorly understood. Many factors affect the wellbeing of honeybees, including pathogens, pesticides, malnutrition and changing apicultural practices [9,10,11]. Pesticide exposure has been widely accepted to be the major contributor to a decline in the honeybee population [10]
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