Franciscus Jacobs

Insights into the venom composition of the ectoparasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis from bioinformatic and proteomic studies.

With the Nasonia vitripennis genome sequences available, we attempted to determine the proteins present in venom by two different approaches. First, we searched for the transcripts of venom proteins by a bioinformatic approach using amino acid sequences of known hymenopteran venom proteins. Second, we performed proteomic analyses of crude N. vitripennis venom removed from the venom reservoir, implementing both an off‐line two‐dimensional liquid chromatography matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ ionization time‐of‐flight (2D‐LC‐MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and a two‐dimensional liquid chromatography electrospray ionization Founer transform ion cyclotron resonance (2D‐LC‐ESI‐FT‐ICR) MS setup. This combination of bioinformatic and proteomic studies resulted in an extraordinary richness of identified venom constituents. Moreover, half of the 79 identified proteins were not yet associated with insect venoms: 16 proteins showed similarity only to known proteins from other tissues or secretions, and an additional 23 did not show similarity to any known protein. Serine proteases and their inhibitors were the most represented. Fifteen nonsecretory proteins were also identified by proteomic means and probably represent so‐called ‘venom trace elements’. The present study contributes greatly to the understanding of the biological diversity of the venom of parasitoid wasps at the molecular level.

Genomic and transcriptional analysis of protein heterogeneity of the honeybee venom allergen Api m 6

Several components of honeybee venom are known to cause allergenic responses in humans and other vertebrates. One such component, the minor allergen Api m 6, has been known to show amino acid variation but the genetic mechanism for this variation is unknown. Here we show that Api m 6 is derived from a single locus, and that substantial protein‐level variation has a simple genome‐level cause, without the need to invoke multiple loci or alternatively spliced exons. Api m 6 sits near a misassembled section of the honeybee genome sequence, and we propose that a substantial number of indels at and near Api m 6 might be the root cause of this misassembly. We suggest that genes such as Api m 6 with coding‐region or untranslated region indels might have had a strong effect on the assembly of this draft of the honeybee genome.

Disinfection of wooden structures contaminated with Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores.

Aims: The aim of the study is to examine the disinfection of wood contaminated with Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores, in order to find a practical decontamination method for hive materials.

Comparative Lipid Composition of Colony- and Laboratory-Stored Pollen

SummaryA comparative analysis of fatty acids and sterols in colony- and laboratory-stored pollen from the same source revealed some important differences. The sterol ester concentration was 56% higher in pollen stored in the colony; there was also a much lower concentration of the essential fatty acids linoleic (C18: 2) and linolenic (C18: 3), and more of the saturated C16 and C18 acids.

Fatty Acid and Sterol Composition During Larval Development in the Honeybee

SummaryThe most important changes in lipid composition during larval development in the honeybee, Apis mellifera, were noted in the total weight of the fatty acid classes. Palmitic acid and a C18:1 acid, presumably oleic, were the most abundant fatty acids in the different lipid classes during larval development, together accounting for more than 70% of the total. The proportions of the fatty acids changed very little during development. Of the sterols, 24-methylene cholesterol was most abundant in both the free and esterified forms except on the first and second days when cholesterol ester was more abundant. Cholesterol-ester concentration decreased in such a way that on the fifth larval day the percentage composition of the sterol esters was almost identical to that of the free sterols. The composition of the free sterols remained practically constant during development.

Implementation of quality control and biosafety measurements in the diagnosis of honey bee diseases

Summary A quality control system is of paramount importance to boost the confidence of clients of a bee disease diagnostic laboratory, namely beekeepers and the responsible authorities, and can guarantee that tests are performed with the same accuracy in different bee laboratories. ISO 17025 is an International Standard that specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations. A quality control system can be recognized by accreditation, but there are important drawbacks that often drive a laboratory to focus on a limited number of highlights of the standard only. The legal framework for biosafety measurements can differ between the countries, but it is advisable (sometimes obligatory) to take measurements to protect the laboratory worker exposed to biological agents and to prevent the spread of important bee pathogens from the diagnostic lab.

Comparison of Colony-and Laboratory-Stored Pollen for Maintaining the Life of Caged Honeybees

SummaryCaged workers fed colony-stored pollen had a lower mortality than those fed laboratory-stored pollen. For Nosema-infected bees the difference was even greater.