D3185: Understanding the role of antimicrobial peptides in honey bee (Apis mellifera) innate immune system

Monday, November 11, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

AG

Astrid Elizabeth Gomez

Student
University of Southern Mississippi
Purvis, Mississippi

Co-Author(s)

JA

John J. Adamczyk, Jr.

Supervisory Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS
Poplarville, Mississippi
MG

Michael Goblirsch

Research Entomologist
University of Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Deepak Kumar

Postdoctoral researcher
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
MO

Michael Edward Oeth

Graduate student
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Shahid Karim

Principle Investigator
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

The immune system of the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is vital for mounting defense against invading pathogenic microbes. Immune cells, known as hemocytes, play a key part in eliciting cellular and humoral responses, eventually leading to pathogen killing. Hemocytes directly contribute to immune response through phagocytosis, encapsulation, and nodulation, and also contribute to the humoral response by producing antimicrobial peptides, and lytic enzymes, which indirectly lead to pathogen killing. This research aims to elucidate the intricate interplay between A. mellifera hemocytes and various bacterial species. We utilized Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli infection to determine the expression of honeybee antimicrobial peptides, including abaecin, apidaecin, and hymenoptaecin, in honeybee hemocytes and other tissues. Furthermore, these antimicrobial peptides were synthesized to test their antimicrobial activity in a bee cell line. This study will provide insight into the functional role of antimicrobial peptides in the innate immune system of honey bees.