U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Bee Research Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            SIMONE, MICHAEL - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAitem
                                            Evans, Jayitem
                                            SPIVAK, MARLA - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
  Submitted to: Evolution
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2009
                                    Publication  Date: 9/3/2009
                                    Citation: Simone, M., Evans, J.D., Spivak, M. 2009. Resin collection and social immunity in honey bees. Evolution. 63:3016-3022.Interpretive Summary: Honey bees can combat disease at the individual and colony level. Propolis (plant resins collected by bees and used throughout the nest) collection is carried out by all honey bees, though the effects of propolis on bee health are poorly understood. Since propolis has antimicrobial properties, we predicted that higher levels of propolis could relieve pressure on other honey bee disease responses. In fact, colonies whose hive boxes were coated with propels showed lower bacterial levels and lower immune expenses. This information suggests that bee propolis levels could be manipulated as one way to improve productivity and disease resistance in the field. A management tool such as that would prove helpful for beekeepers and bee breeders.
                                Technical Abstract: We determined if the use of resins, complex plant secretions with diverse antimicrobial properties, acts as a colony-level immune defense by honey bees. Colonies were enriched with extracts of Brazilian or Minnesotan propolis (a bee mixture of resins and wax) or were left as controls. We measured gene transcript levels of four antimicrobial peptides and one gene involved in cellular immunity to determine if the presence of propolis can compensate for individual immune responses. Honey bees in propolis-rich colonies showed lower immune transcript levels and lower overall bacterial loads, providing evidence that the nest environment affects these traits.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov