Metabolic route of pesticides in bees

• Grant number: 19/20109-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Osmar Malaspina
• Grantee: Daiana Antonia Tavares
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21097-3 - Bee-agriculture interactions: perspectives to sustainable use, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The species Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is widely known for being efficient crop pollinators, for the commercialization of apiculture products, as well as for the well known breeding and management techniques. However, apart from this species, stingless bees deserve attention in this context as they can pollinate equally or even more efficiently. When foraging in agricultural areas, bees can be contaminated by direct contact with pesticides, especially during the flowering season when these insects intensify their visits. Despite many studies on mortality and etal effects, little is known about the sublethal effects of these pesticides on bees. There are few studies related to non-target organ cytotoxicity and the metabolism pathway of compounds after ingested by the bee, such as Malpighi's intestine and tubules, responsible for digestion and absorption, and excretion, respectively. An efficient method for identifying physiological changes in cells is the use of cell and biochemical markers that may be cell protection, cell stress or cell death-related proteins. Thus, the objectives of this project are to evaluate the possible changes caused by exposure to different pesticides and their impacts on the expression and activity of detoxification enzymes.