Assessment of the Insecticide Sulfoxaflor on the Stingless Bee Melipona quadrifasciata: An Omics-Based Approach

• Grant number: 24/07119-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Milene Ferro
• Grantee: Lucas Miotelo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The decline of bee populations represents a significant environmental concern that has garnered considerable attention in recent decades. Among the various anthropogenic factors implicated, the use of pesticides stands out as a prominent cause of bee mortality. Each year novel insecticides are introduced, accompanied by the creation of new regulations that impose restrictions or outright bans on existing chemical compounds. Sulfoxaflor, touted as a less toxic alternative to neonicotinoids, has emerged as a candidate for replacing these compounds. However, despite its increasing adoption, empirical investigations into the impact of sulfoxaflor on stingless bee populations remain scarce. In this scenario, the present study aims to assess the transcriptomic profiles of the brains, intestines, and Malpighian tubules of the stingless bee species Melipona quadrifasciata following exposure to sulfoxaflor. Additionally, recognizing the potential role of bee microbiota in mediating xenobiotic detoxification mechanisms, the present study will undertake an examination of the bacterial and fungal microbiota within the bee midguts. To achieve these objectives, RNA and total DNA will be extracted from organs subjected to sublethal doses of sulfoxaflor (LD50/10 and LD50/100) following a 48-hour exposure period. Subsequently, these samples will undergo sequencing utilizing the Illumina platform. The resulting data will undergo comprehensive analysis leveraging bioinformatics tools to access differentially expressed genes across the tissues and sublethal dosages evaluated on the present study. Moreover, through the utilization of 16S and ITS metabarcoding libraries, the taxonomic composition of intestinal bacteria and fungi will be elucidated. Such analyses hold the potential to illuminate the genetic underpinnings and metabolic pathways implicated in the response of M. quadrifasciata to sulfoxaflor exposure. Furthermore, it will be possible to elucidate how the insecticide affects the composition of intestinal microbiota. The results of this project may support the development of public policies related to sulfoxaflor, based on the sublethal effects observed in a stingless bee native to Brazil.