Toxicological effects of the insecticide fipronil in workers and queens of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae): neural activity and detoxification proteins

• Grant number: 08/05018-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2008
• End date: October 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Principal Investigator: Osmar Malaspina
• Grantee: Thaisa Cristina Roat
• Host Institution: Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais (CEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 06/57122-7 - Searching for lead compounds for rational development of new drugs and pesticides through bioprospecting in Brazilian arthropods, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The pollination by Apis mellifera is of extreme ecological as well as agricultural importance. This species also plays an important role in beekeeping. However, some xenobiotic substances, such as fipronil introduced in agrosystems, are toxic for bees and have caused mass disappearance of colonies in several countries. Based on this information, this study aims at analyzing the toxicological effects of fipronil under laboratory conditions on the neural activity and proteins involved in the process of intoxication in the brain of workers and queens of A. mellifera, as this insecticide acts on the nervous system. In addition, recovery bioassays will be conducted to evaluate the capacity of adaptation of bees based on the identification of proteins involved in the process of detoxification. To this end, toxicity experiments using fipronil will be carried out with newly emerged workers, foragers, and queens of A. mellifera obtained from the apiary of the Dept. of Biology of Unesp-Rio Claro-SP. Bees will then be dissected for removal of the brain, which will be fixed and processed for histochemical analysis of neural activity and bidimensional electrophoresis. This study will be an important contribution to clarify the toxic effect of xenobiotics on bees and the capacity of recovery they might have following exposure. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ROSSI, CAROLINE DE ALMEIDA; ROAT, THAISA CRISTINA; TAVARES, DAIANA ANTONIA; CINTRA-SOCOLOWSKI, PRISCILA; MALASPINA, OSMAR. Brain Morphophysiology of Africanized Bee Apis mellifera Exposed to Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 65, n. 2, p. 234-243, AUG 2013. (06/57122-7, 08/05018-7)

ROAT, THAISA C.; CARVALHO, STEPHAN M.; PALMA, MARIO S.; MALASPINA, OSMAR. BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF THE AFRICANIZED HONEYBEE EXPOSED TO FIPRONIL. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 36, n. 6, p. 1652-1660, JUN 2017. (12/13370-8, 08/05018-7)

ROAT, T. C.; DOS SANTOS-PINTO, J. R. A.; DOS SANTOS, L. D.; SANTOS, K. S.; MALASPINA, O.; PALMA, M. S.. Modification of the brain proteome of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) exposed to a subaEurolethal doses of the insecticide fipronil. ECOTOXICOLOGY, v. 23, n. 9, p. 1659-1670, NOV 2014. (11/51684-1, 12/13370-8, 08/05018-7)

CATAE, ALINE FERNANDA; ROAT, THAISA CRISTINA; DE OLIVEIRA, REGIANE ALVES; FERREIRA NOCELLI, ROBERTA CORNELIO; MALASPINA, OSMAR. Cytotoxic Effects of Thiamethoxam in the Midgut and Malpighian Tubules of Africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae). MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, v. 77, n. 4, p. 274-281, APR 2014. (10/18460-0, 10/15628-7, 12/13370-8, 08/05018-7)

ROSSI, CAROLINE DE ALMEIDA; ROAT, THAISA CRISTINA; TAVARES, DAIANA ANTONIA; CINTRA-SOCOLOWSKI, PRISCILA; MALASPINA, OSMAR. Effects of sublethal doses of imidacloprid in malpighian tubules of africanized Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, v. 76, n. 5, p. 552-558, MAY 2013. (06/57122-7, 08/05018-7)

ROAT, THAISA CRISTINA; CARVALHO, STEPHAN M.; NOCELLI, ROBERTA C. F.; SILVA-ZACARIN, ELAINE C. M.; PALMA, MARIO SERGIO; MALASPINA, OSMAR. Effects of Sublethal Dose of Fipronil on Neuron Metabolic Activity of Africanized Honeybees. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 64, n. 3, p. 456-466, APR 2013. (08/05018-7)