Aims: Symbiotic bee fungus associated with the stingless bee larval food has been revealed to play a major role in performing a mutual relationship with the host. The fungus is believed capable to produce crucial nutrients that are required for larval pupation. However, detailed information on the fungus identification isolated from the larval food of our native Indo-Malaya stingless bee, Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is poorly understood. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the effect of fungus isolated from the stingless bee larval food on the survival of H. itama larvae and identify the isolated fungus using both morphological and molecular analyses. Methodology and results: Elisa plates designed with F-bottom type were used as artificial brood cells in a controlled condition. The eggs transferred to Elisa plates were kept in the incubator with 75%-100% humidity and 25 ± 2.5 °C of temperature. This study carried out in three different treatments: (1) microbes-free larval food, (2) fresh larval food and (3) microbes-free larval food with fungus supplement. Results showed that the survival of H. itama larvae depends on the presence of beneficial fungus with the highest survival rate (Treatment 2 = 85.71%). The absence of the beneficial fungus in the fluid food of H. itama showed the lowest survival rate (Treatment 1 = 37.14%). Microscopy analysis showed that the fungus had various forms, including unconjugated asci, round-shaped ascospore and pseudohyphae. The molecular characterisation of the isolated fungi was performed using 23S rRNA gene sequencing using universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. DNA barcoding of three isolated fungi confirmed all isolated fungi matched Panus lecomtei (Basidiomycetes; Poriales; Polyporaceae) with 99.70% of similarity. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This study provides information on the importance of whitish fungus in appearance that existed in the brood cell, which is proposed to be the crucial component of in-vitro stingless bee queen rearing protocol.
Bees--microbiology

Bee-stings possibly caused severe complications such as anaphylaxis, acute renal failure and coagulation disorders potentially leading to death. However, the little attention has actually been paid to acute renal failure. Objectives: To assess the features of acute renal failure resulted from bee-stings and to describe pathohistorical injuries of affected kidneys. Method: prospective observational study, evaluation of pre- and post-treatment. Results: 70 patients with 1 to 270 stings from wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket were hospitalized in Poison Control Center of Bach Mai Hospital during two years 2002 and 2003. The number of stings in patients with acute renal failure ranged from 15 to 105 (mean: 50.5). The duration of anuria phase was from 4 to 45 days (mean: 14.7 days) Conclusions: Acute renal failures accounted for 21.4% (15/70 patients), and resulted from stings of wasp and hornet. Early forced diuresis therapy reduced the percentage patients need of hemodialysis. Pathohistological findings revealed the pattern of acute tubular necrosis.
Kidney Failure, Bees, Diagnosis

As the most efficient perception system in nature, the perception mechanism of the insect (such as honeybee) antennae is the key to imitating the high-performance sensor technology. An automated experimental device suitable for collecting electrical signals (including antenna reaction time information) of antennae was developed, in response to the problems of the non-standardized experimental process, interference of manual operation, and low efficiency in the study of antenna perception mechanism. Firstly, aiming at the automatic identification and location of insect heads in experiments, the image templates of insect head contour features were established. Insect heads were template-matched based on the Hausdorff method. Then, for the angle deviation of the insect heads relative to the standard detection position, a method that calculates the angle of the insect head mid-axis based on the minimum external rectangle of the long axis was proposed. Eventually, the electrical signals generated by the antennae in contact with the reagents were collected by the electrical signal acquisition device. Honeybees were used as the research object in this study. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of template matching could reach 95.3% to locate the bee head quickly, and the deviation angle of the bee head was less than 1°. The distance between antennae and experimental reagents could meet the requirements of antennae perception experiments. The parameters, such as the contact reaction time of honeybee antennae to sucrose solution, were consistent with the results of the manual experiment. The system collects effectively antenna contact signals in an undisturbed state and realizes the standardization of experiments on antenna perception mechanisms, which provides an experimental method and device for studying and analyzing the reaction time of the antenna involved in biological antenna perception mechanisms.
Animals ; Arthropod Antennae ; Bees

Propolis or bee glue is a product produced by bees, and has been used as a constituent in folk medicinal remedies in many parts of the world. Although allergic contact dermatitis to propolis is reported occasionally in beekeepers, its major occurrence is in persons who make use of natural- product remedies or of "biocosmetics", many of which are derived from beeswax or contain it. We report a case of non-occupational allergic contact dermatitis derived from the use of propolis ointment in the treatment of eczema. Our patient exhibited a simultaneous positive patch test to propolis and balsam of Peru.
Bees ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Eczema ; Humans ; Patch Tests ; Peru ; Propolis*

In this study, the processes of pollination ecology of Fritillaria delavayi were investigated to document its reproductive characteristics. Some individuals of F. delavayi could produce seeds under bagging without emasculation (11%), but the rate was significantly lower than that of the natural control (87%). It is suggesting that pollination of F. delavayi largely depends on pollen vectors. Bombus sushikini was the only effective pollinator of F. delavayi and the visitation frequency was 0.003 time xXflower(-1) x min(-1). Flowering of F. delavayi in whole population lasted for 35 d and single flower for 11 d. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity lasted for 9 d and were relatively long compared with other Fritillaria genus plants. Consequently, bumblebee pollination and long floral longevity seem to be important for reproductive assurance of F. delavayi in harsh alpine environments.
Animals ; Bees ; physiology ; Fritillaria ; physiology ; Pollen ; physiology ; Pollination

Bee venom injection therapy is an alternative treatment sometimes used for chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, to reduce pain. Several chemical components of bee venom have anti-inflammatory effects, and apitoxin, one of the mixed components, has been used for pain prevention therapy. However, there have been no large-scale investigations regarding the efficacy or side effects or apitoxin. In this study, a case of serum sickness reaction that developed after receiving bee venom injection therapy is reported.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bee Venoms ; Bees ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Serum Sickness ; Skin

Bee venom immunotherapy (b-VIT) can be combined with omalizumab therapy in order to suppress systemic reactions developing due to b-VIT itself. Omalizumab acts as a premedication and gains time for the immunotherapy to develop its immunomodulatory effects. However, the combination of omalizumab and b-VIT is not always effective enough. Herein we present a patient in whom successful immunotherapy cannot be achieved with combination of omalizumab to b-VIT.
Anaphylaxis ; Bee Venoms ; Bees ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Omalizumab ; Premedication

BACKGROUND: Bee venom (BV) has been widely investigated for potential medical uses. Recent inadvertent uses of BV based products have shown to mitigate signs of fungal infections. However, the component mediating the antifungal effect has not been identified. OBJECTIVE: This investigation compares bee venom in its whole and partial forms to evaluate the possible component responsible for the antifungal effect. METHODS: Forty-eight plates inoculated with Trichophyton rubrum were allocated into four groups. The groups were treated with raw BV (RBV), melittin, apamin and BV based mist (BBM) respectively and each group was further allocated accordingly to three different concentrations. The areas were measured every other day for 14 days to evaluate the kinetic changes of the colonies. RESULTS: The interactions of ratio differences over interval were confirmed in groups treated with RBV and BBM. In RBV, the level of differences were achieved in groups treated with 10 mg/100 µl (p=0.026) and 40 mg/100 µl (p=0.000). The mean difference of ratio in groups treated with RBV was evident in day 3 and day 5. The groups that were treated with melittin or apamin did not show any significant interaction. In BBM groups, the significant levels of ratio differences over time intervals were achieved in groups treated with 200 µl/100 µl (p=0.000) and 300 µl/100 µl (p=0.030). CONCLUSION: The the bee venom in its whole form delivered a significant level of inhibition and we concluded that the venom in separated forms are not effective. Moreover, BV based products may exert as potential antifungal therapeutics.
Antifungal Agents ; Apamin ; Bee Venoms* ; Bees* ; Melitten ; Negotiating ; Trichophyton* ; Venoms

In this paper, an adaptive artefact canceller is designed using the bounded range artificial bee colony (BR-ABC) optimization technique. The results of proposed method are compared with recursive least square and other evolutionary algorithms. The performance of these algorithms is evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), mean square error (MSE), maximum error (ME) mean, standard deviation (SD) and correlation factor (r). The noise attenuation capability is tested on EMG signal contaminated with power line and ECG noise at different SNR levels. A comparative study of various techniques reveals that the performance of BR-ABC algorithm is better in noisy environment. Our simulation results show that the ANC filter using BR-ABC technique provides 15 dB improvement in output average SNR, 63 and 83% reduction in MSE and ME, respectively as compared to ANC filter based on PSO technique. Further, the ANC filter designed using BR-ABC technique enhances the correlation between output and pure EMG signal.
Artifacts ; Bees* ; Electrocardiography ; Methods* ; Noise ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

To study the breeding system and pollination characteristics of Gleditsia sinensis, we observed the development of flower development and the processing of pollination, and determined the pollen viability and stigma acceptability by TTC and benzidine-hydrogen peroxide method and detected its breeding system using OCI value, P/O ratio and artificial pollination.The results showed that: ①G. sinensis are racemes, divided into bisexual inflorescences (only a small amount of inactive pollen) and male inflorescences (occasionally a few bisexual flowers), flowers hermaphrodite. ②Male flowers had the strongest pollen activity 4 h after flowering; the stigma receptivity of bisexual was the highest at 1 h after flowering, and pollination was the best in this time. ③The pollen tube had a few elongation when the bisexual flower is half-opened. The number of pollen tube and length significantly increased when blooming. The flower reaches the ovary and even enters the ovule to complete the fertilization. ④When the OCI=4 and P/O=11 684, it means that the breeding system was facultative, outcrossing, and requiring pollinators based on the results of the bagging experiment.There was parthenogenesis. ⑤The characteristics of saponin pollination were wind pollination and insect vector pollination, and pollinators were initially identified as Apis mellifera ligustica. All these results provides a theoretical and technical foundation for the new germplasm of G. sinensis.
Animals ; Bees ; Flowers ; Gleditsia ; Plant Breeding ; Pollen ; Pollination ; Reproduction