Browsing by Author "Simone-Finstrom, Michael"
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Item Propolis and bee health: the natural history and significance of resin use by honey bees(2010) Simone-Finstrom, Michael; Spivak, MarlaSocial immunity, which describes how individual behaviors of group members effectively reduce disease and parasite transmission at the colony level, is an emerging field in social insect biology. An understudied, but significant behavioral disease resistance mechanism in honey bees is their collection and use of plant resins. Honey bees harvest resins with antimicrobial properties from various plant species and bring them back to the colony where they are then mixed with varying amounts of wax and utilized as propolis. Propolis is an apicultural term for the resins when used by bees within a hive. While numerous studies have investigated the chemical components of propolis that could be used to treat human diseases, there is a lack of information on the importance of propolis in regards to bee health. This review serves to provide a compilation of recent research concerning the behavior of bees in relation to resins and propolis, focusing more on the bees themselves and the potential evolutionary benefits of resin collection. Future research goals are also established in order to create a new focus within the literature on the natural history of resin use among the social insects and role that propolis plays in disease resistance.Item Propolis counteracts some threats to honey bee health(MDPI, 2017) Simone-Finstrom, Michael; Borba, Renata S.; Wilson, Michael; Spivak, MarlaHoney bees (Apis mellifera) are constantly dealing with threats from pathogens, pests, pesticides and poor nutrition. It is critically important to understand how honey bees’ natural immune responses (individual immunity) and collective behavioral defenses (social immunity) can improve bee health and productivity. One form of social immunity in honey bee colonies is the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and their use in the nest architecture as propolis. We review research on the constitutive benefits of propolis on the honey bee immune system, and its known therapeutic, colony-level effects against the pathogens Paenibacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis. We also review the limited research on the effects of propolis against other pathogens, parasites and pests (Nosema, viruses, Varroa destructor, and hive beetles) and how propolis may enhance bee products such as royal jelly and honey. Although propolis may be a source of pesticide contamination, it also has the potential to be a detoxifying agent or primer of detoxification pathways, as well as increasing bee longevity via antioxidant-related pathways. Throughout this paper, we discuss opportunities for future research goals and present ways in which the beekeeping community can promote propolis use in standard colonies, as one way to improve and maintain colony health and resiliency.Item Standard methods for Apis mellifera propolis research(Taylor and Francis, 2016) Bankova, Vassya; Bertelli, Davide; Borba, Renata; Conti, Bruno José; Barbosa da Silva Cunha, Ildenize; Danert, Carolina; Eberlin, Marcos Nogueira; Falcão, Soraia I; Isla, María Inés; Nieva Moreno, María Inés; Papotti, Giulia; Popova, Milena; Santiago, Karina Basso; Salas, Ana; Sawaya, Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland; Schwab, Nicolas Vilczaki; Sforcin, José Maurício; Simone-Finstrom, Michael; Spivak, Marla; Trusheva, Boryana; Vilas-Boas, Miguel; Wilson, Michael; Zampini, CatianaPropolis is one of the most fascinating honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) products. It is a plant derived product that bees produce from resins that they collect from different plant organs and with which they mix beeswax. Propolis is a building material and a protective agent in the bee hive. It also plays an important role in honey bee social immunity, and is widely used by humans as an ingredient of nutraceuticals, over-the-counter preparations and cosmetics. Its chemical composition varies by geographic location, climatic zone and local flora. The understanding of the chemical diversity of propolis is very important in propolis research. In this manuscript, we give an overview of the available methods for studying propolis in different aspects: propolis in the bee colony; chemical composition and plant sources of propolis; biological activity of propolis with respect to bees and humans; and approaches for standardization and quality control for the purposes of industrial application.