Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators of flowering plants and agricultural crops contributing annually to billions of dollars in revenues to crop production. Honeybees have an average lifespan between 8 weeks to 5 years. Dead honeybees are abundantly available in beehives and can be utilized as an alternative source to synthesize nanoparticles. In recent years, biologically synthesized nanoparticles have been preferred over their chemical counterparts. However, honeybee-based-green synthesis of nanoparticles has not been explored yet. Herein, we report the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from honeybees and its antibacterial activity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was monitored visually through a gradual change in color. Furthermore, the biosynthesized nanoparticles were confirmed and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy. Scanning Electron Microscope was utilized to analyze the average size and morphologies of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Subsequently, the antibacterial potential of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was tested against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. It was found that a distinct color change from yellow to brown in the reaction solution suggested the formation of silver nanoparticles. The biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited absorption maxima at 430 nm. The SEM analysis confirmed the spherical and cuboidal shape of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles with a size range between 10 - 40 nm. Furthermore, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited strong antimicrobial potential against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains by aggregating on the cell surface. This study showcases the biomedical and agricultural applications of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from honeybee wings. .
Akamu J. EwunkemNiore’s JohnsonA’lyiha F. BeardIlunga TshimangaBrittany JusticeJeffery Meixner
蜂王与工蜂具有相同遗传背景,都是由受精卵发育而成,但由于发育过程中营养和空间差异导致蜂王与工蜂在形态、生理和行为上出现显著差异,特别是蜂王寿命比工蜂寿命高数十倍,表现出很强的衰老与寿命可塑性。胰岛素信号通路(insulin signal pathway,IIS)可调节工蜂行为,进而影响工蜂寿命;蜂王长寿与氧化应激增加和应激防御增强有关;卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin,Vg)与保幼激素(juvenile hormone,JH)之间存在相互作用,高卵黄原蛋白和低保幼激素水平与长寿有关;端粒酶活性和端粒长度受蜜蜂发育及级型影响,蜂王端粒长度、端粒酶活性都明显高于工蜂的,越冬工蜂比夏季工蜂寿命更长,端粒酶活性更高;线粒体损伤是衰老的标志,而老年蜂王线粒体功能维持在旺盛状态;衰老与DNA甲基化密切相关,DNA甲基化和组蛋白修饰在社会性昆虫可塑性调控中发挥重要作用。随着人口老龄化加剧和衰老相关疾病高发,“健康老龄化”引发了社会各界对生命科学和社会科学中一系列重要问题的密切关注。有关蜜蜂衰老与寿命调控的研究结果将对衰老生物学有重要参考价值。