• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2018

Instrumental insemination of honey bee is an attractive alternative to natural mating in breeding program as it allows mating crosses between desirable queen and specific drone. However, nursery condition that the queen is kept before and after insemination is major factor affected to the performance of instrumentally inseminated queen. In this study, we evaluated the influences of three different nursery-conditions of push-in cages, mini nuclei and normal colonies on number of spermatozoa stored in the spermatheca, body weight, onset of ovipositon and performance of instrumentally inseminated Apis cerana queen. Our results demonstrated that instrumentally inseminated queens kept in mini nuclei and in normal hives showed no significant difference in queen's weight (159.8 and 166.2mg, respectively), number of spermatozoa in spermatheca ($2.02{\times}10^6$ and $2.76{\times}10^6$, respectively), proportion of queen supersedure (33.3 and 66.7% queen survival at 11 months after oviposition, respectively) and brood production, compared to naturally mated queens. In contrast, instrumentally inseminated queens kept in push-in cages showed significant difference of those above data in comparison to queens mated naturally. Our results suggested that instrumentally inseminated queens could be kept in mini nuclei containing about 1.000 attendant bees to have desirable performance of queen whereas the push-in method should be practiced for the purpose of using queen in the length of time less than 7 months.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.212-219
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• 2020

Objectives: Nowadays cancer treatment is an important challenge in the medical world that needs better therapies. Many active secretions produced by insects such as honey bees used to discover new anticancer drugs. Bee venom (BV) has a potent anti inflammatory, anti cancer and tumor effects. The aim of present study is evaluation of anticancer effects induced by Apis mellifera venom (AmV) on cell Lines. Methods: AmV was selected for study on cancer cell lines. Total protein, molecular weight and LD50 of crude venom were determined. Then, cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotics. The A549, HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cell Lines were exposed by different concentration of AmV. The morphology of cells was determined and cell viability was studed by MTT assay. Evaluation of cell death was determined by and DNA fragmentation. Results: The results from MTT assay showed that 3.125 ㎍/mL of A549, 12.5 for HeLa and 6.25 ㎍/mL of MDA-MB-231 killed 50% of cells (p < 0.05). Morphological analysis and the results from hoescht staining and DNA fragmentation indicated that cell death induced by AmV was significantly apoptosis. Conclusion: The data showed that using lower dosage of AmV during treatment period cause inhibition of proliferation in time and dose dependant manner. Findings indicated that some ingredients of AmV have anticancer effects and with further investigation it can be used in production of anticancer drugs.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.6-6
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• 2023

Nosemosis is one of the most common protozoan diseases of adult bees (Apis mellifera). Nosemosis is caused by two species of microsporidia; Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Nosema ceranae is potentially more dangerous because it has the ability to infect multiple cell types, and it is now the predominant microsporidian species in A. mellifera. In this study, we identified two anti-nosemosis plants, Aster scaber and Artemisia dubia, which reduced the spore development of N. ceranae in spore-infected cells. We intend to establish the anti-nosemosis activity of aqueous, ethyl acetate (EA), and butanol (BuOH) extracts of A. dubia and A. scaber. In order to determine the optimal dose, we did in vitro and in vivo toxicity for all the extracts and carried out anti-nosemosis experiments. Although all of the extracts (aqueous, EA, and BuOH) showed in vitro and in vivo anti-nosemosis activity in a dose-dependent manner, the aqueous extracts of A. dubia and A. scaber showed more potent anti-nosemosis activity than the EA and BuOH extracts. And then, we isolated five phenolic compounds [chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dicaffaeoylquinic acid (3,4-DCQA), 3,5-dicaffaeoylquinic acid (3,5-DCQA), 4,5-dicaffaeoylquinic acid (4,5-DCQA), and coumarin] from A. dubia, A. scaber, and A. dubia + A. scaber aqueous extracts and screened for their toxicities and anti-Nosema effects in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Among these five compounds, coumarin, chlorogenic acid, and 4,5-DCQA exhibited less toxic but more potent anti-Nosema effects than the other two compounds. Especially, chlorogenic acid and coumarin showed prominent anti-Nosema activities even at the lowest concentration (10 ㎍/mL). They might have potential to be developed as alternative compounds for the control of Nosema disease.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.146-153
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• 2023

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive survey of social wasp diversity and its impacts on remote Ulleungdo Island, South Korea. A total of 12 wasp traps were placed across the island, and specimens were collected monthly from May to October. Additional collection was conducted by thoroughly inspecting the areas surrounding the traps. The traps yielded a total of 5,068 individuals, representing two genera and two species. A total of 3,961 Vespa simillima simillima Smith individuals (78.2%) were collected, and 1,107 individuals (21.8%) were identified as Vespula flaviceps flaviceps Smith. Additionally, five individuals of Polistes snelleni de Saussure were collected through sweeping, bringing the total to 5,132 individuals of three genera and three species. It is worth noting that our findings indicate potential misidentifications in the species list of Vespidae found in the literature. Emergency services call centers reported the removal of 60 social wasp nests on Ulleungdo Island between 2018 and 2022, with the highest number of reports occurring from July to September, accounting for 87% of all cases. Dodong-ri and Jeodong-ri, with the highest populations, reported the most incidents, although fortunately, there have been no recent injuries. Past incidents involving the destruction of dried squid products by Vespula species have resulted in significant economic losses, underscoring the need for preventative measures. Furthermore, ongoing surveillance of hornet invasions is essential to safeguard the Jangwon bees being reared on Ulleungdo Island.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2024

Background: Stingless bee propolis is a popular traditional folk medicine and has been employed since ancient times. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive activities of the chemical constituents of aqueous propolis extract (APE) collected by Trigona thoracica in a nociceptive model in mice. Methods: The identification of chemical constituents of APE was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ninety-six male Swiss mice were administered APE (400 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg, and 2,000 mg/kg) before developing nociceptive pain models. Then, the antinociceptive properties of each APE dose were evaluated in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, hot plate test, and formalin-induced paw licking test. Administration of normal saline, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 100 mg/kg, orally), and morphine (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) were used for the experiments. Results: HPLC revealed that the APE from Trigona thoracica contained p-coumaric acid (R² = 0.999) and caffeic acid (R² = 0.998). Although all APE dosages showed inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, only 2,000 mg/kg was comparable to the result of ASA (68.7% vs. 73.3%, respectively). In the hot plate test, only 2,000 mg/kg of APE increased the latency time significantly compared to the control. In the formalin test, the durations of paw licking were significantly reduced at early and late phases in all APE groups with a decrease from 45.1% to 53.3%. Conclusions: APE from Trigona thoracica, containing p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, exhibited antinociceptive effects, which supports its potential use in targeting the prevention or reversal of central and peripheral sensitization that may produce clinical pain conditions.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2024

Vespa velutina nigrithorax du Buysson, 1905 is the invaded species in Korea since 2003. Since its importance as the honey bee pest, beekeepers use insecticides to kill the adult and immature hornets. However, its legality and effectiveness has not been confirmed. This study investigated the susceptibility of insecticides commonly used to control hornets by beekeepers in Korea. Eight insecticides were tested on adult worker and larvae by topical or oral treatment. Adults showed more than 70% mortalities from Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, and Carbosulfan treatment within 30 minutes. Bifenthrin and Cartap hydrochloride showed relatively low toxicity. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) for Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, and Carbosulfan was 0.29, 0.65, and 2.21 ㎍/bee, respectively. In larval feeding test where 5^th instar larvae were fed 3 times every 24 hours, the mortality began after second treatments. After 3rd treatments (72 h), all insecticides showed mortality more than 70%. The LD₅₀ values of Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, and Carbosulfan to V. velutina were approximately 10 to 100 times higher than those to honey bee, Apis mellifera. This study provides the basic information of those chemical toxicities to Vespa hornet and honey bees.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2013

Bee-vectoring is a new crop protection technology used for suppressing insect pests and diseases in crops by disseminating microbial agents into plants during bee pollination activities. In this study, we conducted bee-vectoring trials in cherry tomato greenhouses by using the bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), a microbial agent (Bacillus subtilis) and a new dispenser, and we measured the delivered quantity of microbial agent. Bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) in bees exiting a dispenser ranged from $9.0{\times}10^5$ to $1.9{\times}10^6$ per bee. At greenhouse trials in the National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS) trials, 3,300 - 8,500 CFUs per flower were counted and 80 - 100% of the flower samples contained detectable concentrations. There was no significant difference in CFU density between microbial replacement intervals (once a week vs twice a week) in the NAAS trials. In a commercial greenhouse trial, 1,800 - 2,400 CFUs per flower were found, and 83 - 93% of the flower samples contained detectable concentrations. CFUs detected in bee-vectored flowers increased by approximately 75 times before bee-vectoring. The mortality of bumble bees in the NAAS trials was, on average, 22% and little negative effects were observed on the bumble bee colonies. The yield difference for cherry tomatoes in the NAAS trials was not significant between treatments. When we select additional microbial agents that can be disseminated using this technology and create a detailed plan based on insect pests and disease incidence, we can apply this technology in greenhouses for growing tomatoes and strawberries in the near future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2020

The European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) has multiple anti-microbial peptides, but many were unknown and demands for their characterization have increased. This study therefore focused on identifying novel anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) from A. mellifera L. To obtain high-throughput transcriptome data of the honeybee, we implemented next-generation sequencing (NGS), isolating novel AMPs from total RNA, and generated 15,314 peptide sequences, including 44 known, using Illumina HiSeq 2500 technology. The uncharacterized peptides were identified based on specific features of possible AMPs predicted in the sequencing analysis. AMP5, one such uncharacterized peptide, was expressed in the epidermis, body fat, and venom gland of the honeybee. We chemically synthesized this peptide and tested its anti-bacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (KACC 10005) and Gram-positive Bacillus thuringiensis (KACC 10168) by anti-microbial assay. AMP5 exhibited anti-bacterial activity against E. coli (MIC50=22.04±0.66 μM) but not against B. thuringiensis. When worker bees were injected with E. coli, AMP5 was up-regulated in the body fat. This study therefore identified AMP5 in adult European honeybees and confirmed its anti-bacterial activity against Gram-negative E. coli.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1989

This study was conducted to investigate insecticide toxicities to a honeybee, Apis cerana F. being raised in Korea and its detoxifying enzyme activities. In order to determine the appropriate usage of insecticides, median effective dose and detoxifying enzyme activities to seven insecticides were observed. Various detoxifying enzymes, including microsomal oxidases, glutathione S-transferases, esterases, and DDT-dehydrochlorinase were assayed in the midguts of adult worker bees as the enzyme source. Of the insecticides used, $LC_{50}$ value in DDT treatment was the highest as 19ppm, and that in EPN treatment was the lowest as 0.75ppm. Sublethal exposures of honeybees to various insecticides had some effects on microsomal enzyme activities. Aldrin epoxidase activity was inhibited by malathion and demeton S-methyl treatment. N-demethylase activity was induced by carbaryl treatment. Of the glutathione S-transferases, aryltransferase(DCNB conjugation) activity was significantly induced by diazinon, and moderately induced by malathion. Of the esterases, ${\alpha}-NA$ esterase activity was moderately inhibited by malathion and permethrin. Carboxylesterase and acetylcholinesterase activity were not affected by the sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides. Sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides had no effect on DDT- dehydrochlorinase activity, except carbaryl, malathion and demeton S-methyl were inhibited.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.7
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• pp.99-107
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• 1989

The study was conducted to obtain some basic information to establish the system of performance-tests and selection of honeybee queens(Apis mellifera) under Korean circumstances, Colony performances were tested with thirty colonies of Apis mellifera at two apiaries in Taegu, Korea from September, 1988 to August 1989. The results of performance-testing on the colonies are summarized as follows : The colony weight measured before wintering was averaged $23.6{\pm}1.90kg$ and the colony weight was decreased by $2.9{\pm}0.82kg$ in average during winter season. Thirteen colonies were entered in two story hive from thirty single box colonies from April 17 to May 5, 1989 with increase of bee population and, consequently, the ability of enter-supers of the colonies apperared to be low. The ability of collecting pollen was measured to be $14.8{\pm}2.15gr$ per colony during 24 hours in April, and the number of swarm cells was counted $12.5{\pm}3.43$ cells per colony in aveage. Tendency to use propolis appeared to be moderate, and the number of returning foragers for a minute per colony was counted $108.7{\pm}18.31$ bees in average. Brood area was measured $2,464{\pm}628,67cm^2$ per colony in the post nectar flow season of acasia, and 30.8 percent of the colonies appeared to be infected with chalkbrood disease, The amount of honey production was $14.9{\pm}8.49kg$ per colony, which was harvested two times during the main nectar flow season of acasia.