Investigation of the Effects of Essential Amino Acids on Overexpression of the Vg and Sod Gene in Apis mellifera

Honeybee immunity and health can be significantly affected by protein nutrition. Essential amino acids have significant effects on animal health, resistance to diseases and survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a number of dietary amino acids (lysine, methionine and threonine) to increase honeybees’ life span. To do so, 78 honeybee hives were studied divided into13 groups (6 hives each) with different concentrations of dietary amino acids. Parameters of honey and pollen production, winter survival, number of brood and mature bees in each group were evaluated. Moreover, expression of genes for immunity-related peptides (Vg and Sod) was compared among groups using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results revealed a significant effect of the different concentrations of amino acids on the parameters studied (p < 0.0001). The honeybees fed with 1.51 g lysine, 0.3 g methionine and 0.572 g threonine at each hive showed the highest levels of Vg and Sod expression compared to other groups (p < 0.0002). Therefore, our results strongly suggest that honey production could be increased by extending the life span of honeybees through the use of essential amino acids in their diet.