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Alteration of Bumblebee Venom Composition toward Higher Elevation.

ABSTRACT: Venomous animals use venom, a complex biofluid composed of unique mixtures of proteins and peptides, for either predation or defense. Bumblebees, which occur in various habitats due to their unique thermoregulatory properties, mainly use venom for defense. Herein, we conducted an exploratory analysis of the venom composition of a bumblebee species (Bombus pascuorum) along an elevation gradient in the western Swiss Alps using shot-gun proteomic approaches to assess whether their defense mechanism varies along the gradient. The gradient was characterized by high temperatures and low humidity at low elevations and low temperatures and high humidity at high elevations. Venom composition is changing along the elevation gradient, with proteomic variation in the abundances of pain-inducing and allergenic proteins. In particular, the abundance of phospholipase A2-like, the main component of bumblebee venom, gradually decreases toward higher elevation (lower temperature), suggesting venom alteration and thus a decrease in bumblebee defense towards harsher environments. Larger datasets may complement this study to validate the observed novel trends.

SUBMITTER: Barkan NP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7020474 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Alteration of Bumblebee Venom Composition toward Higher Elevation.

Barkan Nezahat Pınar NP Chevalier Mathieu M Pradervand Jean-Nicolas JN Guisan Antoine A

Toxins 20191219 1

Venomous animals use venom, a complex biofluid composed of unique mixtures of proteins and peptides, for either predation or defense. Bumblebees, which occur in various habitats due to their unique thermoregulatory properties, mainly use venom for defense. Herein, we conducted an exploratory analysis of the venom composition of a bumblebee species (<i>Bombus pascuorum</i>) along an elevation gradient in the western Swiss Alps using shot-gun proteomic approaches to assess whether their defense me ...[more]

PMID: 31861682

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Project description:Background and objectivesHDL particles obtained from patients on chronic hemodialysis exhibit lower cholesterol efflux capacity and are enriched in inflammatory proteins compared with those in healthy individuals. Observed alterations in HDL proteins could be due to effects of CKD, but also may be influenced by the hemodialysis procedure, which stimulates proinflammatory and prothrombotic pathways.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsWe compared HDL-associated proteins in 143 participants who initiated hemodialysis within the previous year with those of 110 participants with advanced CKD from the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study. We quantified concentrations of 38 HDL-associated proteins relative to total HDL protein using targeted mass spectrometry assays that included a stable isotope-labeled internal standard. We used linear regression to compare the relative abundances of HDL-associated proteins after adjustment and required a false discovery rate q value ?10% to control for multiple testing. We further assessed the association between hemodialysis initiation and cholesterol efflux capacity in a subset of 80 participants.ResultsAfter adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, and other clinical characteristics, eight HDL-associated proteins met the prespecified false discovery threshold for association. Recent hemodialysis initiation was associated with higher HDL-associated concentrations of serum amyloid A1, A2, and A4; hemoglobin-?; haptoglobin-related protein; cholesterylester transfer protein; phospholipid transfer protein; and apo E. The trend for participants recently initiating hemodialysis for lower cholesterol efflux capacity compared with individuals with advanced CKD did not reach statistical significance.ConclusionsCompared with advanced CKD, hemodialysis initiation within the previous year is associated with higher concentrations of eight HDL proteins related to inflammation and lipid metabolism. Identified associations differ from those recently observed for nondialysis-requiring CKD. Hemodialysis initiation may further impair cholesterol efflux capacity. Further work is needed to clarify the clinical significance of the identified proteins with respect to cardiovascular risk.PodcastThis article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2018_07_25_CJASNPodcast_18_8_W.mp3.

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Alteration of Bumblebee Venom Composition toward Higher Elevation.

Publications

Alteration of Bumblebee Venom Composition toward Higher Elevation.

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