Changes in Proteolytic System Activity Due to Varroa destructor Infestation in Apis mellifera Workers

Magdalena Kunat-Budzyńska (), Patrycja Staniszewska, Krzysztof Olszewski and Aneta Strachecka ()
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Magdalena Kunat-Budzyńska: Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
Patrycja Staniszewska: Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Krzysztof Olszewski: Subdepartment of Apidology, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Aneta Strachecka: Department of Invertebrate Ecophysiology and Experimental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: The proteolytic system plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis and defence against pathogens. Its proper functioning depends on the balance between the activities of proteases and their inhibitors. The disturbing of this balance, caused, for example, by Varroa destructor , brings about physiological/metabolic changes leading to premature aging. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the effect of V. destructor on the activities of acidic, neutral, and alkaline proteases and their inhibitors in bee hemolymph and fat body segments (from tergite 3, tergite 5 and sternite). The parasite caused a decrease in the protease and protease inhibitor activities, accelerating the aging process. In healthy worker bees, proteolytic activity in the fat body segments increased with age, peaking at 21–28 days, and subsequently declined in 35-day-old workers. Additionally, it was observed that tergite 5 was the segment characterized by the highest activity of the proteolytic system, which indicates that it can be used as a biomarker of aging and immunity. Studying the proteolytic system is important because it allows for a more detailed understanding of immunity mechanisms, aging processes, and responses to infection, which may contribute to the development of preparations promoting apian health.

Keywords: immunity; protease inhibitors; proteases; Varroa destructor; workers; aging; fat body; hemolymph (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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