Pesticides modulate the expression of genes in the antioxidant system of Africanized Apis mellifera bees in the forager phase

Forager bees forage long distances in search of food resources, which leaves them susceptible to oxidative stress, with an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that affect their longevity and cognitive capacity, an effect aggravated by pesticides exposure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of different classes of pesticides: herbicide (glyphosate), insecticide (fipronil and imidacloprid) and fungicide (pyraclostrobin) on the gene expression profile of the antioxidant system of bees in the forager phase, using transcriptome analysis. For this purpose, bees over 21 days old were previously marked and exposed, via contact or ingestion, to the lethal dose (LD50) or sublethal dose (LD50/100) of the pesticides, during exposure times of 1 and 4 hours. Changes were observed in the expression of 18 genes when exposed to the pesticides used, with fipronil having the greatest effect on the bees' antioxidant system, followed by the pesticides imidacloprid, glyphosate and pyraclostrobin. The results obtained in this study highlight the impact of pesticides on the regulation of genes in the antioxidant system of Africanized Apis mellifera bees during foragee phase and suggest the detrimental effects of pesticides on the antioxidant system of bees. These changes could have significant consequences for the health and well-being of bees, and the health of ecosystems where they play a vital role as pollinators. The results reinforce the need to understand the effects of pesticides on bees to develop more sustainable agricultural management strategies and protect biodiversity.