A broader understanding of honey bee immunity is crucial, given the numerous threats modern honey bees are facing. Hemocytes play a central role in immune responses, making it essential to identify the different hemocyte subtypes.
In our new paper, we explored the hemocyte surfaceome using proteomics and transcriptomics. This work takes the first step towards an objective, marker-based classification of honey bee hemocytes by proposing candidate cell surface markers.
Surprisingly, our gene ontology analysis revealed the term “odorant receptor activity”, typically associated with sensory neurons. This raises questions about whether hemocytes may use similar receptors to sense environmental or pathogen-derived signals.
This study provides a foundation for future research into honey bee immunity and the development of monoclonal antibodies for immunophenotyping.
Want to know what happened at our latest public event in Marchamalo, Spain? Visit our its dedicated page to watch videos of all the presentations!
APIMONDIA 2025 wrapped up last weekend with the World Café on resilient beekeeping and plenty of other Better-B related activities. Below are a few more snapshots: the World Café (top picture), the Better-B booth, and the demonstrations that took place there (bottom picture).
A few snapshots from the first two days of our delegation at the APIMONDIA Conference — an incredible opportunity to exchange knowledge, discover new technologies, and build connections that will shape the future of beekeeping and pollinator health. Excited for the days ahead!
Better-B, together with the other four European beekeeping projects currently underway, will have a prominent presence at the upcoming APIMONDIA 2025 conference. Below is an overview of the projects’ various actions.
Wednesday, 24 September
🕒 9:00 — Merel Braeckman, UGENT (Presenting author: Dirk C. de Graaf, UGENT) — Honeybee blood under the microscope: Characterizing hemocytes through surface protein profiling
🕒 9:30 — Dora Henriques, IPB — Genetic variation of detoxification genes: from genes to proteins: detoxification
🕒 9:45 — M. Alice Pinto, IPB — An unparalleled survey of honey bee genetic diversity in Europe – insights from wing shape, nuclear whole genome, and mitochondrial DNA data
🕒 11.30 — Demetris Taliadoros, UU (Presenting author: Matthew Webster) — Whole genome sequencing reveals resilience of European honeybees to climate change
🕒 11.30 — Dirk C. de Graaf, UGENT — Reconsidering beekeeping practices: Better-B explores how to restore harmony and balance in the bee colony and with its environment
Saturday, 27 September
🕒 9:00 — Chloe Davis, TNTU (presenting author: Martin Bencsik) — Colony disorders revealed by automated monitoring of hive weight changes
📄 Gilles Verbinnen, UGENT(Presenting author: Lina De Smet) — The diversity of insecticide target site mutations in Apis mellifera
📄 Martin Bencsik, TNTU — Knocking on a honeybeee hive: quantitative analysis of a colony's reaction to an artificial vibrational knock
📄 Anna Dupleix Marchal, COA (Presenting author: Emmanuel Ruffio) — New insights in the thermal properties of the Dadant bee hives to make them less sensitive to weather condition
📄 Sjef van der Steen, VDSJ — Beeplants.eu
📄 Delphine Panziera, WR (Presenting author: Severine Kotrschal) — Simultaneously applying Darwinian selection for honey bee survival in 8 European countries
📄 Pasquale Rombolà, IZSLT — On-line tool for beekeepers: how to find the most appropriate treatment
📄 James Henty Williams, AU(Presenting author: Line Wahlqvist) — Europe's Vulnerability and Preparedness for New Invasive Species
📄 Elżbieta Ziółkowska, UJAG (Presenting author: Yoko Dupont) — Food for bees: A modelling framework for calculating daily floral resources availability across habitats and landscapes
📄 Nuno Capela, UCOI — Using nutritional ecology as driver of pollen preferences in the ApisRam honey bee model
Friday, 26 September — 10.00
🎤 Martin Bencsik, TNTU Demonstration a new device for measuring vibrational signals from the colony that gives information of the stress level of the colony
Friday, 26 September — 11.00
🎤 Séverine Kotrschal, WR Demonstration of a Darwinian selection program
Saturday, 27 September — 10.00
🎤 Giovanni Formato, IZSLT Demonstration of our tool built to help you find the best Varroa treatment
World café on resilient beekeepingFriday, 26 September
This session aims to connect with engaged stakeholders, facilitate meaningful discussions, and collect valuable feedback on current challenges and opportunities in European beekeeping. To ensure an enjoyable and productive environment, participation is limited to the first 150 registrants.
Better-B has received funding from the European Union, the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government's Horizon Europe funding guarantee (grant number 10068544).
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Research Executive Agency (REA), SERI or UKRI. Neither the European Union nor the granting authorities can be held responsible for them.
