Cellular immunity in Apis mellifera: studying hemocytes brings light about bees skills to confront threats

Abstract

Honey bee colonies are threatened by different stress factors around the world. Considerable efforts are being devoted to understanding honey bee defences to confront different kinds of stress factors. Despite the importance of honey bee hemocytes in resisting disease, detailed information about their role in response to challenge is still scarce. This manuscript combines the results obtained in studies which focused on the cellular defences of Apis mellifera, aiming to show how the understanding of the cellular components of the immune system is central to developing new strategies to enhance bees’ fitness.