Antimicrobial Activity of Apidermin 2 from the Honeybee Apis mellifera .

Apidermins (APDs) are known as structural cuticular proteins in insects, but their additional roles are poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the honeybee, , APD 2 (AmAPD 2), which displays activity suggesting antimicrobial properties. In worker bees, the gene is transcribed in the epidermis, hypopharyngeal glands, and fat body, and induced upon microbial ingestion. Particularly in the epidermis of worker bees, the gene showed high expression and responded strongly to microbial challenge. Using a recombinant AmAPD 2 peptide, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we showed that AmAPD 2 is heat-stable and binds to live bacteria and fungi as well as carbohydrates of microbial cell wall molecules. This binding action ultimately induced structural damage to microbial cell walls, which resulted in microbicidal activity. These findings demonstrate the antimicrobial role of AmAPD 2 in honeybees.