Immunomodulatory action of chitooligosaccharides on the honey bee Apis mellifera

The effect of chitin, chitooligosaccharides, and N-acetyl-O-glucosamine on some physiological (duration of life, survival at bacterial infection) and biochemical (activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and catalase, concentrations of malonic dialdehyde, glycosoamineglycanes and free uronic acids) parameters is studied. It is revealed that chitooligosaccharides at 0.001%; concentration in the greater degree, than chitin and N-acetyl-O-glucosamine, prolong duration of the bee life in cages and increas their survival at bacterial infection. The probable mechanisms of action of these compounds are discussed. It is suggested that chitooligosaccharides act as immunomodulators in insects.