Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
1 file | 2.19 MB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. Expression of molecular markers of re...

Expression of molecular markers of resilience against Varroa destructor and bee viruses in Ethiopian honey bees (Apis mellifera simensis) focussing on olfactory sensing and the RNA interference machinery

Haftom Ngussie (UGent) , David Claeys Boúúaert (UGent) , Michel Asperges, Bezabeh Amssalu, Lina De Smet (UGent) and Dirk de Graaf (UGent)
(2023) INSECTS. 14(5).
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
Varroa destructor mites and the viruses it vectors are two major factors leading to high losses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide. However, honey bees in some African countries show resilience to varroa infestation and/or virus infections, although little is known about the mechanisms underlying this resilience. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of some key molecular markers involved in olfactory sensing and RNA interference, as these processes may contribute to the bees' resilience to varroa infestation and virus infection, respectively. We found significantly higher gene expression of the odorant binding protein, OBP14, in the antennae of Ethiopian bees compared to Belgian bees. This result suggests the potential of OBP14 as a molecular marker of resilience to mite infestation. Scanning electron microscopy showed no significant differences in the antennal sensilla occurrence and distribution, suggesting that resilience arises from molecular processes rather than morphological adaptations. In addition, seven RNAi genes were upregulated in the Ethiopian honey bees and three of them-Dicer-Drosha, Argonaute 2, and TRBP2-were positively correlated with the viral load. We can conclude that the antiviral immune response was triggered when bees were experiencing severe viral infection and that this might contribute to the bees' resilience to viruses.
Keywords
Insect Science, honey bee, resilience, molecular markers, olfactory sensing, RNA interference, viruses, deformed wing virus, Varroa destructor, HYGIENIC BEHAVIOR, COLONY LOSSES, SOCIAL INSECT, UNITED-STATES, RESISTANCE, JACOBSONI, MITE, REPRODUCTION, BROOD, INFESTATION

Downloads

  • Download
    insects-14-00436 (1).pdf
    • full text (Published version)
    • |
    • open access
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 2.19 MB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Ngussie, Haftom, et al. “Expression of Molecular Markers of Resilience against Varroa Destructor and Bee Viruses in Ethiopian Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera Simensis) Focussing on Olfactory Sensing and the RNA Interference Machinery.” INSECTS, vol. 14, no. 5, 2023, doi:10.3390/insects14050436.
APA
Ngussie, H., Claeys Boúúaert, D., Asperges, M., Amssalu, B., De Smet, L., & de Graaf, D. (2023). Expression of molecular markers of resilience against Varroa destructor and bee viruses in Ethiopian honey bees (Apis mellifera simensis) focussing on olfactory sensing and the RNA interference machinery. INSECTS, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050436
Chicago author-date
Ngussie, Haftom, David Claeys Boúúaert, Michel Asperges, Bezabeh Amssalu, Lina De Smet, and Dirk de Graaf. 2023. “Expression of Molecular Markers of Resilience against Varroa Destructor and Bee Viruses in Ethiopian Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera Simensis) Focussing on Olfactory Sensing and the RNA Interference Machinery.” INSECTS 14 (5). https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050436.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Ngussie, Haftom, David Claeys Boúúaert, Michel Asperges, Bezabeh Amssalu, Lina De Smet, and Dirk de Graaf. 2023. “Expression of Molecular Markers of Resilience against Varroa Destructor and Bee Viruses in Ethiopian Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera Simensis) Focussing on Olfactory Sensing and the RNA Interference Machinery.” INSECTS 14 (5). doi:10.3390/insects14050436.
Vancouver
1.
Ngussie H, Claeys Boúúaert D, Asperges M, Amssalu B, De Smet L, de Graaf D. Expression of molecular markers of resilience against Varroa destructor and bee viruses in Ethiopian honey bees (Apis mellifera simensis) focussing on olfactory sensing and the RNA interference machinery. INSECTS. 2023;14(5).
IEEE
[1]
H. Ngussie, D. Claeys Boúúaert, M. Asperges, B. Amssalu, L. De Smet, and D. de Graaf, “Expression of molecular markers of resilience against Varroa destructor and bee viruses in Ethiopian honey bees (Apis mellifera simensis) focussing on olfactory sensing and the RNA interference machinery,” INSECTS, vol. 14, no. 5, 2023.
@article{01H7A876GCPZE0P1APWCEV99EA,
  abstract     = {{Varroa destructor mites and the viruses it vectors are two major factors leading to high losses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide. However, honey bees in some African countries show resilience to varroa infestation and/or virus infections, although little is known about the mechanisms underlying this resilience. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of some key molecular markers involved in olfactory sensing and RNA interference, as these processes may contribute to the bees' resilience to varroa infestation and virus infection, respectively. We found significantly higher gene expression of the odorant binding protein, OBP14, in the antennae of Ethiopian bees compared to Belgian bees. This result suggests the potential of OBP14 as a molecular marker of resilience to mite infestation. Scanning electron microscopy showed no significant differences in the antennal sensilla occurrence and distribution, suggesting that resilience arises from molecular processes rather than morphological adaptations. In addition, seven RNAi genes were upregulated in the Ethiopian honey bees and three of them-Dicer-Drosha, Argonaute 2, and TRBP2-were positively correlated with the viral load. We can conclude that the antiviral immune response was triggered when bees were experiencing severe viral infection and that this might contribute to the bees' resilience to viruses.}},
  articleno    = {{436}},
  author       = {{Ngussie, Haftom and Claeys Boúúaert, David and Asperges, Michel and Amssalu, Bezabeh and De Smet, Lina and de Graaf, Dirk}},
  issn         = {{2075-4450}},
  journal      = {{INSECTS}},
  keywords     = {{Insect Science,honey bee,resilience,molecular markers,olfactory sensing,RNA interference,viruses,deformed wing virus,Varroa destructor,HYGIENIC BEHAVIOR,COLONY LOSSES,SOCIAL INSECT,UNITED-STATES,RESISTANCE,JACOBSONI,MITE,REPRODUCTION,BROOD,INFESTATION}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{17}},
  title        = {{Expression of molecular markers of resilience against Varroa destructor and bee viruses in Ethiopian honey bees (Apis mellifera simensis) focussing on olfactory sensing and the RNA interference machinery}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050436}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}
Altmetric
View in Altmetric
Web of Science
Times cited: