Bees. The
parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major contributor to the recent
mysterious death of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. (Credit:
Queenie Chan)
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major contributor to the recent mysterious death of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology
finds that specific proteins, released by damaged larvae and in the
antennae of adult honey bees, can drive hygienic behavior of the adults
and promote the removal of infected larvae from the hive.
V. destructor sucks the blood (hemolymph) of larval and
adult bees leaving them weakened and reducing the ability of their
immune systems to fight off infections. Not that honey bees have strong
immune systems in the first place since they have fewer immunity genes
than solitary insects such as flies and moths. These tiny mites can also
spread viral disease between hosts. This double onslaught is thought to
be a significant contributor to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
But all is not lost -- honey bees have evolved a way to fight back:
hygienic behavior where diseased or parasitized larvae are removed from
their brood cells, and Varroa-sensitive hygienic behavior which they use to reduce the number of reproductive mites on remaining larvae.
To find exactly how bees respond to hive infections, researchers from
Canada looked at the natural behavioral of bees in the presence of
damaged larvae and compared this to protein differences in the larvae
and adults. After scanning 1200 proteins the team found that several
proteins, including LOC552009 (of unknown function but similar to ApoO),
found in the antennae of adults were associated with both uncapping
brood cells and the removal of larvae. Other proteins were involved in
olfaction or in signal transduction, probably helping the adults find
infected larvae amongst a brood.
In damaged larvae, transglutaminase, a protein involved in blood
clotting, was upregulated, which appeared to be a key component in
regulating the adult's behavior. Other proteins indicated adaptations to
help fight infection, including chitin biosynthesis and immune
responses.
Dr Leonard Foster from CHIBI at the University of British Columbia,
who led this research said, "Bee keepers have previously focused on
selecting bees with traits such as enhanced honey production, gentleness
and winter survival. We have found a set of proteins which could be
used to select colonies on their ability to resist Varroa mite infestation and can be used to find individuals with increased hygienic behavior. Given the increasing resistance of Varroa to available drugs this would provide a natural way of ensuring honey farming and potentially survival of the species."
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