1
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Nelson AS, Larson MJ, Hammer TJ. Core symbionts, age at inoculation and diet affect colonization of the bumblebee gut by a common bacterial pathogen. J Anim Ecol 2025; 94:985-998. [PMID: 40177853 PMCID: PMC12056351 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.70029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2025] [Indexed: 04/05/2025]
Abstract
Microbes shape the health of bumblebees, an important group of pollinators, including species of conservation concern. Most microbial research on bumblebees has focused on eukaryotic and viral pathogens or the core gut microbiome, a community of host-specialized bacterial symbionts that helps protect hosts against eukaryotic pathogens. Bumblebees also harbour a third class of microbes: non-core gut bacteria, which are non-host specific and vary among individuals. Understanding their functional role and how they interact with core symbionts is important for bumblebee ecology and management. We surveyed non-core bacteria in wild bumblebee workers (Bombus impatiens) and conducted laboratory experiments with gnotobiotic B. impatiens to examine factors shaping colonization by a focal non-core bacterium (Serratia marcescens) and its consequences for bee health. Non-core bacteria, including Serratia, frequently occur at high abundance in wild bumblebees, with roughly half of individuals harbouring at least 10% non-core gut bacteria. Experiments showed that Serratia marcescens better colonizes the gut when bees are inoculated early (within 1 day of adult emergence) and the core gut microbiome is disrupted. A mixed wildflower pollen diet facilitated the highest level of infection compared with two monofloral pollen treatments. We also provide evidence that Serratia is pathogenic: exposing bees with disrupted gut microbiomes to Serratia strongly reduced lifespan and, as a result, also reduced total reproduction. These results have three important implications: first, non-core bacteria are widespread in wild bumblebees, and some species are opportunistic pathogens. Second, the core gut microbiome plays a crucial role in protecting against these pathogens. Third, the timing of inoculation relative to bee age, as well as diet, is a key factor controlling bacterial pathogen colonization of the gut. Overall, these findings suggest that gut bacterial health could be an important target for monitoring and managing bumblebee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika S. Nelson
- Department of BiologyTexas Christian UniversityFort WorthTexasUSA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - McKenna J. Larson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Tobin J. Hammer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaIrvineCaliforniaUSA
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2
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Chen H, Bashir NH, Li Q, Liu C, Naeem M, Wang H, Gao W, Corlett RT, Liu C, Vidal MC. The Role of Pathogens in Bumblebee Decline: A Review. Pathogens 2025; 14:94. [PMID: 39861055 PMCID: PMC11768362 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2024] [Revised: 01/12/2025] [Accepted: 01/16/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees, the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems, are declining worldwide. The global decline of bumblebees may threaten biodiversity, pollination services, and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Several factors, including pesticide usage, climate change, habitat loss, and species invasion, have been documented in the decline of bumblebee species, but recent studies have revealed the dominating role of pathogens and parasites over any of these causes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of a full understanding of the role of pathogens and parasites in the decline of bumblebee species. The current study provides a comprehensive review of how pathogens and parasites contribute to the decline of bumblebee species. The study also explores the prevalence of each pathogen and parasite within bumblebee populations. Furthermore, we address the synergistic effects of pathogens and other stressors, such as pesticides, climatic effects, and habitat loss, on bumblebee populations. To summarize, we propose possible conservation and management strategies to preserve the critical role of bumblebees in pollination services and thus to support ecosystem and agricultural health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Chen
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan Provincial Department of Education of the Deep-Time Evolution on Biodiversity from the Origin of the Pearl River, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, 655011, China
- Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Nawaz Haider Bashir
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
| | - Qiang Li
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
- Key Laboratory of Yunnan Provincial Department of Education of the Deep-Time Evolution on Biodiversity from the Origin of the Pearl River, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, 655011, China
| | - Chao Liu
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
| | - Muhammad Naeem
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
| | - Haohan Wang
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
| | - Wenrong Gao
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China; (H.C.); (N.H.B.); (Q.L.); (M.N.); (H.W.); (W.G.)
| | - Richard T. Corlett
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China;
| | - Cong Liu
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA;
- Department of Organismic and Evolutional Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mayra C. Vidal
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA;
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3
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Bosco L, Yañez O, Schauer A, Maurer C, Cushman SA, Arlettaz R, Jacot A, Seuberlich T, Neumann P, Schläppi D. Landscape structure affects temporal dynamics in the bumble bee virome: Landscape heterogeneity supports colony resilience. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174280. [PMID: 38942311 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Virus spillovers from managed honey bees, Apis mellifera, are thought to contribute to the decline of wild pollinators, including bumble bees. However, data on the impact of such viruses on wild pollinators remain scarce, and the influence of landscape structure on virus dynamics is poorly understood. In this study, we deployed bumble bee colonies in an agricultural landscape and studied changes in the bumble bee virome during field placement under varying habitat composition and configuration using a multiscale analytical framework. We estimated prevalence of viruses and viral loads (i.e. number of viral genomic equivalent copies) in bumble bees before and after placing them in the field using next generation sequencing and quantitative PCR. The results show that viral loads and number of different viruses present increased during placement in the field and that the virus composition of the colonies shifted from an initial dominance of honey bee associated viruses to a higher number (in both viral loads and number of viruses present) of bumble bee associated viruses. Especially DWV-B, typical for honey bees, drastically decreased after the time in the field. Viral loads prior to placing colonies in the field showed no effect on colony development, suggesting low impacts of these viruses in field settings. Notably, we further demonstrate that increased habitat diversity results in a lower number of different viruses present in Bombus colonies, while colonies in areas with well-connected farmland patches decreased in their total viral load after field placement. Our results emphasize the importance of landscape heterogeneity and connectivity for wild pollinator health and that these influences predominate at fine spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bosco
- LUOMUS - Finnish Museum of Natural History, PL 17 - P.O. Box 17, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland; Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alexandria Schauer
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Corina Maurer
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland; Ecosystems Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Samuel A Cushman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alain Jacot
- Division of Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Swiss Ornithological Institute, Regional Office Valais, 1950 Sion, Switzerland.
| | - Torsten Seuberlich
- Division of Neurological Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland; School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Science Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ Bristol, United Kingdom.
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4
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Amšiejūtė-Graziani P, Jurgelevičius V, Pilevičienė S, Janeliūnas Ž, Radzijevskaja J, Paulauskas A, Butrimaitė-Ambrozevičienė Č, Jacevičienė I. Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Honeybee ( Apis mellifera) Mite-Borne Pathogen DWV-A and DWV-B Isolated from Lithuania. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1884. [PMID: 39338559 PMCID: PMC11434569 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12091884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) is known as one of the main viruses that affect honeybees' health all around the world. The virus has two widespread genotypes, DWV-A and DWV-B (VDV-1), transmitted mainly by V. destructor mites. In this study, we collected honeycombs with covered broods from 73 apiaries in eight Lithuanian regions and initially investigated the prevalence of V. destructor mites. Mites were collected from May to the end of July in 2021 from 124 hives. The prevalence of V. destructor infestations in beehives reached 30% and 63% in investigated apiaries. The presence of DWV-A and DWV-B pathogens in mites and broods was examined by RT-qPCR targeting the CRPV-capsid region. The molecular characterization of the virus in mite samples was based on sequence analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region. In addition, leader polypeptide (LP), structural protein (Vp3), Helicase, and RdRp genes were used for phylogenetic characterization of dual infection. The prevalences of DWV-B in mites and broods were 56.5% and 31.5%, respectively, while DWV-A was detected in 12.9% of mite samples and 24.7% of brood samples. Some of the examined mite samples harboured dual virus infections. Our findings showed that bee colonies from the same apiary were not always infected by the same viruses. Some bee colonies were virus-free, while others were highly infected. Phylogenetic analysis of 21 sequences demonstrated the presence of highly variable DWV-B and DWV-A genotypes in Lithuania and possible recombinant variants of the virus. This study represents the first molecular characterization of mite-borne pathogens hosted by honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Lithuania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Amšiejūtė-Graziani
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto str. 10, Akademija, Kaunas District, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.J.); (J.R.)
- National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania; (S.P.); (Ž.J.); (Č.B.-A.); (I.J.)
| | - Vaclovas Jurgelevičius
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto str. 10, Akademija, Kaunas District, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.J.); (J.R.)
| | - Simona Pilevičienė
- National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania; (S.P.); (Ž.J.); (Č.B.-A.); (I.J.)
| | - Žygimantas Janeliūnas
- National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania; (S.P.); (Ž.J.); (Č.B.-A.); (I.J.)
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto str. 10, Akademija, Kaunas District, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.J.); (J.R.)
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto str. 10, Akademija, Kaunas District, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (V.J.); (J.R.)
| | - Česlova Butrimaitė-Ambrozevičienė
- National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania; (S.P.); (Ž.J.); (Č.B.-A.); (I.J.)
| | - Ingrida Jacevičienė
- National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, J. Kairiukscio str. 10, LT-08409 Vilnius, Lithuania; (S.P.); (Ž.J.); (Č.B.-A.); (I.J.)
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Li T, Ye ZX, Feng KH, Mao QZ, Hu QL, Zhuo JC, Zhang CX, Chen JP, Li JM. Molecular and biological characterization of a bunyavirus infecting the brown planthopper ( Nilaparvata lugens). J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38602389 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A negative-strand symbiotic RNA virus, tentatively named Nilaparvata lugens Bunyavirus (NLBV), was identified in the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NLBV is a member of the genus Mobuvirus (family Phenuiviridae, order Bunyavirales). Analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNA suggested that antiviral immunity of BPH was successfully activated by NLBV infection. Tissue-specific investigation showed that NLBV was mainly accumulated in the fat-body of BPH adults. Moreover, NLBV was detected in eggs of viruliferous female BPHs, suggesting the possibility of vertical transmission of NLBV in BPH. Additionally, no significant differences were observed for the biological properties between NLBV-infected and NLBV-free BPHs. Finally, analysis of geographic distribution indicated that NLBV may be prevalent in Southeast Asia. This study provided a comprehensive characterization on the molecular and biological properties of a symbiotic virus in BPH, which will contribute to our understanding of the increasingly discovered RNA viruses in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, PR China
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Zhuang-Xin Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Ke-Hui Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Qian-Zhuo Mao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Qing-Ling Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Ji-Chong Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Jian-Ping Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, PR China
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Jun-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
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6
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Tiritelli R, Flaminio S, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Giovanetti M, Grasso DA, Leonardi S, Bonforte M, Boni CB, Cargnus E, Catania R, Coppola F, Di Santo M, Pusceddu M, Quaranta M, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A, Cilia G. Ecological and social factors influence interspecific pathogens occurrence among bees. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5136. [PMID: 38429345 PMCID: PMC10907577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The interspecific transmission of pathogens can occur frequently in the environment. Among wild bees, the main spillover cases are caused by pathogens associated with Apis mellifera, whose colonies can act as reservoirs. Due to the limited availability of data in Italy, it is challenging to accurately assess the impact and implications of this phenomenon on the wild bee populations. In this study, a total of 3372 bees were sampled from 11 Italian regions within the BeeNet project, evaluating the prevalence and the abundance of the major honey bee pathogens (DWV, BQCV, ABPV, CBPV, KBV, Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis, Crithidia mellificae, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia bombi). The 68.4% of samples were positive for at least one pathogen. DWV, BQCV, N. ceranae and CBPV showed the highest prevalence and abundance values, confirming them as the most prevalent pathogens spread in the environment. For these pathogens, Andrena, Bombus, Eucera and Seladonia showed the highest mean prevalence and abundance values. Generally, time trends showed a prevalence and abundance decrease from April to July. In order to predict the risk of infection among wild bees, statistical models were developed. A low influence of apiary density on pathogen occurrence was observed, while meteorological conditions and agricultural management showed a greater impact on pathogen persistence in the environment. Social and biological traits of wild bees also contributed to defining a higher risk of infection for bivoltine, communal, mining and oligolectic bees. Out of all the samples tested, 40.5% were co-infected with two or more pathogens. In some cases, individuals were simultaneously infected with up to five different pathogens. It is essential to increase knowledge about the transmission of pathogens among wild bees to understand dynamics, impact and effects on pollinator populations. Implementing concrete plans for the conservation of wild bee species is important to ensure the health of wild and human-managed bees within a One-Health perspective.
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Grants
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Tiritelli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Flaminio
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Av. Champ de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Laura Zavatta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy.
- Departement of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Fanin 42, 40127, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Rosa Ranalli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotecnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Giovanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donato Antonio Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Leonardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Marta Bonforte
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Benedetta Boni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Cargnus
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 31000, Udine, Italy
| | - Roberto Catania
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Coppola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Di Santo
- Maiella National Park, Via Badia 28, 67039, Sulmona, Italy
| | - Michelina Pusceddu
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39A, 07100, Sassari, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marino Quaranta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
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7
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Babin A, Schurr F, Delannoy S, Fach P, Huyen Ton Nu Nguyet M, Bougeard S, de Miranda JR, Rundlöf M, Wintermantel D, Albrecht M, Attridge E, Bottero I, Cini E, Costa C, De la Rúa P, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knapp J, Knauer AC, Mänd M, Martínez-López V, Medrzycki P, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Potts SG, Raimets R, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Serrano J, Stout JC, Tamburini G, Brown MJF, Laurent M, Rivière MP, Chauzat MP, Dubois E. Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3524. [PMID: 38347035 PMCID: PMC10861508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53357-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Babin
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
| | - Frank Schurr
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Stéphanie Bougeard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology and Welfare, France
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleanor Attridge
- Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations, Tullamore, Ireland
| | - Irene Bottero
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Piazzale E. Ferni 1, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Dzul
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Hodge
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Bioscience Building, L69 7ZB, Liverpool, UK
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Helena Pereira-Peixoto
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Risto Raimets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - José Serrano
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jane C Stout
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Bari, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA-Entomology and Zoology), Bari, Italy
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Marion Laurent
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Rivière
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
- Paris-Est University, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
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8
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Roy N, Kim C, Lee D, Yang S, Lee KY, Yoon HJ, Lee KS, Choi K. Assessing potential impact of gut microbiome disruptions on the environmental stress resilience of indoor-reared Bombus terrestris. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290848. [PMID: 37963166 PMCID: PMC10645317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees are crucial for both natural ecosystems and agriculture, but their decline in distribution and abundance over the past decade is alarming. The global importance of bumblebees in natural ecosystems and agricultural food production cannot be overstated. However, the reported decline over the past decade has led to a surge of interest in understanding and addressing bumblebee population decline. Hence, we aimed to detect disruptions in the gut microbiome of male and worker bumblebees reared indoor and outdoor to assess potential resilience to environmental stress. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform for 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the gut microbiome of male and worker bees that were raised indoors (designated as the IM and IW group) and those that were raised outdoors (also designated as the OM and OW group). Our results show presence of core bacteria Neisseriaceae, Orbaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae from indoor reared worker bees. However, a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium and absence of Fructobacillus from indoor reared worker bees was also observed. Indoor-reared male bees had lower diversity and fewer observed OTUs compared to outdoor-reared male bees. Additionally, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes was significantly lower in indoor-reared males, while Proteobacteria was significantly increased. Despite this, we did not observe any dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of indoor-reared bumblebees when comparing the role of the gut symbionts among the groups. These results suggest that indoor-reared Bombus terrestris may be resilient to environmental stress when used as outdoor pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazish Roy
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaerin Kim
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongmin Lee
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongeun Yang
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Yong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Joo Yoon
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Sik Lee
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihyuck Choi
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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9
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Cook SC, Ryabov EV, Becker C, Rogers CW, Posada-Florez F, Evans JD, Chen YP. Deformed wing virus of honey bees is inactivated by cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 3:1216291. [PMID: 38469475 PMCID: PMC10926414 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1216291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a widespread pathogen of Apis mellifera honey bees, and is considered a major causative factor for the collapse of infected honey bee colonies. DWV can be horizontally transmitted among bees through various oral routes, including via food sharing and by interactions of bees with viral-contaminated solid hive substrates. Cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide (iHP) is used extensively by the food production, processing and medical industries to clean surfaces of microbial contaminants. In this study, we investigated the use of iHP to inactivate DWV particles in situ on a solid substrate. iHP-treated DWV sources were ~105-fold less infectious when injected into naïve honey bee pupae compared to DWV receiving no iHP treatment, matching injected controls containing no DWV. iHP treatment also greatly reduced the incidence of overt DWV infections (i.e., pupae having >109 copies of DWV). The level of DWV inactivation achieved with iHP treatment was higher than other means of viral inactivation such as gamma irradiation, and iHP treatment is likely simpler and safer. Treatment of DWV contaminated hive substrates with iHP, even with honey bees present, may be an effective way to decrease the impacts of DWV infection on honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven C. Cook
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Eugene V. Ryabov
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | | | - Curtis W. Rogers
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Francisco Posada-Florez
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Jay D. Evans
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research (USDA-ARS) Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
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10
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Strange JP, Tripodi AD, Huntzinger C, Knoblett J, Klinger E, Herndon JD, Vuong HQ, McFrederick QS, Irwin RE, Evans JD, Giacomini JJ, Ward R, Adler LS. Comparative analysis of 3 pollen sterilization methods for feeding bumble bees. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:662-673. [PMID: 36930576 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pollen is an essential component of bee diets, and rearing bumble bees (Bombus spp.) for commercial use necessitates feeding pollen in mass quantities. This pollen is collected from honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies because neither an artificial diet nor an economical, large-scale pollen collection process from flowers is available. The provenance of honey bee-collected pollen is often unknown, and in some cases has crossed international borders. Both deformed wing virus (DWV) and the fungal pathogen Ascosphaera apis (Claussen) Olive & Spiltoir (cause of chalkbrood disease); occur in honey bee-collected pollen, and infections have been observed in bumble bees. We used these pathogens as general surrogates for viruses and spore-forming fungal diseases to test the efficacy of 3 sterilization methods, and assessed whether treatment altered pollen quality for the bumble bee. Using honey bee-collected pollen spiked with known doses of DWV and A. apis, we compared gamma irradiation (GI), ozone fumigation (OZ), and ethylene oxide fumigation (EO) against an untreated positive control and a negative control. Following sterilization treatments, we tested A. apis spore viability, detected viral presence with PCR, and tested palatability to the bumble bee Bombus impatiens Cresson. We also measured bacterial growth from pollens treated with EO and GI. GI and EO outperformed OZ treatment in pathogen suppression. EO had the highest sterilizing properties under commercial conditions and retained palatability and supported bee development better than other treatments. These results suggest that EO sterilization reduces pathogen risks while retaining pollen quality as a food source for rearing bumble bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Strange
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | | | - Craig Huntzinger
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
| | - Joyce Knoblett
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
| | - Ellen Klinger
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - James D Herndon
- USDA-ARS-Pollinating Insect Biology Management and Systematics Research Unit, Logan, UT 84341, United States
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84321, United States
| | - Hoang Q Vuong
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Rebecca E Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695United States
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, United States
| | - Jonathan J Giacomini
- Department of Applied Ecology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695United States
| | - Robert Ward
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322United States
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003United States
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11
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Chapman NC, Colin T, Cook J, da Silva CRB, Gloag R, Hogendoorn K, Howard SR, Remnant EJ, Roberts JMK, Tierney SM, Wilson RS, Mikheyev AS. The final frontier: ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a global parasite invasion. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220589. [PMID: 37222245 PMCID: PMC10207324 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying rapid biological changes accompanying the introduction of alien organisms into native ecosystems can provide insights into fundamental ecological and evolutionary theory. While powerful, this quasi-experimental approach is difficult to implement because the timing of invasions and their consequences are hard to predict, meaning that baseline pre-invasion data are often missing. Exceptionally, the eventual arrival of Varroa destructor (hereafter Varroa) in Australia has been predicted for decades. Varroa is a major driver of honeybee declines worldwide, particularly as vectors of diverse RNA viruses. The detection of Varroa in 2022 at over a hundred sites poses a risk of further spread across the continent. At the same time, careful study of Varroa's spread, if it does become established, can provide a wealth of information that can fill knowledge gaps about its effects worldwide. This includes how Varroa affects honeybee populations and pollination. Even more generally, Varroa invasion can serve as a model for evolution, virology and ecological interactions between the parasite, the host and other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine C. Chapman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Lab, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Théotime Colin
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - James Cook
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Carmen R. B. da Silva
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Ros Gloag
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katja Hogendoorn
- School of Agriculture, The University of Adelaide, Food and Wine, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Scarlett R. Howard
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Emily J. Remnant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Lab, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - John M. K. Roberts
- Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Simon M. Tierney
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, USA
| | - Rachele S. Wilson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander S. Mikheyev
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 26000, Australia
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12
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Malfi RL, McFrederick QS, Lozano G, Irwin RE, Adler LS. Sunflower plantings reduce a common gut pathogen and increase queen production in common eastern bumblebee colonies. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230055. [PMID: 37015273 PMCID: PMC10072944 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Community diversity can reduce the prevalence and spread of disease, but certain species may play a disproportionate role in diluting or amplifying pathogens. Flowers act as both sources of nutrition and sites of pathogen transmission, but the effects of specific plant species in shaping bee disease dynamics are not well understood. We evaluated whether plantings of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), whose pollen reduces infection by some pathogens when fed to bees in captivity, lowered pathogen levels and increased reproduction in free-foraging bumblebee colonies (Bombus impatiens). Sunflower abundance reduced the prevalence of a common gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi, and reduced infection intensity, with an order of magnitude lower infection intensity at high sunflower sites compared with sites with little to no sunflower. Sunflower abundance was also positively associated with greater queen production in colonies. Sunflower did not affect prevalence of other detected pathogens. This work demonstrates that a single plant species can drive disease dynamics in foraging B. impatiens, and that sunflower plantings can be used as a tool for mitigating a prevalent pathogen while also increasing reproduction of an agriculturally important bee species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary L. Malfi
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Giselle Lozano
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Rebecca E. Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Lynn S. Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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13
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Crowley LM, Sivell O, Sivell D, University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab, Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab, Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective, Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective, Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Darwin Tree of Life Consortium. The genome sequence of the Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758). Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:161. [PMID: 38283327 PMCID: PMC10818103 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19248.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Bombus terrestris (the Buff-tailed Bumblebee; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Apidae). The genome sequence is 393.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 18 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 24.7 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 14,435 protein coding genes.
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14
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Figueroa LL, Sadd BM, Tripodi AD, Strange JP, Colla SR, Adams LD, Duennes MA, Evans EC, Lehmann DM, Moylett H, Richardson L, Smith JW, Smith TA, Spevak EM, Inouye DW. Endosymbionts that threaten commercially raised and wild bumble bees ( Bombus spp.). JOURNAL OF POLLINATION ECOLOGY 2023; 33:14-36. [PMID: 39749009 PMCID: PMC11694841 DOI: 10.26786/1920-7603(2023)713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators for both wild and agriculturally managed plants. We give an overview of what is known about the diverse community of internal potentially deleterious bumble bee symbionts, including viruses, bacteria, protozoans, fungi, and nematodes, as well as methods for their detection, quantification, and control. We also provide information on assessment of risk for select bumble bee symbionts and highlight key knowledge gaps. This information is crucial for ongoing efforts to establish parasite- conscious programs for future commerce in bumble bees for crop pollination, and to mitigate the problems with pathogen spillover to wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L. Figueroa
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Ben M. Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | | | - James P. Strange
- Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43214, USA
| | - Sheila R. Colla
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Laurie Davies Adams
- Pollinator Partnership, 600 Montgomery, Suite 440, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
| | | | - Elaine C. Evans
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - David M. Lehmann
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA), Health and Environmental Effects Assessment Division, Integrated Health Assessment Branch, US - Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | | | - Leif Richardson
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, 628 NE Broadway, Suite 20, Portland, OR 97232-1324, USA
| | - James W. Smith
- Retired USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Raleigh, NC 27526, USA
| | - Tamara A. Smith
- US Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota/Wisconsin Ecological Services Field Office, 4101 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425, USA
| | - Edward M. Spevak
- Center for Native Pollinator Conservation, Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David W. Inouye
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, and Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
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15
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Chen B, Chen Y, Chen H, Liang Z, Chen J, Wu R, Zhang T, Zhou G, Yang X. Identification, characterization and prevalence in southern China of a new iflavirus in the leafhopper Recilia dorsalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Virus Res 2023; 323:199005. [PMID: 36410611 PMCID: PMC10194291 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.199005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The leafhopper Recilia dorsalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is not only a significant pest in agriculture but also an important vector involved in transmitting numerous pathogens that are known to cause economic losses by affecting rice crops. Here, a new iflavirus was discovered in the leafhopper R. dorsalis by employing a transcriptomic approach. The complete viral genome was determined to be 10,711 nucleotides (nt) in length and contains a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative polyprotein comprised of 3,161 amino acids (aa), which is flanked by 5' and 3' untranslated regions. The full viral genome nt and the deduced polyprotein aa sequence showed the highest similarity (71.6% and 77.8%, respectively) with Langfang leafhopper iflavirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on the RdRp domain indicated that the isolated virus, which we have tentatively named Recilia dorsalis iflavirus 2 (RdIV2), is clustered with the members of the family Iflaviridae. Moreover, the results of our surveys indicate that RdIV2 predominates in southwestern Guangdong and southeastern Guangxi, China, and was absent in the other three species of leafhoppers; Nephotettix cincticeps, N. virescens and N. nigropictus. Notably, R. dorsalis was found to be co-infected with RdIV2 and rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV; a well-known rice-infecting virus vectored by R. dorsalis) in rice fields, although the co-infection rate is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yulu Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Huazhou Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhenyi Liang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiahao Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ruifeng Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Guohui Zhou
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xin Yang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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16
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Dobelmann J, Felden A, Lester PJ. An invasive ant increases deformed wing virus loads in honey bees. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220416. [PMID: 36651030 PMCID: PMC9845979 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of invasive species are best known for their effects as predators. However, many introduced predators may also be substantial reservoirs for pathogens. Honey bee-associated viruses are found in various arthropod species including invasive ants. We examined how the globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), which can reach high densities and infest beehives, is associated with pathogen dynamics in honey bees. Viral loads of deformed wing virus (DWV), which has been linked to millions of beehive deaths around the globe, and black queen cell virus significantly increased in bees when invasive ants were present. Microsporidian and trypanosomatid infections, which are more bee-specific, were not affected by ant invasion. The bee virome in autumn revealed that DWV was the predominant virus with the highest infection levels and that no ant-associated viruses were infecting bees. Viral spillback from ants could increase infections in bees. In addition, ant attacks could pose a significant stressor to bee colonies that may affect virus susceptibility. These viral dynamics are a hidden effect of ant pests, which could have a significant impact on disease emergence in this economically important pollinator. Our study highlights a perhaps overlooked effect of species invasions: changes in pathogen dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Dobelmann
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand,Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Antoine Felden
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Philip J. Lester
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
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17
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Zhang ZJ, Zheng H. Bumblebees with the socially transmitted microbiome: A novel model organism for gut microbiota research. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:958-976. [PMID: 35567381 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial bumble and honey bees are important pollinators for global ecology and the agricultural economy. Although both the bumble and honey bees possess similar and host-restricted gut microbiota, they differ in aspects of morphology, autonomy, physiology, behavior, and life cycle. The social bee gut bacteria exhibit host specificity that is likely a result of long-term co-evolution. The unique life cycle of bumblebees is key for the acquisition and development of their gut microbiota, and affects the strain-level diversity of the core bacterial species. Studies on bumblebee gut bacteria show that they retain less functional capacity for carbohydrate metabolism compared with that of the honeybee. We discuss the potential roles of the bumblebee gut microbiota against pathogenic threats and the application of host-specific probiotics for bumblebees. Given the advantages of the bumblebee microbiome, including the simple structure and host specificity, and the ease of manipulating bumblebee colonies, we propose that bumblebees may provide a valuable system for understanding the general principles of host-microbe interactions, gut-brain axis, and vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jing Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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18
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Iwasaki JM, Hogendoorn K. Mounting evidence that managed and introduced bees have negative impacts on wild bees: an updated review. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:100043. [PMID: 36003276 PMCID: PMC9387436 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2022.100043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, the use of managed bees for crop pollination and honey production has increased dramatically. Concerns about the pressures of these increases on native ecosystems has resulted in a recent expansion in the literature on this subject. To collate and update current knowledge, we performed a systematic review of the literature on the effects of managed and introduced bees on native ecosystems, focusing on the effects on wild bees. To enable comparison over time, we used the same search terms and focused on the same impacts as earlier reviews. This review covers: (a) interference and resource competition between introduced or managed bees and native bees; (b) effects of introduced or managed bees on pollination of native plants and weeds; and (c) transmission and infectivity of pathogens; and classifies effects into positive, negative, or neutral. Compared to a 2017 review, we found that the number of papers on this issue has increased by 47%. The highest increase was seen in papers on pathogen spill-over, but in the last five years considerable additional information about competition between managed and wild bees has also become available. Records of negative effects have increased from 53% of papers reporting negative effects in 2017 to 66% at present. The majority of these studies investigated effects on visitation and foraging behaviour. While only a few studies experimentally assessed impacts on wild bee reproductive output, 78% of these demonstrated negative effects. Plant composition and pollination was negatively affected in 7% of studies, and 79% of studies on pathogens reported potential negative effects of managed or introduced bees on wild bees. Taken together, the evidence increasingly suggests that managed and introduced bees negatively affect wild bees, and this knowledge should inform actions to prevent further harm to native ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay M. Iwasaki
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5064, Australia
| | - Katja Hogendoorn
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5064, Australia
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19
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Cilia G, Flaminio S, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Quaranta M, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A. Occurrence of Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera L.) Pathogens in Wild Pollinators in Northern Italy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:907489. [PMID: 35846743 PMCID: PMC9280159 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.907489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases contribute to the decline of pollinator populations, which may be aggravated by the interspecific transmission of honey bee pests and pathogens. Flowers increase the risk of transmission, as they expose the pollinators to infections during the foraging activity. In this study, both the prevalence and abundance of 21 honey bee pathogens (11 viruses, 4 bacteria, 3 fungi, and 3 trypanosomatids) were assessed in the flower-visiting entomofauna sampled from March to September 2021 in seven sites in the two North-Italian regions, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. A total of 1,028 specimens were collected, identified, and analysed. Of the twenty-one pathogens that were searched for, only thirteen were detected. Altogether, the prevalence of the positive individuals reached 63.9%, with Nosema ceranae, deformed wing virus (DWV), and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) as the most prevalent pathogens. In general, the pathogen abundance averaged 5.15 * 106 copies, with CBPV, N. ceranae, and black queen cell virus (BQCV) as the most abundant pathogens, with 8.63, 1.58, and 0.48 * 107 copies, respectively. All the detected viruses were found to be replicative. The sequence analysis indicated that the same genetic variant was circulating in a specific site or region, suggesting that interspecific transmission events among honey bees and wild pollinators are possible. Frequently, N. ceranae and DWV were found to co-infect the same individual. The circulation of honey bee pathogens in wild pollinators was never investigated before in Italy. Our study resulted in the unprecedented detection of 72 wild pollinator species as potential hosts of honey bee pathogens. Those results encourage the implementation of monitoring actions aiming to improve our understanding of the environmental implications of such interspecific transmission events, which is pivotal to embracing a One Health approach to pollinators' welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rosa Ranalli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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20
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Effects of planted pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence and interspecific detection between bee species. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7806. [PMID: 35551218 PMCID: PMC9098541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11734-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Shared resources can instigate pathogen spread due to large congregations of individuals in both natural and human modified resources. Of current concern is the addition of pollinator habitat in conservation efforts as it attracts bees of various species, potentially instigating interspecific sharing of pathogens. Common pathogens have been documented across a wide variety of pollinators with shared floral resources instigating their spread in some, but not all, cases. To evaluate the impact of augmented pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence, we extracted RNA from samples of eight bee species across three families and screened these samples for nine pathogens using RT-qPCR. We found that some habitat characteristics influenced pathogen detection; however, we found no evidence that pathogen detection in one bee species was correlated with pathogen detection in another. In fact, pathogen detection was rare in wild bees. While gut parasites were detected in 6 out of the 8 species included in this study, viruses were only detected in honey bees. Further, virus detection in honey bees was low with a maximum 21% of samples testing positive for BQCV, for example. These findings suggest factors other than the habitat itself may be more critical in the dissemination of pathogens among bee species. However, we found high relative prevalence and copy number of gut parasites in some bee species which may be of concern, such as Bombus pensylvanicus. Long-term monitoring of pathogens in different bee species at augmented pollinator habitat is needed to evaluate if these patterns will change over time.
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21
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Power K, Altamura G, Martano M, Maiolino P. Detection of Honeybee Viruses in Vespa orientalis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:896932. [PMID: 35601108 PMCID: PMC9114811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.896932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is spreading across the Italian territory threatening the health and wellbeing of honeybees by feeding on adult individuals and larvae and by plundering hive resources. Considering the capacity of other hornets in harboring honeybee viruses, the aim of this study was to identify the possible role of the Oriental hornet as a vector for honeybee viruses. Adult hornets were subjected to macroscopical examination to identify the presence of lesions, and to biomolecular investigation to detect the presence of six honeybee viruses: Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Sac Brood Virus (SBV). No macroscopical alterations were found while biomolecular results showed that DWV was the most detected virus (25/30), followed by ABPV (19/30), BQCV (13/30), KBV (1/30) and SBV (1/30). No sample was found positive for CBPV. In 20/30 samples several co-infections were identified. The most frequent (17/30) was the association between DWV and ABPV, often associated to BQCV (9/17). One sample (1/30) showed the presence of four different viruses namely DWV, ABPV, BQCV and KBV. The detected viruses are the most widespread in apiaries across the Italian territory suggesting the possible passage from honeybees to V. orientalis, by predation of infected adult honeybees and larvae, and cannibalization of their carcasses. However, to date, it is still not clear if these viruses are replicative but we can suggest a role as mechanical vector of V. orientalis in spreading these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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22
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Tehel A, Streicher T, Tragust S, Paxton RJ. Experimental cross species transmission of a major viral pathogen in bees is predominantly from honeybees to bumblebees. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212255. [PMID: 35168401 PMCID: PMC8848241 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-species transmission of a pathogen from a reservoir to a recipient host species, spillover, can have major impacts on biodiversity, domestic species and human health. Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a panzootic RNA virus in honeybees that is causal in their elevated colony losses, and several correlative field studies have suggested spillover of DWV from managed honeybees to wild bee species such as bumblebees. Yet unequivocal demonstration of DWV spillover is lacking, while spillback, the transmission of DWV from a recipient back to the reservoir host, is rarely considered. Here, we show in fully crossed laboratory experiments that the transmission of DWV (genotype A) from honeybees to bumblebees occurs readily, yet we neither detected viral transmission from bumblebees to honeybees nor onward transmission from experimentally infected to uninoculated bumblebees. Our results support the potential for viral spillover from honeybees to other bee species in the field when robbing resources from heterospecific nests or when visiting the same flowers. They also underscore the importance of studies on the virulence of DWV in wild bee species so as to evaluate viral impact on individual and population fitness as well as viral adaption to new host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Tehel
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tabea Streicher
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Simon Tragust
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Schoenfeldt A, Whitney KS. Bumble Bee (Bombus spp.) Abundance in New York Highway Roadsides across Levels of Roadside Mowing and Road Traffic. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2022. [DOI: 10.1656/045.029.0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Schoenfeldt
- Environmental Science Program, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY 14623
| | - Kaitlin Stack Whitney
- Environmental Science Program, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY 14623
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24
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Colgan TJ, Arce AN, Gill RJ, Ramos Rodrigues A, Kanteh A, Duncan EJ, Li L, Chittka L, Wurm Y. Genomic Signatures of Recent Adaptation in a Wild Bumblebee. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msab366. [PMID: 35134226 PMCID: PMC8845123 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental changes threaten insect pollinators, creating risks for agriculture and ecosystem stability. Despite their importance, we know little about how wild insects respond to environmental pressures. To understand the genomic bases of adaptation in an ecologically important pollinator, we analyzed genomes of Bombus terrestris bumblebees collected across Great Britain. We reveal extensive genetic diversity within this population, and strong signatures of recent adaptation throughout the genome affecting key processes including neurobiology and wing development. We also discover unusual features of the genome, including a region containing 53 genes that lacks genetic diversity in many bee species, and a horizontal gene transfer from a Wolbachia bacteria. Overall, the genetic diversity we observe and how it is distributed throughout the genome and the population should support the resilience of this important pollinator species to ongoing and future selective pressures. Applying our approach to more species should help understand how they can differ in their adaptive potential, and to develop conservation strategies for those most at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Colgan
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andres N Arce
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Gill
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Ramos Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Abdoulie Kanteh
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth J Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Li Li
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Chittka
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yannick Wurm
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Alan Turing Institute, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Virome Analysis Reveals Diverse and Divergent RNA Viruses in Wild Insect Pollinators in Beijing, China. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020227. [PMID: 35215821 PMCID: PMC8877953 DOI: 10.3390/v14020227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect pollinators provide major pollination services for wild plants and crops. Honeybee viruses can cause serious damage to honeybee colonies. However, viruses of other wild pollinating insects have yet to be fully explored. In the present study, we used RNA sequencing to investigate the viral diversity of 50 species of wild pollinating insects. A total of 3 pathogenic honeybee viruses, 8 previously reported viruses, and 26 novel viruses were identified in sequenced samples. Among these, 7 novel viruses were shown to be closely related to honeybee pathogenic viruses, and 4 were determined to have potential pathogenicity for their hosts. The viruses detected in wild insect pollinators were mainly from the order Picornavirales and the families Orthomyxoviridae, Sinhaliviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Flaviviridae. Our study expanded the species range of known insect pollinator viruses, contributing to future efforts to protect economic honeybees and wild pollinating insects.
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26
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Genetic variations and relationships between deformed wing virus strains infesting honey bees based on structural proteins. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00908-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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27
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Tang CK, Lin YH, Jiang JA, Lu YH, Tsai CH, Lin YC, Chen YR, Wu CP, Wu YL. Real-time monitoring of deformed wing virus-infected bee foraging behavior following histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment. iScience 2021; 24:103056. [PMID: 34755080 PMCID: PMC8560548 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairment in the learning/memory behavior of bees is responsible for the massive disappearance of bee populations and its consequent agricultural economic losses. Such impairment might be because of o both pesticide exposure and pathogen infection, with a key contributor deformed wing virus (DWV). The present study found that sodium butyrate (NaB) significantly increased survival and reversed the learning/memory impairment of DWV-infected bees. A next-generation sequencing analysis showed that NaB affected the expression of genes involved in glycolytic processes and memory formation, which were suppressed by DWV infection. In addition, we performed a large-scale movement tracking experiment by using a wireless sensor network-based automatic real-time monitoring system and confirmed that NaB could improve the homing ability of DWV-infected bees. In short, we demonstrated the mechanism of how epigenetic regulation can resume the memory function of honeybees and suggest strategies for applying NaB to reduce the incidence of colony losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Kang Tang
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hsien Lin
- Department of Plant Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joe-Air Jiang
- Department of Biomechatronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Heng Lu
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Tsai
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Lin
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Ru Chen
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Carol-P Wu
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Lung Wu
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, 27, Lane 113, Roosevelt Road Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
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28
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Jones LJ, Ford RP, Schilder RJ, López-Uribe MM. Honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but at low intensities in wild pollinators of cucurbit agroecosystems. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 185:107667. [PMID: 34560106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Managed and wild bee populations are in decline around the globe due to several biotic and abiotic stressors. Pathogenic viruses associated with the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) have been identified as key contributors to losses of managed honey bee colonies, and are known to be transmitted to wild bee populations through shared floral resources. However, little is known about the prevalence and intensity of these viruses in wild bee populations, or how bee visitation to flowers impacts viral transmission in agroecosystems. This study surveyed honey bee, bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) and wild squash bee (Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa) populations in Cucurbita agroecosystems across Pennsylvania (USA) for the prevalence and intensity of five honey bee viruses: acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). We investigated the potential role of bee visitation rate to flowers on DWV intensity among species in the pollinator community, with the expectation that increased bee visitation to flowers would increase the opportunity for transmission events between host species. We found that honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but in lower titers in wild E. pruinosa and B. impatiens than in A. mellifera populations throughout Pennsylvania (USA). DWV was detected in 88% of B. impatiens, 48% of E. pruinosa, and 95% of A. mellifera. IAPV was detected in 5% of B. impatiens and 4% of E. pruinosa, compared to 9% in A. mellifera. KBV was detected in 1% of B. impatiens and 5% of E. pruinosa, compared to 32% in A. mellifera. Our results indicate that DWV titers are not correlated with bee visitation in Cucurbita fields. The potential fitness impacts of these low viral titers detected in E. pruinosa remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Jones
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Ryan P Ford
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rudolf J Schilder
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Margarita M López-Uribe
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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29
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Brettell LE, Martin SJ, Riegler M, Cook JM. Vulnerability of island insect pollinator communities to pathogens. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107670. [PMID: 34560107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Island ecosystems, which often contain undescribed insects and small populations of single island endemics, are at risk from diverse threats. The spread of pathogens is a major factor affecting not just pollinator species themselves, but also posing significant knock-on effects to often fragile island ecosystems through disruption of pollination networks. Insects are vulnerable to diverse pathogens and these can be introduced to islands in a number of ways, e.g. via the introduction of infected managed pollinator hosts (e.g. honey bees and their viruses, in particular Deformed wing virus), long-range migrants (e.g. monarch butterflies and their protozoan parasite, Ophryocystit elektroscirrha) and invasive species (e.g. social wasps are common invaders and are frequently infected with multi-host viruses such as Kashmir bee virus and Moku virus). Furthermore, these introductions can negatively affect island ecosystems through outcompeting native taxa for resources. As such, the greatest threat to island pollinator communities is not one particular pathogen, but the combination of pathogens and introduced and invasive insects that will likely carry them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Brettell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Stephen J Martin
- School of Environment and life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - James M Cook
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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30
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Nanetti A, Bortolotti L, Cilia G. Pathogens Spillover from Honey Bees to Other Arthropods. Pathogens 2021; 10:1044. [PMID: 34451508 PMCID: PMC8400633 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees, and pollinators in general, play a major role in the health of ecosystems. There is a consensus about the steady decrease in pollinator populations, which raises global ecological concern. Several drivers are implicated in this threat. Among them, honey bee pathogens are transmitted to other arthropods populations, including wild and managed pollinators. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is quasi-globally spread. This successful species acted as and, in some cases, became a maintenance host for pathogens. This systematic review collects and summarizes spillover cases having in common Apis mellifera as the mainteinance host and some of its pathogens. The reports are grouped by final host species and condition, year, and geographic area of detection and the co-occurrence in the same host. A total of eighty-one articles in the time frame 1960-2021 were included. The reported spillover cases cover a wide range of hymenopteran host species, generally living in close contact with or sharing the same environmental resources as the honey bees. They also involve non-hymenopteran arthropods, like spiders and roaches, which are either likely or unlikely to live in close proximity to honey bees. Specific studies should consider host-dependent pathogen modifications and effects on involved host species. Both the plasticity of bee pathogens and the ecological consequences of spillover suggest a holistic approach to bee health and the implementation of a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (A.N.); (G.C.)
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Burnham PA, Alger SA, Case B, Boncristiani H, Hébert‐Dufresne L, Brody AK. Flowers as dirty doorknobs: Deformed wing virus transmitted between
Apis mellifera
and
Bombus impatiens
through shared flowers. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Alexander Burnham
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Samantha A. Alger
- Plant and Soil Science University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc South Burlington VT USA
| | - Brendan Case
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Humberto Boncristiani
- Honeybee Research and Extension Laboratory Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Laurent Hébert‐Dufresne
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Alison K. Brody
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
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32
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McMenamin AJ, Parekh F, Lawrence V, Flenniken ML. Investigating Virus-Host Interactions in Cultured Primary Honey Bee Cells. INSECTS 2021; 12:653. [PMID: 34357313 PMCID: PMC8329929 DOI: 10.3390/insects12070653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) health is impacted by viral infections at the colony, individual bee, and cellular levels. To investigate honey bee antiviral defense mechanisms at the cellular level we further developed the use of cultured primary cells, derived from either larvae or pupae, and demonstrated that these cells could be infected with a panel of viruses, including common honey bee infecting viruses (i.e., sacbrood virus (SBV) and deformed wing virus (DWV)) and an insect model virus, Flock House virus (FHV). Virus abundances were quantified over the course of infection. The production of infectious virions in cultured honey bee pupal cells was demonstrated by determining that naïve cells became infected after the transfer of deformed wing virus or Flock House virus from infected cell cultures. Initial characterization of the honey bee antiviral immune responses at the cellular level indicated that there were virus-specific responses, which included increased expression of bee antiviral protein-1 (GenBank: MF116383) in SBV-infected pupal cells and increased expression of argonaute-2 and dicer-like in FHV-infected hemocytes and pupal cells. Additional studies are required to further elucidate virus-specific honey bee antiviral defense mechanisms. The continued use of cultured primary honey bee cells for studies that involve multiple viruses will address this knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. McMenamin
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Fenali Parekh
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Verena Lawrence
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Michelle L. Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; (A.J.M.); (F.P.); (V.L.)
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
- Pollinator Health Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
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33
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The Pathogens Spillover and Incidence Correlation in Bumblebees and Honeybees in Slovenia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070884. [PMID: 34358034 PMCID: PMC8308815 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Slovenia has a long tradition of beekeeping and a high density of honeybee colonies, but less is known about bumblebees and their pathogens. Therefore, a study was conducted to define the incidence and prevalence of pathogens in bumblebees and to determine whether there are links between infections in bumblebees and honeybees. In 2017 and 2018, clinically healthy workers of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and honeybees (Apis mellifera) were collected on flowers at four different locations in Slovenia. In addition, bumblebee queens were also collected in 2018. Several pathogens were detected in the bumblebee workers using PCR and RT-PCR methods: 8.8% on acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), 58.5% on black queen cell virus (BQCV), 6.8% on deformed wing virus (DWV), 24.5% on sacbrood bee virus (SBV), 15.6% on Lake Sinai virus (LSV), 16.3% on Nosema bombi, 8.2% on Nosema ceranae, 15.0% on Apicystis bombi and 17.0% on Crithidia bombi. In bumblebee queens, only the presence of BQCV, A. bombi and C. bombi was detected with 73.3, 26.3 and 33.3% positive samples, respectively. This study confirmed that several pathogens are regularly detected in both bumblebees and honeybees. Further studies on the pathogen transmission routes are required.
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Cilia G, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Nanetti A, Bortolotti L. Replicative Deformed Wing Virus Found in the Head of Adults from Symptomatic Commercial Bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris) Colonies. Vet Sci 2021; 8:117. [PMID: 34201628 PMCID: PMC8310072 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8070117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The deformed wing virus (DWV) is one of the most common honey bee pathogens. The virus may also be detected in other insect species, including Bombus terrestris adults from wild and managed colonies. In this study, individuals of all stages, castes, and sexes were sampled from three commercial colonies exhibiting the presence of deformed workers and analysed for the presence of DWV. Adults (deformed individuals, gynes, workers, males) had their head exscinded from the rest of the body and the two parts were analysed separately by RT-PCR. Juvenile stages (pupae, larvae, and eggs) were analysed undissected. All individuals tested positive for replicative DWV, but deformed adults showed a higher number of copies compared to asymptomatic individuals. Moreover, they showed viral infection in their heads. Sequence analysis indicated that the obtained DWV amplicons belonged to a strain isolated in the United Kingdom. Further studies are needed to characterize the specific DWV target organs in the bumblebees. The result of this study indicates the evidence of DWV infection in B. terrestris specimens that could cause wing deformities, suggesting a relationship between the deformities and the virus localization in the head. Further studies are needed to define if a specific organ could be a target in symptomatic bumblebees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (L.Z.); (R.R.); (L.B.)
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35
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Pritchard ZA, Hendriksma HP, St Clair AL, Stein DS, Dolezal AG, O’Neal ME, Toth AL. Do Viruses From Managed Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Endanger Wild Bees in Native Prairies? ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 50:455-466. [PMID: 33492382 PMCID: PMC8064301 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Populations of wild and managed pollinators are declining in North America, and causes include increases in disease pressure and decreases in flowering resources. Tallgrass prairies can provide floral resources for managed honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and wild bees. Honey bees kept near prairies may compete with wild bees for floral resources, and potentially transfer viral pathogens to wild bees. Measurements of these potential interactions are lacking, especially in the context of native habitat conservation. To address this, we assessed abundance and richness of wild bees in prairies with and without honey bee hives present, and the potential spillover of several honey bee viruses to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latrielle). We found no indication that the presence of honey bee hives over 2 yr had a negative effect on population size of wild bee taxa, though a potential longer-term effect remains unknown. All levels of viruses quantified in bumble bees were lower than those observed in honey bees. Higher levels of deformed wing virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus were found in Bombus griseocollis DeGeer (Hymenoptera: Apidae) collected at sites with hives than those without hives. These data suggest that the presence of honey bees in tallgrass prairie could increase wild bee exposure to viruses. Additional studies on cross-species transmission of viruses are needed to inform decisions regarding the cohabitation of managed bees within habitat utilized by wild bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe A Pritchard
- Montana Entomology Collection, Montana State University, Marsh Labs, Bozeman, MT
- Department of Ecology Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Osborne Dr., Ames, IA
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
| | - Harmen P Hendriksma
- Department of Ecology Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Osborne Dr., Ames, IA
| | - Ashley L St Clair
- Department of Ecology Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Osborne Dr., Ames, IA
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, ATRB, Ames, IA
| | - David S Stein
- Department of Ecology Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Osborne Dr., Ames, IA
| | - Adam G Dolezal
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | | | - Amy L Toth
- Department of Ecology Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Osborne Dr., Ames, IA
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, ATRB, Ames, IA
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36
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The Gut Microbiota Can Provide Viral Tolerance in the Honey Bee. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040871. [PMID: 33920692 PMCID: PMC8072606 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult honey bees host a remarkably consistent gut microbial community that is thought to benefit host health and provide protection against parasites and pathogens. Currently, however, we lack experimental evidence for the causal role of the gut microbiota in protecting the Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) against their viral pathogens. Here we set out to fill this knowledge gap by investigating how the gut microbiota modulates the virulence of a major honey bee viral pathogen, deformed wing virus (DWV). We found that, upon oral virus exposure, honey bee survival was significantly increased in bees with an experimentally established normal gut microbiota compared to control bees with a perturbed (dysbiotic) gut microbiota. Interestingly, viral titers were similar in bees with normal gut microbiota and dysbiotic bees, pointing to higher viral tolerance in bees with normal gut microbiota. Taken together, our results provide evidence for a positive role of the gut microbiota for honey bee fitness upon viral infection. We hypothesize that environmental stressors altering honey bee gut microbiota composition, e.g., antibiotics in beekeeping or pesticides in modern agriculture, could interact synergistically with pathogens, leading to negative effects on honey bee health and the epidemiology and impact of their viruses.
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37
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Norton AM, Remnant EJ, Tom J, Buchmann G, Blacquiere T, Beekman M. Adaptation to vector-based transmission in a honeybee virus. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:2254-2267. [PMID: 33844844 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Global pollinator declines as a result of emerging infectious diseases are of major concern. Managed honeybees Apis mellifera are susceptible to numerous parasites and pathogens, many of which appear to be transmissible to sympatric non-Apis taxa. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is considered to be the most significant threat to honeybees due to its role in vectoring RNA viruses, particularly Deformed wing virus (DWV). Vector transmission of DWV has resulted in the accumulation of high viral loads in honeybees and is often associated with colony death. DWV has two main genotypes, A and B. DWV-A was more prevalent during the initial phase of V. destructor establishment. In recent years, the global prevalence of DWV-B has increased, suggesting that DWV-B is better adapted to vector transmission than DWV-A. We aimed to determine the role vector transmission plays in DWV genotype prevalence at a colony level. We experimentally increased or decreased the number of V. destructor mites in honeybee colonies, and tracked DWV-A and DWV-B loads over a period of 10 months. Our results show that the two DWV genotypes differ in their response to mite numbers. DWV-A accumulation in honeybees was positively correlated with mite numbers yet DWV-A was largely undetected in the absence of the mite. In contrast, colonies had high loads of DWV-B even when mite numbers were low. DWV-B loads persisted in miticide-treated colonies, indicating that this genotype has a competitive advantage over DWV-A irrespective of mite numbers. Our findings suggest that the global increase in DWV-B prevalence is not driven by selective pressure by the vector. Rather, DWV-B is able to persist in colonies at higher viral loads relative to DWV-A in the presence and absence of V. destructor. The interplay between V. destructor and DWV genotypes within honeybee colonies may have broad consequences upon viral diversity in sympatric taxa as a result of spillover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Norton
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emily J Remnant
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jolanda Tom
- Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Buchmann
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Madeleine Beekman
- Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (BEE) Laboratory, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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38
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Fearon ML, Tibbetts EA. Pollinator community species richness dilutes prevalence of multiple viruses within multiple host species. Ecology 2021; 102:e03305. [PMID: 33571384 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Most pathogens are embedded in complex communities composed of multiple interacting hosts, but we are still learning how community-level factors, such as host diversity, abundance, and composition, contribute to pathogen spread for many host-pathogen systems. Evaluating relationships among multiple pathogens and hosts may clarify whether particular host or pathogen traits consistently drive links between community factors and pathogen prevalence. Pollinators are a good system to test how community composition influences pathogen spread because pollinator communities are extremely variable and contain several multi-host pathogens transmitted on shared floral resources. We conducted a field survey of four pollinator species to test the prevalence of three RNA viruses (deformed wing virus, black queen cell virus, and sacbrood virus) among pollinator communities with variable species richness, abundance, and composition. All three viruses showed a similar pattern of prevalence among hosts. Apis mellifera and Bombus impatiens had significantly higher viral prevalence than Lasioglossum spp. and Eucera pruinosa. In each species, lower virus prevalence was most strongly linked with greater pollinator community species richness. In contrast, pollinator abundance, species-specific pollinator abundance, and community composition were not associated with virus prevalence. Our results support a consistent dilution effect for multiple viruses and host species. Pollinators in species-rich communities had lower viral prevalence than pollinators from species-poor communities, when accounting for differences in pollinator abundance. Species-rich communities likely had lower viral prevalence because species-rich communities contained more native bee species likely to be poor viral hosts than species-poor communities, and all communities contained the highly competent hosts A. mellifera and B. impatiens. Interestingly, the strength of the dilution effect was not consistent among hosts. Instead, host species with low viral prevalence exhibited weaker dilution effects compared to hosts with high viral prevalence. Therefore, host species susceptibility and competence for each virus may contribute to variation in the strength of dilution effects. This study expands biodiversity-disease studies to the pollinator-virus system, finding consistent evidence of the dilution effect among multiple similar pathogens that infect "replicate" host communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Fearon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Tibbetts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
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Abou-Shaara H, AlAshaal S, Nasser M, Nasif O, Alharbi S. Genetic variability and phylogenetic analysis among strains of deformed wing virus infesting honey bees and other organisms. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:1548-1556. [PMID: 33732039 PMCID: PMC7938125 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Various viruses can infect honey bees, but deformed wing virus (DWV) is considered the most dangerous virus to them and has role in the sudden decline of bee colonies. This virus has different strains; however, there are no available studies to compare the characteristics of these strains utilizing bioinformatics. In this study, 27 strains of deformed wing virus were analyzed based on their sequences and their genetic relationships. Also, some primers were designed and tested to identify their ability to separate DWV strains. The percentages range from 28.99% to 29.63%, 22.28% to 22.78%, 15.73% to 16.28%, and 31.71% to 32.86% for nucleotides A, G, C, and T, respectively in all strains. The numbers of polymorphic sites as well as nucleotide diversity were highly similar in all strains. Statistical analyses generally showed the absence of high variations between sequences. Also, the phylogenetic tree classified strains into three groups. The network between strains of each group was established and discussed based on their geographical locations. Two groups contained strains from USA and Europe while one group contained strains from Asia. Rapid variations and mutations in the sequences of DWV were suggested. Notably, genetic studies on DWV are lacking in some geographical regions. The variations between strains detected in honey bees and other organisms were discussed. Four primers were designed and tested beside two reference primers. One of the designed primers showed the best results in binding with all DWV strains except one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam Abou-Shaara
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22516, Egypt
| | - Sara AlAshaal
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Nasser
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Omaima Nasif
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University [Medical City], King Khalid University Hospital, PO Box 2925, Riyadh, 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sulaiman Alharbi
- Department of Botany & Microbiology College of Science King, Saud University P.O Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Dalmon A, Diévart V, Thomasson M, Fouque R, Vaissière BE, Guilbaud L, Le Conte Y, Henry M. Possible Spillover of Pathogens between Bee Communities Foraging on the Same Floral Resource. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020122. [PMID: 33573084 PMCID: PMC7911050 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Floral resource availability is one of the keys to preserving the health of bee communities. However, flowers also present a risk of pathogen transmission, as infected pollinators could deposit pathogens while foraging, exposing other pollinators to infection via the consumption of contaminated nectar or pollen. Here, we studied, over time, the prevalence of seven viruses in bee communities that share the same small surface of floral resource in order to assess the risk of virus spillover. In total, 2057 bee specimens from 30 species were caught, identified and checked for the presence of viruses. Specimens from the Halictidae family were the dominant wild bees. The prevalence of viruses was quite high: at least one virus was detected in 78% of the samples, and co-infections were frequent. The genetic diversity of the viruses was also investigated to look for the possible association of geographic origin or host with shared ancestry. Abstract Viruses are known to contribute to bee population decline. Possible spillover is suspected from the co-occurrence of viruses in wild bees and honey bees. In order to study the risk of virus transmission between wild and managed bee species sharing the same floral resource, we tried to maximize the possible cross-infections using Phacelia tanacetifolia, which is highly attractive to honey bees and a broad range of wild bee species. Virus prevalence was compared over two years in Southern France. A total of 1137 wild bees from 29 wild bee species (based on COI barcoding) and 920 honey bees (Apis mellifera) were checked for the seven most common honey bee RNA viruses. Halictid bees were the most abundant. Co-infections were frequent, and Sacbrood virus (SBV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) were widespread in the hymenopteran pollinator community. Conversely, Deformed wing virus (DWV) was detected at low levels in wild bees, whereas it was highly prevalent in honey bees (78.3% of the samples). Both wild bee and honey bee virus isolates were sequenced to look for possible host-specificity or geographical structuring. ABPV phylogeny suggested a specific cluster for Eucera bees, while isolates of DWV from bumble bees (Bombus spp.) clustered together with honey bee isolates, suggesting a possible spillover.
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41
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Jia W, Wang F, Li J, Chang X, Yang Y, Yao H, Bao Y, Song Q, Ye G. A Novel Iflavirus Was Discovered in Green Rice Leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps and Its Proliferation Was Inhibited by Infection of Rice Dwarf Virus. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:621141. [PMID: 33488564 PMCID: PMC7820178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.621141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The green rice leafhopper, Nephotettix cincticeps (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a key insect vector transmitting rice dwarf virus (RDV) that causes rice dwarf disease. We discovered a novel iflavirus from the transcriptomes of N. cincticeps and named it as Nephotettix cincticeps positive-stranded RNA virus-1 (NcPSRV-1). The viral genome consists of 10,524 nucleotides excluding the poly(A) tail and contains one predicted open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of 3,192 amino acids, flanked by 5' and 3' untranslated regions. NcPSRV-1 has a typical iflavirus genome arrangement and is clustered with the members of the family Iflaviridae in the phylogenetic analysis. NcPSRV-1 was detected in all tested tissues and life stages of N. cincticeps and could be transmitted horizontally and vertically. Moreover, NcPSRV-1 had high prevalence in the laboratory populations and was widely spread in field populations of N. cincticeps. NcPSRV-1 could also infect the two-striped leafhopper, Nephotettix apicalis, at a 3.33% infection rate, but was absent in the zigzag leafhopper, Recilia dorsalis, and rice Oryza sativa variety TN1. The infection of RDV altered the viral load and infection rate of NcPSRV-1 in N. cincticeps, for which it seems that RDV has an antagonistic effect on NcPSRV-1 infection in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxi Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Division of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Xuefei Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanyuan Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Gongyin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Occurrence of bee viruses and pathogens associated with emerging infectious diseases in native and non-native bumble bees in southern Chile. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02428-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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43
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Ullah A, Tlak Gajger I, Majoros A, Dar SA, Khan S, Kalimullah, Haleem Shah A, Nasir Khabir M, Hussain R, Khan HU, Hameed M, Anjum SI. Viral impacts on honey bee populations: A review. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:523-530. [PMID: 33424335 PMCID: PMC7783639 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bee is vital for pollination and ecological services, boosting crops productivity in terms of quality and quantity and production of colony products: wax, royal jelly, bee venom, honey, pollen and propolis. Honey bees are most important plant pollinators and almost one third of diet depends on bee's pollination, worth billions of dollars. Hence the role that honey bees have in environment and their economic importance in food production, their health is of dominant significance. Honey bees can be infected by various pathogens like: viruses, bacteria, fungi, or infested by parasitic mites. At least more than 20 viruses have been identified to infect honey bees worldwide, generally from Dicistroviridae as well as Iflaviridae families, like ABPV (Acute Bee Paralysis Virus), BQCV (Black Queen Cell Virus), KBV (Kashmir Bee Virus), SBV (Sacbrood Virus), CBPV (Chronic bee paralysis virus), SBPV (Slow Bee Paralysis Virus) along with IAPV (Israeli acute paralysis virus), and DWV (Deformed Wing Virus) are prominent and cause infections harmful for honey bee colonies health. This issue about honey bee viruses demonstrates remarkably how diverse this field is, and considerable work has to be done to get a comprehensive interpretation of the bee virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ivana Tlak Gajger
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Showket Ahmad Dar
- Division of Agricultural Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India
| | - Sanaullah Khan
- Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Kalimullah
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Haleem Shah
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
| | | | - Riaz Hussain
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Hikmat Ullah Khan
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mehwish Hameed
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Syed Ishtiaq Anjum
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat-26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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44
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Woodford L, Evans DJ. Deformed wing virus: using reverse genetics to tackle unanswered questions about the most important viral pathogen of honey bees. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 45:6035241. [PMID: 33320949 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) is the most important viral pathogen of honey bees. It usually causes asymptomatic infections but, when vectored by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, it is responsible for the majority of overwintering colony losses globally. Although DWV was discovered four decades ago, research has been hampered by the absence of an in vitro cell culture system or the ability to culture pure stocks of the virus. The recent developments of reverse genetic systems for DWV go some way to addressing these limitations. They will allow the investigation of specific questions about strain variation, host tropism and pathogenesis to be answered, and are already being exploited to study tissue tropism and replication in Varroa and non-Apis pollinators. Three areas neatly illustrate the advances possible with reverse genetic approaches: (i) strain variation and recombination, in which reverse genetics has highlighted similarities rather than differences between virus strains; (ii) analysis of replication kinetics in both honey bees and Varroa, in studies that likely explain the near clonality of virus populations often reported; and (iii) pathogen spillover to non-Apis pollinators, using genetically tagged viruses to accurately monitor replication and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Woodford
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
| | - David J Evans
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK
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45
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Brettell LE, Schroeder DC, Martin SJ. RNAseq of Deformed Wing Virus and Other Honey Bee-Associated Viruses in Eight Insect Taxa with or without Varroa Infestation. Viruses 2020; 12:E1229. [PMID: 33138298 PMCID: PMC7692275 DOI: 10.3390/v12111229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The global spread of a parasitic mite (Varroa destructor) has resulted in Deformed wing virus (DWV), a previously rare pathogen, now dominating the viromes in honey bees and contributing to large-scale honey bee colony losses. DWV can be found in diverse insect taxa and has been implicated in spilling over from honey bees into associated ("apiary") and other ("non-apiary") insects. Here we generated next generation sequence data from 127 insect samples belonging to diverse taxa collected from Hawaiian islands with and without Varroa to identify whether the mite has indirectly affected the viral landscapes of key insect taxa across bees, wasps, flies and ants. Our data showed that, while Varroa was associated with a dramatic increase in abundance of (predominantly recombinant) DWV in honey bees (and no other honey bee-associated RNA virus), this change was not seen in any other taxa sampled. Honey bees share their environment with other insect populations and exist as a homogenous group, frequently sharing common viruses, albeit at low levels. Our data suggest that the threat of Varroa to increase viral load in an apiary does not automatically translate to an increase in virus load in other insects living in the wider community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Brettell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- School of Environment and life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 5WT, UK;
| | - Declan C. Schroeder
- Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA;
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6LA, UK
| | - Stephen J. Martin
- School of Environment and life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 5WT, UK;
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46
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Evidence for and against deformed wing virus spillover from honey bees to bumble bees: a reverse genetic analysis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16847. [PMID: 33033296 PMCID: PMC7546617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73809-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a persistent pathogen of European honey bees and the major contributor to overwintering colony losses. The prevalence of DWV in honey bees has led to significant concerns about spillover of the virus to other pollinating species. Bumble bees are both a major group of wild and commercially-reared pollinators. Several studies have reported pathogen spillover of DWV from honey bees to bumble bees, but evidence of a sustained viral infection characterized by virus replication and accumulation has yet to be demonstrated. Here we investigate the infectivity and transmission of DWV in bumble bees using the buff-tailed bumble bee Bombus terrestris as a model. We apply a reverse genetics approach combined with controlled laboratory conditions to detect and monitor DWV infection. A novel reverse genetics system for three representative DWV variants, including the two master variants of DWV—type A and B—was used. Our results directly confirm DWV replication in bumble bees but also demonstrate striking resistance to infection by certain transmission routes. Bumble bees may support DWV replication but it is not clear how infection could occur under natural environmental conditions.
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47
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Matthijs S, De Waele V, Vandenberge V, Verhoeven B, Evers J, Brunain M, Saegerman C, De Winter PJJ, Roels S, de Graaf DC, De Regge N. Nationwide Screening for Bee Viruses and Parasites in Belgian Honey Bees. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080890. [PMID: 32823841 PMCID: PMC7472724 DOI: 10.3390/v12080890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The health of honey bees is threatened by multiple factors, including viruses and parasites. We screened 557 honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies from 155 beekeepers distributed all over Belgium to determine the prevalence of seven widespread viruses and two parasites (Varroa sp. and Nosema sp.). Deformed wing virus B (DWV-B), black queen cell virus (BQCV), and sacbrood virus (SBV) were highly prevalent and detected by real-time RT-PCR in more than 95% of the colonies. Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) and deformed wing virus A (DWV-A) were prevalent to a lower extent (between 18 and 29%). Most viruses were only present at low or moderate viral loads. Nevertheless, about 50% of the colonies harbored at least one virus at high viral load (>107 genome copies/bee). Varroa mites and Nosema sp. were found in 81.5% and 59.7% of the honey bee colonies, respectively, and all Nosema were identified as Nosema ceranae by real time PCR. Interestingly, we found a significant correlation between the number of Varroa mites and DWV-B viral load. To determine the combined effect of these and other factors on honey bee health in Belgium, a follow up of colonies over multiple years is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severine Matthijs
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2-379-05-54
| | - Valérie De Waele
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Valerie Vandenberge
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Bénédicte Verhoeven
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Jacqueline Evers
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Marleen Brunain
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.B.); (D.C.d.G.)
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A B42, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Paul J. J. De Winter
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Stefan Roels
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Dirk C. de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.B.); (D.C.d.G.)
| | - Nick De Regge
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
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48
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Tehel A, Streicher T, Tragust S, Paxton RJ. Experimental infection of bumblebees with honeybee-associated viruses: no direct fitness costs but potential future threats to novel wild bee hosts. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200480. [PMID: 32874644 PMCID: PMC7428241 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Pathogen spillover represents an important cause of biodiversity decline. For wild bee species such as bumblebees, many of which are in decline, correlational data point towards viral spillover from managed honeybees as a potential cause. Yet, impacts of these viruses on wild bees are rarely evaluated. Here, in a series of highly controlled laboratory infection assays with well-characterized viral inocula, we show that three viral types isolated from honeybees (deformed wing virus genotype A, deformed wing virus genotype B and black queen cell virus) readily replicate within hosts of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Impacts of these honeybee-derived viruses - either injected or fed - on the mortality of B. terrestris workers were, however, negligible and probably dependent on host condition. Our results highlight the potential threat of viral spillover from honeybees to novel wild bee species, though they also underscore the importance of additional studies on this and other wild bee species under field-realistic conditions to evaluate whether pathogen spillover has a negative impact on wild bee individuals and population fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Tehel
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tabea Streicher
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Simon Tragust
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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49
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Yañez O, Piot N, Dalmon A, de Miranda JR, Chantawannakul P, Panziera D, Amiri E, Smagghe G, Schroeder D, Chejanovsky N. Bee Viruses: Routes of Infection in Hymenoptera. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:943. [PMID: 32547504 PMCID: PMC7270585 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have recently reported on the discovery of bee viruses in different arthropod species and their possible transmission routes, vastly increasing our understanding of these viruses and their distribution. Here, we review the current literature on the recent advances in understanding the transmission of viruses, both on the presence of bee viruses in Apis and non-Apis bee species and on the discovery of previously unknown bee viruses. The natural transmission of bee viruses will be discussed among different bee species and other insects. Finally, the research potential of in vivo (host organisms) and in vitro (cell lines) serial passages of bee viruses is discussed, from the perspective of the host-virus landscape changes and potential transmission routes for emerging bee virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Dalmon
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | | | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Delphine Panziera
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Halle-Jena-Leipzig, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Esmaeil Amiri
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United States
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Declan Schroeder
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Entomology Department, Institute of Plant Protection, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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50
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Harwood GP, Dolezal AG. Pesticide-Virus Interactions in Honey Bees: Challenges and Opportunities for Understanding Drivers of Bee Declines. Viruses 2020; 12:E566. [PMID: 32455815 PMCID: PMC7291294 DOI: 10.3390/v12050566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are key agricultural pollinators, but beekeepers continually suffer high annual colony losses owing to a number of environmental stressors, including inadequate nutrition, pressures from parasites and pathogens, and exposure to a wide variety of pesticides. In this review, we examine how two such stressors, pesticides and viruses, may interact in additive or synergistic ways to affect honey bee health. Despite what appears to be a straightforward comparison, there is a dearth of studies examining this issue likely owing to the complexity of such interactions. Such complexities include the wide array of pesticide chemical classes with different modes of actions, the coupling of many bee viruses with ectoparasitic Varroa mites, and the intricate social structure of honey bee colonies. Together, these issues pose a challenge to researchers examining the effects pesticide-virus interactions at both the individual and colony level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyan P. Harwood
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA;
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