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Zhou N, Yang S, Wei R, Hu F, Liu D, Zheng H. Host Specificity of Snodgrassella in Eastern and Western Honeybees and Its Effects on Naturally Occurring Deformed Wing Virus Titers. INSECTS 2025; 16:478. [PMID: 40429190 PMCID: PMC12111971 DOI: 10.3390/insects16050478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2025] [Revised: 04/26/2025] [Accepted: 04/28/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025]
Abstract
Honeybee gut microbiota undergoes long-term adaptive evolution with the host, resulting in host-specific genomic and functional characteristics. However, the specific role of host-specialized strains in shaping host physiological functions remains understudied. This study investigates the host specificity of the core gut symbiont Snodgrassella in A. cerana and A. mellifera, exploring its effects on immune response and natural virus suppression through genomic analysis and colonization experiments. Genomic analysis revealed that strain from A. mellifera, exhibited a larger genome and greater gene content compared to strain from A. cerana. Competitive colonization experiments showed that although strains from different origins had similar colonization efficiency in the host, host-specific strain displayed a clear home-field advantage in the competitive colonization process. Moreover, Inoculation of A. mellifera with its native Snodgrassella strain significantly reduced Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) titers, whereas a non-native strain had no effect. In contrast, neither strain altered DWV or Sacbrood Virus (SBV) levels in A. cerana. Immune gene analysis revealed that only the native Snodgrassella strain upregulated defensin 2 in A. mellifera, while no significant changes occurred in A. cerana with either strain. These results suggest that Snodgrassella exhibits host specificity at the strain level, influencing both host immune response and virus suppression, with non-native strains showing reduced efficacy in these functional roles, especially in A. mellifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihong Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Shangning Yang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Ruike Wei
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Huoqing Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (N.Z.); (S.Y.); (R.W.); (F.H.); (H.Z.)
- Institute of Agricultural Research, Xizang Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lasa 850032, China
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McAfee A, Alavi-Shoushtari N, Labuschagne R, Tran L, Common J, Higo H, Pernal SF, Giovenazzo P, Hoover SE, Guzman-Novoa E, Currie RW, Veiga PW, French SK, Conflitti IM, Pepinelli M, Borges D, Walsh EM, Bishop CA, Zayed A, Duffe J, Guarna MM, Foster LJ. Regional patterns and climatic predictors of viruses in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies over time. Sci Rep 2025; 15:286. [PMID: 39747229 PMCID: PMC11697360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79675-7] [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: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 11/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Honey bee viruses are serious pathogens that can cause poor colony health and productivity. We analyzed a multi-year longitudinal dataset of abundances of nine honey bee viruses (deformed wing virus A, deformed wing virus B, black queen cell virus, sacbrood virus, Lake Sinai virus, Kashmir bee virus, acute bee paralysis virus, chronic bee paralysis virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus) in colonies located across Canada to describe broad trends in virus intensity and occurrence among regions and years. We also tested climatic variables (temperature, wind speed, and precipitation) as predictors in an effort to understand possible drivers underlying seasonal patterns in viral prevalence. Temperature was a significant positive predictor of the total number of viruses per sample, which was highest in British Columbia (mean = 5.0). Lake Sinai virus (LSV) was the most prevalent overall (at 89%) and had the highest infection intensity, at an average of 3.9 × 108 copies per bee. Acute bee paralysis virus was the least prevalent virus (at 4.7%) and had the lowest infection intensity (1.9 × 105 copies per bee). Surprisingly, including Varroa abundance as a covariate did not significantly improve model fit for any virus. All viruses, except Kashmir bee virus, varied by region, and one or more climatic variables were significant predictors for six of the nine viruses. Although climatic effects were often inconsistent among individual viruses, we show that climatic variables can be better predictors of virus intensity and occurrence than Varroa mite abundance, at least when infestation rates are low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison McAfee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Niloofar Alavi-Shoushtari
- Landscape Science and Technology, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Renata Labuschagne
- Technology Transfer Program, Alberta Beekeepers Commission, Edmonton, AB, T5M 3T9, Canada
| | - Lan Tran
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Julia Common
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Robert W Currie
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Patricia Wolf Veiga
- National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Northwestern Polytechnic, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Sarah K French
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Ida M Conflitti
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Mateus Pepinelli
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Daniel Borges
- Technology Transfer Program, Ontario Beekeepers' Association, 185-5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, ON, N1H6J2, Canada
| | - Elizabeth M Walsh
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research Unit, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA
| | - Christine A Bishop
- Environment & Climate Change Canada, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Jason Duffe
- Landscape Science and Technology, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada.
- Project Apis M, PO Box 26793, Salt Lake City, UT, 84126, USA.
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Zavatta L, Bortolotti L, Catelan D, Granato A, Guerra I, Medrzycki P, Mutinelli F, Nanetti A, Porrini C, Sgolastra F, Tafi E, Cilia G. Spatiotemporal evolution of the distribution of Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) in honey bee colonies. Virology 2024; 598:110191. [PMID: 39098182 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110191] [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] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is a Apis mellifera viral infectious disease, exhibiting dark and hairless abdomen in workers with tremors and ataxita. Clinical signs are also typically linked to adverse weather conditions and overcrowding in the hive. The disease occurs in spring but recently it has been observed cases increase and seasonality loss of the disease incidence. This study analyses the evolution of CBPV in Italy, through data collected from 2009 to 2023 within three monitoring projects comprising nationwide extended detection networks, aimed to investigate the evolution of the CBPV spatial distribution, identifying high-risk areas for the virus spread. This study highlights an increased risk over years. Prevalence increased from 4.3% during 2009-2010 to 84.7% during 2021-2023 monitoring years. CBPV outbreaks were irregular between investigated seasons, highlighting Spring and Autumn as the most susceptible seasons. Risk of CBPV infection has increased, reaching high-risk in last years of monitoring. Sequence analysis showed a high similarity to other isolated Italian CBPVs. The study offers an epidemiological insight into the aetiology of this disease. CBPV distribution is a prerequisite to predict its future spread and factors involved in its propagation not only in honey bees but also in other pollinators and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zavatta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy; Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dolores Catelan
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Granato
- National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, (PD), Italy
| | - Irene Guerra
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Franco Mutinelli
- National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, (PD), Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Porrini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Sgolastra
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Tafi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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