The effect of pathogens and pests on honey bee gene expression

Navajas Navarro , Maria
        INRA
        , Montferrier Sur Lez .
         UMR 1062 Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations; Martin , Jean-François
        INRA
        , Montferrier Sur Lez .
         UMR 1062 Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations; Le Conte , Yves
        INRA
        , Avignon .
         UMR 0406 Abeilles et Environnement

The effect of pathogens and pests on honey bee gene expression

2008

Navajas Navarro , Maria (INRA , Montferrier Sur Lez (France). UMR 1062 Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations) | Martin , Jean-François (INRA , Montferrier Sur Lez (France). UMR 1062 Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations) | Le Conte , Yves (INRA , Avignon (France). UMR 0406 Abeilles et Environnement)

The effect of pathogens and pests on honey bee gene expression is a fascinating area of research initself and can lead to new molecular tools for diagnostics and selection in beekeeping. In thisframework, we first investigated Varroa-bee interactions by using a combination of nuc1ear andmitochondrial DNA markers of Varroa destructor to trace the parasite invasion of Apis melliferasince it shifted from A. cerana. The extremely low worldwide mite genetic diversity found on A.mellifera outside Asia contrasts with the variety of known bee phenotypes regarding their response tothe parasite. This prompted us to further explore the response of bees to Varroa, by using atranscriptional study. We compared parasitized and non-parasitized full-sister pupae, from twodifferent genetic stocks of bees: one susceptible and one resistant toVarroa. We used a honey beecDNA microarray, which contained a total of ~ 6,778cDNAs representing ~ 5,500 different genes. Weidentified a set of genes that showed differential expression as a function of parasitization, another setthat showed differential expression as a function of bee genotype, and a set of genes affected bybothfactors. These patterns, and some of the genes that define them, are mostly involved in olfaction andsensitivity to stimuli. These results agree with the hypothesis that tolerance to Varroa is linked to amore efficient bee hygienic behaviour. In an ongoing work we further explore this hypothesis. Usingq-PCR assays, we try to separate immunological and behavioral bee responses and also parasite effectsfrom bee genotype effects.

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