Host species and geography impact bee-associated RNA virus communities with evidence for isolation by distance in viral populations.

ABSTRACT: Virus symbionts are important mediators of ecosystem function, yet we know little of their diversity and ecology in natural populations. The alarming decline of pollinating insects in many regions of the globe, especially the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, has been driven in part by worldwide transmission of virus pathogens. Previous work has examined the transmission of known honey bee virus pathogens to wild bee populations, but only a handful of studies have investigated the native viromes associated with wild bees, limiting epidemiological predictors associated with viral pathogenesis. Further, variation among different bee species might have important consequences in the acquisition and maintenance of bee-associated virome diversity. We utilized comparative metatranscripto

SUBMITTER: Robinson CRP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10833078 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature