Gut pathology and responses to the microsporidium Nosema ceranae in the honey bee Apis mellifera.

ABSTRACT: The microsporidium Nosema ceranae is a newly prevalent parasite of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Although this parasite is presently spreading across the world into its novel host, the mechanisms by it which affects the bees and how bees respond are not well understood. We therefore performed an extensive characterization of the parasite effects at the molecular level by using genetic and biochemical tools. The transcriptome modifications at the midgut level were characterized seven days post-infection with tiling microarrays. Then we tested the bee midgut response to infection by measuring activity of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes (superoxide dismutases, glutathione peroxidases, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase). At the gene-expression level, the be

SUBMITTER: Dussaubat C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3356400 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature