Differential gene expression in Varroa jacobsoni mites following a host shift to European honey bees (Apis mellifera).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Varroa mites are widely considered the biggest honey bee health problem worldwide. Until recently, Varroa jacobsoni has been found to live and reproduce only in Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) colonies, while V. destructor successfully reproduces in both A. cerana and A. mellifera colonies. However, we have identified an island population of V. jacobsoni that is highly destructive to A. mellifera, the primary species used for pollination and honey production. The ability of these populations of mites to cross the host species boundary potentially represents an enormous threat to apiculture, and is presumably due to genetic variation that exists among populations of V. jacobsoni that influences gene expression and reproductive status. In this work, we investigate difference

SUBMITTER: Andino GK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5112721 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature