Differential Gene Expression Associated with Honey Bee Grooming Behavior in Response to Varroa Mites.

ABSTRACT: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) grooming behavior is an important mechanism of resistance against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. This research was conducted to study associations between grooming behavior and the expression of selected immune, neural, detoxification, developmental and health-related genes. Individual bees tested in a laboratory assay for various levels of grooming behavior in response to V. destructor were also analyzed for gene expression. Intense groomers (IG) were most efficient in that they needed significantly less time to start grooming and fewer grooming attempts to successfully remove mites from their bodies than did light groomers (LG). In addition, the relative abundance of the neurexin-1 mRNA, was significantly higher in IG than in LG, no groomers (NG) or cont

SUBMITTER: Hamiduzzaman MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5403867 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature