Project description:The microsporidia Nosema ceranae are intracellular parasites that proliferate in the midgut epithelial cells of honey bees (Apis mellifera). To analyze the pathological effects of those microsporidia, we orally infected honey bee workers 7 days after their emergence. Bees were flash frozen 15 days after the infection. Then, the effects on the gut ventriculi were analyzed and compared to non-infected (control) bees.
Project description:The microsporidia Nosema ceranae are intracellular parasites that proliferate in the midgut epithelial cells of honey bees (Apis mellifera). To analyze the pathological effects of those microsporidia, we orally infected honey bee workers 7 days after their emergence. Bees were flash frozen 15 days after the infection. Then, the effects on the gut ventriculi were analyzed and compared to non-infected (control) bees. Comparisons of control vs Nosema ceranae bees
Project description:In this study we addressed whether the transcriptome profile in the honey bee brain is similar for two major parasites of honey bee, Varroa destructor and Nosema ceranae. Honey bees parasitized by these two parasites show accelerated behavioral maturation and deficiences in orientation and learning/memory that we hoped to characterized at the transcriptomic level.
Project description:In this study we addressed whether the transcriptome profile in the honey bee brain is similar for two major parasites of honey bee, Varroa destructor and Nosema ceranae. Honey bees parasitized by these two parasites show accelerated behavioral maturation and deficiences in orientation and learning/memory that we hoped to characterized at the transcriptomic level. honey bee adults infested by Varroa destructor or Nosema ceranae compared to control bees, in duplicate
Project description:Experimental infection of (2 days old) adult honey bee workers (30 bees per replicates, 3 replicates per treatments, from 3 different colonies (one colony per cage for each treatment)) with 10^9 genome equivalent of Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV) in 10µl of sugar solution and/or 10^5 fresh Nosema ceranae spores (control bees were given a similar bee extract in PBS, without pathogen). Bees were kept in cages of 30 bees in incubator (30°C/50%RH). At day 13 p.i., bees were flash frozen, and stored at -80°C.
Project description:Experimental infection of (2 days old) adult honey bee workers (30 bees per replicates, 3 replicates per treatments, from 3 different colonies (one colony per cage for each treatment)) with 10^9 genome equivalent of Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV) in 10µl of sugar solution and/or 10^5 fresh Nosema ceranae spores (control bees were given a similar bee extract in PBS, without pathogen). Bees were kept in cages of 30 bees in incubator (30°C/50%RH). At day 13 p.i., bees were flash frozen, and stored at -80°C. Brain mRNA profiles of 15 old bees were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicates except for bees infected by both Nosema ceranae and Black Queen Cell Virus (duplicates)
Project description:Bees from 3 unrelated colonies were injected with 1ul PBS extract containing 10^9 genome equivalent of Deformed wIng virus (DWV) and/or fed 10µl sucrose solution containing 10^5 fresh Nosema ceranae spores. Control bees were injected and fed with an equivalent DWV- and Nosema-free extract respectively). Bees were kept in cages of 21 bees (7 from each colony), and each cage was replicated 5 times per each of the 4 treatments). Bess were kept in an incubator at 30°C/50%RH. At day 12 p.i., bees were flash frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C. Bee abdomen RNA was sent to Christina Grozinger lab (Penn State, USA). RNA was pooled for 3 abdomens per replicate for 5 replicates per treatment. Arrays were hybridized in a dye-swap loop design.
Project description:Extensive annual losses of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) represent a global problem for agriculture and biodiversity. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor in association with viral co-infections plays a key role in this phenomenon; however, the precise mechanisms are still unclear. We employed a unique combination of transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and functional analyses to elucidate the effects of Varroa parasitisation. We focused on complex differences between parasitised and unparasitised ten-days old honey bee workers collected from identical colonies before overwintering. Honey bees exposed to mite parasitation during their development revealed alterations in transcriptome and proteome related to immunity, oxidative stress, olfactory recognition, metabolism of sphingolipids and RNA regulatory mechanisms. Specifically, immune reactions and sphingolipids metabolism were strongly up-regulated in parasitised honey bees; whereas olfactory recognition and oxidative stress pathways were down-regulated compared to unparasitised bees. Additionally, the metabolomic analysis confirmed the depletion of nutrients, decreased energy stores and generally disrupted metabolism of parasitised workers, as previously reported. By virtue of comprehensive omics-based analysis, we define the key changes in the honey bee facing Varroa parasitism and suggest possible mechanisms underlying its detrimental effects. This study provides a theoretical basis for future efforts in efficient control strategies against Varroa mites.
