A gene for resistance to the Varroa mite (Acari) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae

dc.contributor.authorConlon, Benjamin H.
dc.contributor.authorAurori, Adriana
dc.contributor.authorGiurgiu, Alexandru‐Ioan
dc.contributor.authorKefuss, John
dc.contributor.authorDezmirean, Daniel S.
dc.contributor.authorMoritz, Robin F.A.
dc.contributor.authorRouttu, Jarkko
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-28T11:58:15Z
dc.date.issued2019-06
dc.description.abstractSocial insect colonies possess a range of defences which protect them against highly virulent parasites and colony collapse. The host–parasite interaction between honey bees (Apis mellifera) and the mite Varroa destructor is unusual, as honey bee colonies are relatively poorly defended against this parasite. The interaction has existed since the mid‐20th Century, when Varroa switched host to parasitize A. mellifera. The combination of a virulent parasite and relatively naïve host means that, without acaricides, honey bee colonies typically die within 3 years of Varroa infestation. A consequence of acaricide use has been a reduced selective pressure for the evolution of Varroa resistance in honey bee colonies. However, in the past 20 years, several natural‐selection‐based breeding programmes have resulted in the evolution of Varroa‐resistant populations. In these populations, the inhibition of Varroa's reproduction is a common trait. Using a high‐density genome‐wide association analysis in a Varroa‐resistant honey bee population, we identify an ecdysone‐induced gene significantly linked to resistance. Ecdysone both initiates metamorphosis in insects and reproduction in Varroa. Previously, using a less dense genetic map and a quantitative trait loci analysis, we have identified Ecdysone‐related genes at resistance loci in an independently evolved resistant population. Varroa cannot biosynthesize ecdysone but can acquire it from its diet. Using qPCR, we are able to link the expression of ecdysone‐linked resistance genes to Varroa's meals and reproduction. If Varroa co‐opts pupal compounds to initiate and time its own reproduction, mutations in the host's ecdysone pathway may represent a key selection tool for honey bee resistance and breeding.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentZoology and Entomologyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2020-06-01
dc.description.librarianhj2020en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (RO 5121/1‐1 to J.R.) and the Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii (Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie GRAL to R.F.A.M. and D.S.D.).en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294xen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationConlon, B.H., Aurori, A., Giurgiu, A.-I. et al. 2019, A gene for resistance to the Varroa mite (Acari) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae', Molecular Ecology, vol. 28, no. 12, pp. 2958-2966.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0962-1083 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1365-294X (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1111/mec.15080
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/73608
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherWileyen_ZA
dc.rights© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article : A gene for resistance to the Varroa mite (Acari) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupae', Molecular Ecology, vol. 28, no. 12, pp. 2958-2966, 2019, doi : 10.1111/mec.15080. The definite version is available at : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1365294x.en_ZA
dc.subjectHoneybee (Apis mellifera)en_ZA
dc.subjectCo‐evolutionen_ZA
dc.subjectEcdysoneen_ZA
dc.subjectHosten_ZA
dc.subjectSocial insecten_ZA
dc.subjectReproductionen_ZA
dc.subjectParasiteen_ZA
dc.titleA gene for resistance to the Varroa mite (Acari) in honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupaeen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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