Differential resistance across paternal genotypes of honey bee brood to the pathogenic bacteriumMelissococcus plutonius

Abstract

AbstractMelissococcus plutoniusis a pathogenic bacterium affecting immature stages of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) and leads to European foulbrood (EFB) disease. Despite EFB outbreaks increasing in frequency in several countries in recent decades, there is little knowledge on the epidemiology ofM. plutoniusor on the defence mechanisms of honey bees against this pathogen. Mating of honey bee queens with multiple males (polyandry) can be such a mechanism, as it has been shown to be beneficial to colony health and fitness. It is hypothesized that a high level of polyandry was selected for in response to pathogen pressure to maximize the probability that at least some patrilines among nestmates in a colony possess a high degree of resistance to specific pathogens, ultimately protecting colonies against infections. We show thatM. plutoniusinfection provokes differential mortality among patrilines of immature honey bee workers. Such differences indicate a genetic origin of resistance against this pathogen—supporting the polyandry hypothesis—and open up avenues to improve control of EFB disease via selective breeding.