Abstract
Abstract Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that attacks the honey bee, and previous studies have suggested that parasitosis caused by this mite is accompanied by immunosuppresion in the host. In this study, the effect of mite infestation on the expression of the lysozyme-1 (lys-1) gene and lysozyme activity in Apis mellifera carnica was determined. The experiment was carried out on the five developmental stages of honey bee workers and drones. Developmental and gender-related differences in gene expression and lysozyme activity were observed in a Varroa destructor-infested brood. The relative expression of the lys-1 gene increased in a infested worker brood and decreased in a drone brood except for P3 pupae. In the final stage of development, the lys-1 gene expression was significantly lower in infested newly emerged workers and drones. Changes in the relative expression of the lys-1 gene in infested individuals was poorly manifested at the level of enzyme activity, whereas at the two final stages of development (P5 and I) there was a positive correlation between relative lys-1 expression and lysozyme activity in infested bees of both genders (r=0.988, r=0.999, respectively). The results of this study indicate that V. destructor influences the lysozyme-linked immune response in bees.
Highlights
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, a vector of dangerous pathogens for bees (Apis mellifera carnica), is one of the causative agents of the steady decline in honey bee populations observed in recent years (Bernardi & Venturino, 2016)
The lys-1 gene expression was significantly higher in the V. destructor-infested worker brood than in the non-infested brood, and the highest expression was noted in P5 pupae (30.4fold, p
Ryabov et al (2014) had demonstrated lower lys-1 gene expression in the P3 pupae of western honeybee workers infested with V. destructor and infected with deformed wing virus (DWV)
Summary
The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, a vector of dangerous pathogens for bees (Apis mellifera carnica), is one of the causative agents of the steady decline in honey bee populations observed in recent years (Bernardi & Venturino, 2016). The immune system of bees is activated in response to mite infestation (Evans et al, 2006). The c-type and the i-type, have been identified in insects (Beckert et al, 2016). Honey bees have three lysozyme genes, two encoding c-type lysozymes and one encoding i-type lysozyme. The c-type lys-1 gene is up-regulated in infested bees (Evans et al, 2006). The aim of this study was to determine how natural infestation with V. destructor affects the expression of the lys-1 gene and lysozyme activity during the development of worker and drone broods
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