Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i>
The <i>Varroa destructor</i> mite is a devastating parasite of honey bees; however the negative effects of varroa parasitism are exacerbated by its role as an efficient vector of the honey bee pathogen, Deformed wing virus (DWV). While no direct treatment for DWV infection is available f...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/11/2259 |
| _version_ | 1797457463297966080 |
|---|---|
| author | Zoe E. Smeele James W. Baty Philip J. Lester |
| author_facet | Zoe E. Smeele James W. Baty Philip J. Lester |
| author_sort | Zoe E. Smeele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The <i>Varroa destructor</i> mite is a devastating parasite of honey bees; however the negative effects of varroa parasitism are exacerbated by its role as an efficient vector of the honey bee pathogen, Deformed wing virus (DWV). While no direct treatment for DWV infection is available for beekeepers to use on their hives, RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely explored as a possible biopesticide approach for a range of pests and pathogens. This study tested the effectiveness of three DWV-specific dsRNA sequences to lower DWV loads and symptoms in honey bees reared from larvae in laboratory mini-hives containing bees and varroa. The effects of DWV-dsRNA treatment on bees parasitised and non-parasitised by varroa mites during development were investigated. Additionally, the impact of DWV-dsRNA on viral loads and gene expression in brood-parasitising mites was assessed using RNA-sequencing. Bees parasitised during development had significantly higher DWV levels compared to non-parasitised bees. However, DWV-dsRNA did not significantly reduce DWV loads or symptoms in mini-hive reared bees, possibly due to sequence divergence between the DWV variants present in bees and varroa and the specific DWV-dsRNA sequences used. Varroa mites from DWV-dsRNA treated mini-hives did not show evidence of an elevated RNAi response or significant difference in DWV levels. Overall, our findings show that RNAi is not always successful, and multiple factors including pathogen diversity and transmission route may impact its efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:22:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4322c3e0d5fc4c35952e4dc258c89581 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:22:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-4322c3e0d5fc4c35952e4dc258c895812023-11-24T15:11:00ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152023-11-011511225910.3390/v15112259Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i>Zoe E. Smeele0James W. Baty1Philip J. Lester2School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New ZealandSchool of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New ZealandSchool of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New ZealandThe <i>Varroa destructor</i> mite is a devastating parasite of honey bees; however the negative effects of varroa parasitism are exacerbated by its role as an efficient vector of the honey bee pathogen, Deformed wing virus (DWV). While no direct treatment for DWV infection is available for beekeepers to use on their hives, RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely explored as a possible biopesticide approach for a range of pests and pathogens. This study tested the effectiveness of three DWV-specific dsRNA sequences to lower DWV loads and symptoms in honey bees reared from larvae in laboratory mini-hives containing bees and varroa. The effects of DWV-dsRNA treatment on bees parasitised and non-parasitised by varroa mites during development were investigated. Additionally, the impact of DWV-dsRNA on viral loads and gene expression in brood-parasitising mites was assessed using RNA-sequencing. Bees parasitised during development had significantly higher DWV levels compared to non-parasitised bees. However, DWV-dsRNA did not significantly reduce DWV loads or symptoms in mini-hive reared bees, possibly due to sequence divergence between the DWV variants present in bees and varroa and the specific DWV-dsRNA sequences used. Varroa mites from DWV-dsRNA treated mini-hives did not show evidence of an elevated RNAi response or significant difference in DWV levels. Overall, our findings show that RNAi is not always successful, and multiple factors including pathogen diversity and transmission route may impact its efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/11/2259deformed wing virusRNA interferencedouble-stranded RNAvarroa destructorbiopesticideRNA-seq |
| spellingShingle | Zoe E. Smeele James W. Baty Philip J. Lester Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> Viruses deformed wing virus RNA interference double-stranded RNA varroa destructor biopesticide RNA-seq |
| title | Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title_full | Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title_short | Effects of Deformed Wing Virus-Targeting dsRNA on Viral Loads in Bees Parasitised and Non-Parasitised by <i>Varroa destructor</i> |
| title_sort | effects of deformed wing virus targeting dsrna on viral loads in bees parasitised and non parasitised by i varroa destructor i |
| topic | deformed wing virus RNA interference double-stranded RNA varroa destructor biopesticide RNA-seq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/15/11/2259 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoeesmeele effectsofdeformedwingvirustargetingdsrnaonviralloadsinbeesparasitisedandnonparasitisedbyivarroadestructori AT jameswbaty effectsofdeformedwingvirustargetingdsrnaonviralloadsinbeesparasitisedandnonparasitisedbyivarroadestructori AT philipjlester effectsofdeformedwingvirustargetingdsrnaonviralloadsinbeesparasitisedandnonparasitisedbyivarroadestructori |