https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44254-8

Open access

Abstract

Host-parasite co-evolution history is lacking when parasites switch to novel
hosts. This was the case for Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) when the
ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, switched hosts from Eastern honey
bees (Apis cerana). This mite has since become the most severe biological
threat to A. mellifera worldwide. However, some A. mellifera populations are
known to survive infestations, largely by suppressing mite population
growth. One known mechanism is suppressed mite reproduction (SMR), but the
underlying genetics are poorly understood. Here, we take advantage of
haploid drones, originating from one queen from the Netherlands that
developed Varroa-resistance, whole exome sequencing and elastic-net
regression to identify genetic variants associated with SMR in resistant
honeybees. An eight variants model predicted 88% of the phenotypes correctly
and identified six risk and two protective variants. Reproducing and
non-reproducing mites could not be distinguished using DNA microsatellites,
which is in agreement with the hypothesis that it is not the parasite but
the host that adapted itself. Our results suggest that the brood
pheromone-dependent mite oogenesis is disrupted in resistant hosts. The
identified genetic markers have a considerable potential to contribute to a
sustainable global apiculture.

Kind regards,

Ghislain De Roeck,
Belgium.

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