> RNA interference (RNAi) might be exploited to regulate Nosema gene expression within bee hosts. RNAi can silence transcripts encoding proteins. This inhibition also affects Nosema levels and host physiology.

> This study and a recent demonstration of RNAi-mediated knockdown of an RNA virus of bees demonstrate that oral feeding of specific dsRNA can reduce target RNA and parasite loads in honeybees. Since infection with N. ceranae, arguably in concert with other parasites or stresses, has been shown to bring colonies to the state of collapse, a simultaneous gene-silencing approach of N. ceranae and other pathogens may have potential to address global colony declines. We further note the implications of this study to provide impetus for using RNAi to control microsporidian infections in other hosts, including humans. We present strong evidence that host-ingested dsRNA can inhibit growth and development of an intracellular parasite.

Effective Gene Silencing in a Microsporidian Parasite Associated with Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Colony Declines
. Nitzan Paldi, et al. Beeologics Inc. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Sept. 2010
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