>* RNA breakdown is an indicator of apoptosis or programmed cell death. This
could be triggered by viral load, causing suicidal like symptoms in honey
bee colonies.

Viruses can trigger apoptosis of infected cells via a range of mechanisms...
Interestingly, viruses can remain intact from apoptosis particularly in the
latter stages of infection. They can be exported in the *apoptotic
bodies*that pinch off from the surface of the dying cell and the fact
that they are
engulfed by phagocytes prevents the initiation of a host response. This
favours the spread of the virus.
(From Wikipedia)

Randy Oliver

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