Honey Bee Suppresses the Parasitic Mite Vitellogenin by Antimicrobial Peptide

Processing of the 3C/D Region of the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)

The deformed wing virus (DWV) belongs to the genus Iflavirus and the family Iflaviridae within the order Picornavirales. It is an important pathogen of the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, causing major losses among honey bee colonies in association with the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor. Although DWV is one of the best-studied insect viruses, the mechanisms of viral replication and polyprotein processing have been poorly studied in the past. We investigated the processing of the protease-polymerase region at the C-terminus of the polyprotein in more detail using recombinant expression, novel serological reagents, and virus clone mutagenesis. Edman degradation of purified maturated polypeptides uncovered the C- and N-termini of the mature 3C-like (3CL) protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (3DL, RdRp), respectively. Autocatalytic processing of the recombinant DWV 3CL protease occurred at P1 Q2118 and P1' G2119 (KPQ/GST) as well as P1 Q2393 and P1' S2394 (HAQ/SPS) cleavage sites. New monoclonal antibodies (Mab) detected the mature 3CL protease with an apparent molecular mass of 32 kDa, mature 3DL with an apparent molecular mass of 55 kDa as well as a dominant 3CDL precursor of 90 kDa in DWV infected honey bee pupae. The observed pattern corresponds well to data obtained via recombinant expression and N-terminal sequencing. Finally, we were able to show that 3CL protease activity and availability of the specific protease cleavage sites are essential for viral replication, protein synthesis, and establishment of infection using our molecular clone of DWV-A.

DWV 3C Protease Uncovers the Diverse Catalytic Triad in Insect RNA Viruses

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is the most prevalent Iflavirus that is infecting honey bees worldwide. However, the mechanisms of its infection and replication in host cells are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the structure and function of DWV 3C protease (3Cpro), which is necessary for the cleavage of the polyprotein to synthesize mature viral proteins. Thus, it is one of the nonstructural viral proteins essential for the replication. We found that the 3Cpros of DWV and picornaviruses share common enzymatic properties, including sensitivity to the same inhibitors, such as rupintrivir. The predicted structure of DWV 3Cpro by AlphaFold2, the predicted rupintrivir binding domain, and the protease activities of mutant proteins revealed that it has a Cys-His-Asn catalytic triad. Moreover, 3Cpros of other Iflaviruses and Dicistrovirus appear to contain Asn, Ser, Asp, or Glu as the third residue of the catalytic triad, suggesting diversity in insect RNA viruses. Both precursor 3Cpro with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and mature 3Cpro are present in DWV-infected cells, suggesting that they may have different enzymatic properties and functions. DWV 3Cpro is the first 3Cpro characterized among insect RNA viruses, and our study uncovered both the common and unique characteristics among 3Cpros of Picornavirales. Furthermore, it would be possible to use the specific inhibitors of DWV 3Cpro to control DWV infection in honey bees in future. IMPORTANCE The number of managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies has considerably declined in many developed countries in the recent years. Deformed wing virus (DWV) vectored by the mites is the major threat to honey bee colonies and health. To give insight into the mechanism of DWV replication in the host cells, we studied the structure-function relationship of 3C protease (3Cpro), which is necessary to cleave a viral polyprotein at the specific sites to produce the mature proteins. We found that the overall structure, some inhibitors, and processing of 3Cpro are shared between Picornavirales; however, there is diversity in the catalytic triad. DWV 3Cpro is the first viral protease characterized among insect RNA viruses and reveals the evolutionary history of 3Cpro among Picornavirales. Furthermore, DWV 3Cpro inhibitors identified in our study could also be applied to control DWV in honey bees in future.

A derived honey bee stock confers resistance to Varroa destructor and associated viral transmission

The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is the greatest threat to managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies globally. Despite significant efforts, novel treatments to control the mite and its vectored pathogens have shown limited efficacy, as the host remains naïve. A prospective solution lies in the development of Varroa-resistant honey bee stocks, but a paucity of rigorous selection data restricts widespread adoption. Here, we characterise the parasite and viral dynamics of a Varroa-resistant honey bee stock, designated ‘Pol-line’, using a large-scale longitudinal study. Results demonstrate markedly reduced Varroa levels in this stock, diminished titres of three major viruses (DWV-A, DWV-B, and CBPV), and a two-fold increase in survival. Levels of a fourth virus that is not associated with Varroa—BQCV—do not differ between stocks, supporting a disruption of the transmission pathway. Further, we show that when decoupled from the influence of Varroa levels, viral titres do not constitute strong independent predictors of colony mortality risk. These findings highlight the need for a reassessment of Varroa etiology, and suggest that derived stocks represent a tractable solution to the Varroa pandemic.

Middle-Aged Worker Bees Express Higher Innate Immunity than Young Worker Bees in the Abdomen without the Digestive Tract of Worker Bees Reared in an Incubator

Simple Summary

Middle-aged worker bees express higher innate immunity than young worker bees in the whole body of worker bees reared in field hives, the whole body of worker bees reared in a 34 °C incubator, and the abdomen without the digestive tract of worker bees reared in a 34 °C incubator. Worker bees raised in an incubator avoid the infection of pathogens and parasites in field hives. The abdomen without the digestive tract is a simplified sample, preventing RNA from the head, thorax, and digestive tract. The abdomen without the digestive tract of worker bees reared in an incubator can be used in studying the relationship between immunity, aging and longevity.

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) can be reared in an incubator to study the mechanisms of aging and longevity; however, whether breeding in an incubator and using the abdomen without the digestive tract influences the expression of immune genes is unclear. In this study, we assayed the immune genes including abaecin, hymenoptaecin, defensin-2, glucose dehydrogenase, phenoloxidase, and lysozyme from the whole body of young and middle-aged worker bees reared in field hives, the whole body of young and middle-aged worker bees reared in a 34 °C incubator, and the abdomen without the digestive tract of young and middle-aged worker bees reared in a 34 °C incubator. The results showed that three groups of middle-aged worker bees have higher immunity than young worker bees. Furthermore, the similarity of immune genes expression in three groups indicated that the abdomen without the digestive tract of honey bees reared in an incubator can be used to study the relationship between immunity and aging and longevity to avoid the interference of pathogens and parasites from field hives.

Tropilaelaps mercedesae parasitism changes behavior and gene expression in honey bee workers

Tropilaelaps mercedesae is one of the most problematic honey bee parasites and has become more threatening to the beekeeping industry. Tropilaelaps can easily parasitize immature honey bees (larvae and pupae) and have both lethal and sublethal effects on the individual worker bees. Our study for the first time experimentally assessed the effects of T. mercedesae on olfactory learning, flight ability, homing ability as well as transcriptional changes in parasitized adult honey bees. T. mercedesae infestation had negative impacts on olfactory associated function, flight ability, and homing rate. The volume of the mushroom body significantly increased in infested honey bees, which may be correlated to the lower sucrose responsiveness as well as lower learning ability in the infested bees. The gene expression involved in immune systems and carbohydrate transport and metabolism were significantly different between infested bees and non-infested bees. Moreover, genes function in cell adhesion play an essential role in olfactory sensory in honey bees. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of European honey bees in response to T. mercedesae infestation, and could be used to further investigate the complex molecular mechanisms in honey bees under parasitic stress.

In recent decades, there has been serious concern about the decline of honey bees in the world. One of the most serious factors contributing to bee population declines is mite parasitism. Although Varroa destructor is the most widespread globally, Tropilaelaps mercedesae displays greater threat to bee colonies due to its smaller size, shorter phoretic phase, more rapid locomotion, as well as faster reproductive rate. Tropilaelaps mites, originally parasite of the giant Asian honey bees, now becoming an emerging threat of European honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Asian area. This work aimed to investigate the influence of T. mercedesae infestation on behavior and gene expression in A. mellifera. Our results highlight the T. mercedesae infestation induced negative effects of olfactory learning, flight ability, homing ability of honey bee workers. Moreover, we found that T. mercedesae infestation caused the up-regulation of genes involved in immune systems and carbohydrate mechanism which were correlated to the different olfactory learning performance in infested honeybee. In addition, genes function in cell adhesion play an essential role in olfactory sensory in honey bees. Our results increase the knowledge of proximate mechanisms in honey bee responding to parasitic stress.

DWV Infection in vitro Using Honey Bee Pupal Tissue

The deformed wing virus (DWV) has been best characterized among honey bee viruses; however, very little is known regarding the mechanisms of viral infection and replication due to the lack of immortalized honey bee cell lines. To solve this problem, we established an in vitro system using honey bee pupal tissue to reconstruct DWV binding and entry into the host cell, followed by translation of the RNA genome and polyprotein processing using RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) as a marker. Using this system, the P-domain of the virion subunit VP1 was found to be essential for DWV infection, but not for binding and entry into the cell. DWV efficiently infected the head tissue derived from early but not late pupa, suggesting that undifferentiated cells are targeted for viral infection. Furthermore, we found that inhibitors of mammalian picornavirus 3C-protease, rupintrivir and quercetin suppressed RdRP synthesis, indicating that this in vitro system is also useful for screening a compound to control viral infection. Our in vitro system may help to understand the mechanism of DWV infection in host cells.

The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees

Studies of the ecoimmunology of feral organisms can provide valuable insight into how host–pathogen dynamics change as organisms transition from human-managed conditions back into the wild. Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) offer an ideal system to investigate these questions as colonies of these social insects often escape management and establish in the wild. While managed honey bee colonies have low probability of survival in the absence of disease treatments, feral colonies commonly survive in the wild, where pathogen pressures are expected to be higher due to the absence of disease treatments. Here, we investigate the role of pathogen infections [Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Nosema ceranae] and immune gene expression (defensin-1, hymenoptaecin, pgrp-lc, pgrp-s2, argonaute-2, vago) in the survival of feral and managed honey bee colonies. We surveyed a total of 25 pairs of feral and managed colonies over a 2-year period (2017–2018), recorded overwintering survival, and measured pathogen levels and immune gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Our results showed that feral colonies had higher levels of DWV but it was variable over time compared to managed colonies. Higher pathogen levels were associated with increased immune gene expression, with feral colonies showing higher expression in five out of the six examined immune genes for at least one sampling period. Further analysis revealed that differential expression of the genes hymenoptaecin and vago increased the odds of overwintering survival in managed and feral colonies. Our results revealed that feral colonies express immune genes at higher levels in response to high pathogen burdens, providing evidence for the role of feralization in altering pathogen landscapes and host immune responses.

A salivary chitinase of Varroa destructor influences host immunity and mite's survival

Varroa destructor is an ectoparasite of honey bees and an active disease vector, which represents one of the most severe threats for the beekeeping industry. This parasitic mite feeds on the host’s body fluids through a wound in the cuticle, which allows food uptake by the mother mite and its progeny, offering a potential route of entrance for infecting microorganisms. Mite feeding is associated with saliva injection, whose role is still largely unknown. Here we try to fill this gap by identifying putative host regulation factors present in the saliva of V. destructor and performing a functional analysis for one of them, a chitinase (Vd-CHIsal) phylogenetically related to chitinases present in parasitic and predatory arthropods, which shows a specific and very high level of expression in the mite’s salivary glands. Vd-CHIsal is essential for effective mite feeding and survival, since it is apparently involved both in maintaining the feeding wound open and in preventing host infection by opportunistic pathogens. Our results show the important role in the modulation of mite-honey bee interactions exerted by a host regulation factor shared by different evolutionary lineages of parasitic arthropods. We predict that the functional characterization of Varroa sialome will provide new background knowledge on parasitism evolution in arthropods and the opportunity to develop new bioinspired strategies for mite control based on the disruption of their complex interactions with a living food source.

Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite of honey bees and a major driver of honey bee colony losses. The feeding mites inject a salivary blend of poorly known molecules, which regulate host physiology. Here, we have identified in silico putative host regulation factors occurring in Varroa saliva and characterized the functional role of a highly expressed chitinase, which is conserved across different evolutionary lineages of parasitic arthropods. This enzyme influences host immune response and mite’s survival. An in-depth functional analysis of Varroa saliva will shed light on parasitism evolution in arthropods and will pave the way towards the development of new bioinspired strategies for mite control.