Projects per year
Abstract
Environmental and agricultural pollination services by honey bees, Apis mellifera,
and honey production are compromised by high levels of annual colony
losses globally. The majority are associated with disease caused by
deformed wing virus (DWV), a positive-strand RNA virus, exacerbated by
the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor.
To improve honey bee health, a better understanding of virus
transmission and pathogenesis is needed which requires the development
of tools to study virus replication, transmission, and localisation. We
report the use of reverse genetic (RG) systems for the predominant
genetically distinct variants of DWV to address these questions. All
RG-recovered viruses replicate within 24 h post-inoculation of pupae and
could recapitulate the characteristic symptoms of DWV disease upon
eclosion. Larvae were significantly less susceptible but could be
infected orally and subsequently developed disease. Using genetically
tagged RG DWV and an in vitro Varroa
feeding system, we demonstrate virus replication in the mite by
accumulation of tagged negative-strand viral replication intermediates.
We additionally apply a modified DWV genome expressing a fluorescent
reporter protein for direct in vivo
observation of virus distribution in injected pupae or fed larvae. Using
this, we demonstrate extensive sites of virus replication in a range of
pupal tissues and organs and in the nascent wing buds in larvae fed
high levels of virus, indicative of a direct association between virus
replication and pathogenesis. These studies provide insights into virus
replication kinetics, tropism, transmission, and pathogenesis, and
produce new tools to help develop the understanding needed to control
DWV-mediated colony losses.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 532 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Viruses |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 May 2020 |
Keywords
- Insect viruses
- Honey bee
- Pollination
- Virus vector
- Varroa
- RNA viruses
- DWV
- Reverse genetics
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- 1 Finished
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Deformed Wing Virus: The biology and pathogenesis of Deformed Wing Virus, the major virus pathogen of honeybees.
Evans, D. J. (PI)
1/08/16 → 30/11/18
Project: Standard