Science updates: Nursing Honey bee Behavior & Deformed Wing Virus Variant A

 

Science updates:

Nursing Honey bee Behavior & Deformed Wing Virus Variant A

 

 

The team performed olfactory sensitivity analyses and behavioral assays using a larvae-emitted alarm pheromone component to stimulate infected nurse bees. They found that high levels of DWV-A replication in the bees' heads and antennae altered their behavioral response, reducing attraction to the pheromone component and decreasing the gene expression of OBPs and brain genes. This suggests that DWV-A infection could compromise internal hive cohesion and the behaviors of nurse bees.

 

The study used a Y-tube olfactometer to analyze the bees' response to the pheromone compound benzyl alcohol and Mentha piperita essential oil. The results indicated that non-inoculated bees were generally more attracted to the pheromone compound than DWV-A-inoculated bees, particularly in 10- to 15-day-old bees. The gene expressions of OBP5, OBP11, neuroxin-1, and neurogilin-1 were significantly lower in highly infected bees, suggesting a potential disturbance in information processing.

 

The research highlights the importance of understanding the effects of DWV-A infections at both individual and social levels within the colony. It contributes to the broader knowledge of the factors contributing to honeybee colony losses and the potential implications for pollination services worldwide. The findings underscore the need for further studies to explore the impact of DWV-A on foraging honeybees and their ability to recognize aromas in the field.

 

Reference:

Diego, S., Nolberto, A., Pablo, A. J., Ricardo, C., Nelson, Z., & Marisol, V. (2024). Nursing Honeybee Behavior and Sensorial-Related Genes Are Altered by Deformed Wing Virus Variant A. Insects, 15(2), 80..

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