Origins, spread and evolution of novel honey bee parasites and diseases

2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H02216
• Research Institution: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
• Principal Investigator: ミケェエヴ アレクサンダー 沖縄科学技術大学院大学, 生態・進化学ユニット, 准教授 (90601162)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: Proteomics / Honey bees / Varroa / Transcriptomics

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Varroa mites have become the main drivers of honey bee collapse, including in Japan. They switched from their native host (easter honey bee) to the wester honey bee, and spread worldwide. This grant aimed to examine the genetic, viral and microbial changes associated with this switch. In terms of genetics, we found that dozens of individuals participated in several host switches. Our findings contradicted a long-standing assumption that varroa mites are ‘quasi-clonal’ and have limited genetic diversity. On the contrary, they appear to be genetically diverse, which explains their remarkable adaptability. This work is now in submission. We have sequenced microbiomes and viruses from both native and introduced populations and are carrying out analyses, which will be finished in the coming months.

Research Progress Status

令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。

Strategy for Future Research Activity

令和2年度が最終年度であるため、記入しない。