Quantitative patterns of vertical transmission of deformed wing virus in honey bees

Emerging infectious diseases are often the products of host shifts, where a pathogen jumps from its original host to a novel species. Viruses in particular cross species barriers frequently. Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and deformed wing virus (DWV) are viruses described in honey bees (Apis mellifera) with broad host ranges. Ants scavenging on dead honey bees may get infected with these viruses via foodborne transmission. However, the role of black garden ants, Lasius niger and Lasius platythorax, as alternative hosts of ABPV and DWV is not known and potential impacts of these viruses have not been addressed yet. In a laboratory feeding experiment, we show that L. niger can carry DWV and ABPV. However, negative-sense strand RNA, a token of virus replication, was only detected for ABPV. Therefore, additional L. niger colonies were tested for clinical symptoms of ABPV infections. Symptoms were detected at colony (fewer emerging workers) and individual level (impaired locomotion and movement speed). In a field survey, all L. platythorax samples carried ABPV, DWV-A and –B, as well as the negative-sense strand RNA of ABPV. These results show that L. niger and L. platythorax are alternative hosts of ABPV, possibly acting as a biological vector of ABPV and as a mechanical one for DWV. This is the first study showing the impact of honey bee viruses on ants. The common virus infections of ants in the field support possible negative consequences for ecosystem functioning due to host shifts.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Foodborne Transmission and Clinical Symptoms of Honey Bee Viruses in Ants Lasius spp.

Schläppi

Chejanovsky

Yañez

et al. 2020

“…Honey bee viruses can typically be transmitted through multiple means: vertically through eggs and stored sperm, horizontally via trophallaxis, glandular secretions, direct body contact, and vectors, or venereally through mating [45,47]. Accordingly, honey bee queens can be infected with viruses at the beginning of development from infected sperm or infected ovaries [52][53][54][55]. Simultaneous surveys of queens and their eggs indicate that many viruses detected from queens, such as Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Sacbrood Virus (SBV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), and Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV) are also present in their eggs [56,57].…”

Section: Viral Transmission Modes To Honey Bee Queensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Simultaneous surveys of queens and their eggs indicate that many viruses detected from queens, such as Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Sacbrood Virus (SBV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), and Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV) are also present in their eggs [56,57]. Other viruses, including Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), and Lake Sinai Virus (LSV) have also been detected in honey bee eggs [54,55,58,59], which suggests that these viruses can also be vertically transmitted. In most cases, the prevalence of viruses in eggs can vary widely across colonies and populations.…”

Section: Viral Transmission Modes To Honey Bee Queensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honey Bee Queens and Virus Infections

Amiri

Strand

Rueppell

2020

Self Cite

The honey bee queen is the central hub of a colony to produce eggs and release pheromones to maintain social cohesion. Among many environmental stresses, viruses are a major concern to compromise the queen’s health and reproductive vigor. Viruses have evolved numerous strategies to infect queens either via vertical transmission from the queens’ parents or horizontally through the worker and drones with which she is in contact during development, while mating, and in the reproductive period in the colony. Over 30 viruses have been discovered from honey bees but only few studies exist on the pathogenicity and direct impact of viruses on the queen’s phenotype. An apparent lack of virus symptoms and practical problems are partly to blame for the lack of studies, and we hope to stimulate new research and methodological approaches. To illustrate the problems, we describe a study on sublethal effects of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) that led to inconclusive results. We conclude by discussing the most crucial methodological considerations and novel approaches for studying the interactions between honey bee viruses and their interactions with queen health.

“…Unfortunately, the AmE-711 cell line was persistently infected with DWV, as confirmed by sequence analysis and observation of DWV virions by TEM [75]. While the AmE-711 cell line could have been contaminated during-or subsequent to-establishment, the prevalence of DWV in honey bees and vertical transmission of this virus [76] suggest that DWV was present in the embryos that were used as a starting material. Similarly, previously established primary cell lines as well as the genetically engineered continuous cell line MYN9 were also infected with DWV [47,57].…”

Section: Cell Lines For Honey Bee Virus Studiesmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Similarly, previously established primary cell lines as well as the genetically engineered continuous cell line MYN9 were also infected with DWV [47,57]. As vertical transmission of DWV results from virus adherence to the surface of the egg (i.e., transovum transmission) [76], it should be possible to remove the virus from the egg surface using a variety of published procedures [77]. In addition to providing a source of DWV virions, cell lines infected with DWV could be used to assess factors resulting in the switch from a covert to overt DWV infection.…”

Section: Cell Lines For Honey Bee Virus Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cell Lines for Honey Bee Virus Research

Guo

Goodman

Stanley

et al. 2020

With ongoing colony losses driven in part by the Varroa mite and the associated exacerbation of the virus load, there is an urgent need to protect honey bees (Apis mellifera) from fatal levels of virus infection and from the non-target effects of insecticides used in agricultural settings. A continuously replicating cell line derived from the honey bee would provide a valuable tool for the study of molecular mechanisms of virus-host interaction, for the screening of antiviral agents for potential use within the hive, and for the assessment of the risk of current and candidate insecticides to the honey bee. However, the establishment of a continuously replicating honey bee cell line has proved challenging. Here, we provide an overview of attempts to establish primary and continuously replicating hymenopteran cell lines, methods (including recent results) of establishing honey bee cell lines, challenges associated with the presence of latent viruses (especially Deformed wing virus) in established cell lines and methods to establish virus-free cell lines. We also describe the potential use of honey bee cell lines in conjunction with infectious clones of honey bee viruses for examination of fundamental virology.