Premium
Social immunity in honeybees ( Apis mellifera ): transcriptome analysis of varroa‐hygienic behaviour
Author(s) -
Le Conte Y.,
Alaux C.,
Martin JF.,
Harbo J. R.,
Harris J. W.,
Dantec C.,
Séverac D.,
CrosArteil S.,
Navajas M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2011.01074.x
Subject(s) - biology , varroa , transcriptome , varroa destructor , immunity , honey bees , honey bee , zoology , ecology , immunology , immune system , gene , gene expression , genetics
Honeybees have evolved a social immunity consisting of the cooperation of individuals to decrease disease in the hive. We identified a set of genes involved in this social immunity by analysing the brain transcriptome of highly varroa‐hygienic bees, who efficiently detect and remove brood infected with the Varroa destructor mite. The function of these candidate genes does not seem to support a higher olfactory sensitivity in hygienic bees, as previously hypothesized. However, comparing their genomic profile with those from other behaviours suggests a link with brood care and the highly varroa‐hygienic Africanized honeybees. These results represent a first step toward the identification of genes involved in social immunity and thus provide first insights into the evolution of social immunity.