Larval hemolymph proteome arsenals and metabolites provide prominent security to Asian and African honeybees against Varroa infestation compared to the European origin

ABSTRACT: The successful survival and adaptation of honeybees, since 7000 years ago, largely explains their evolutionarily developed strategy through a range of acquired and physiologically evolved mechanisms against challenges. To understand mite’s larval age and caste specific preference and metabolites produced by Apis cerana cerana (Acc), Apis mellifera linguistica (Aml), and Apis mellifera scutellata (Ams) in response to Varroa challenge, we employed a bioassay and metabolite analysis across the larval stages. Furthermore, to underpin the molecular mechanisms activated by these honeybees during the challenge, we characterized and compared larval hemolymph proteome signatures displayed before and after the challenge. Accordingly, Varroa mite displays a discriminative preference to Aml worker and drone larvae over Acc and Ams due to associated metabolites. We also have defined major chemical cues of Acc and Aml by which Varroa is eavesdropping and maneuvering its host finding process. Mite’s foreign material addition into larval hemolymph has also enforced the different honeybees evolve a distinct proteome program to prime stress responses. The unprecedented in-depth proteome was attained with the identification of 2584 and 2137 hemolymph protein groups in Varroa challenged and non-challenged worker and drone larvae respectively. The proteome changes support the general function of hemolymph in driving immune response functions against Varroa challenges to different honeybees. However, immune responsible proteome settings have adapted to prime the distinct molecular mechanisms in response to the challenge. In Varroa challenged worker and drone larval hemolymph, proteome demonstrates the distinct molecular functions of hemolymph in different honeybees at times of challenge. Moreover, between Varroa challenged and non-challenged worker and drone larval hemolymph samples of the same species, the honeybees have tailored a distinct hemolymph proteome programs to drive their molecular and physiological response to Varroa challenges. Unlike Aml, Varroa challenged Acc and Ams worker and drone larvae programmed their proteome signature to involve in functional classes dedicated to response to toxic substances, chemical stimuli, cellular detoxification and glutathione metabolism concurrent with the elevated energy metabolism. This implies that Varroa challenge manifests complex molecular mechanism trajectories in Acc and Ams honeybees over Aml. Finally, we believe that it is astute enough to retell the novelty and significance of this work to future honeybee breeding strategy development efforts against Varroa damage in a wider-array of evaluation to their molecular signatures.

ORGANISM(S): Acyrthosiphon Pisum Apis Mellifera

SUBMITTER: Jianke Li  

PROVIDER: PXD011585 | iProX | Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 GMT 2018

REPOSITORIES: iProX