First detection of bee viruses in hoverfly (syrphid) pollinators

Biology Letters
Emily J BailesOwen T Lewis

Abstract

Global declines of insect pollinators jeopardize the delivery of pollination services in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. The importance of infectious diseases has been documented in honeybees, but there is little information on the extent to which these diseases are shared with other pollinator orders. Here, we establish for the first time the presence of three important bee viruses in hoverfly pollinators (Diptera: Syrphidae): black queen cell virus (BQCV), sacbrood virus (SBV) and deformed wing virus strain B (DWV-B). These viruses were detected in two Eristalis species, which are behavioural and morphological bee mimics and share a foraging niche with honeybees. Nucleotide sequences of viruses isolated from the Eristalis species and Apis mellifera were up to 99 and 100% identical for the two viruses, suggesting that these pathogens are being shared freely between bees and hoverflies. Interestingly, while replicative intermediates (negative strand virus) were not detected in the hoverflies, viral titres of SBV were similar to those found in A. mellifera These results suggest that syrphid pollinators may play an important but previously unexplored role in pollinator disease dynamics.

References

Jun 15, 2000·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Y C Golding, M Edmunds
Nov 13, 2004·The American Naturalist·Andrew Dobson
Feb 22, 2012·PloS One·Sophie E F EvisonWilliam O H Hughes
May 9, 2015·The Journal of Applied Ecology·Robyn ManleyLena Wilfert
Aug 8, 2015·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Peter GraystockWilliam O H Hughes
Dec 2, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Romina RaderMichal Woyciechowski
Jun 29, 2016·Current Opinion in Virology·Anja TehelRobert J Paxton
Jul 1, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dino P McMahonRobert J Paxton
Nov 29, 2016·Nature·Simon G PottsAdam J Vanbergen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 9, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Emily J BailesMark J F Brown
Jun 27, 2019·Ecology and Evolution·Bertrand Fouks, Kaira M Wagoner
Aug 23, 2020·Viruses·Severine MatthijsNick De Regge
Feb 23, 2020·Scientific Reports·Alexandria N PayneJuliana Rangel
Jun 18, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Orlando YañezNor Chejanovsky
Apr 13, 2021·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Amanda M NortonMadeleine Beekman
Aug 29, 2021·Pathogens·Antonio NanettiGiovanni Cilia

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
restriction
PCR

Software Mentioned

coin

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.