Honey bee viromes from Varroa destructor-resistant and susceptible colonies

Abstract

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) play a crucial role in global food production through pollination services. However, their populations are threatened by various stressors, like the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and associated viral pathogens. In this study, we aimed to characterise and compare the viral communities (viromes) in V. destructor-resistant and susceptible colonies using high-throughput sequencing. Our findings revealed differences in virome composition associated with the season and not with the resistance or susceptibility to V. destructor. Furthermore, we detected Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) for the first time in Uruguay, and obtained the complete or partial genomes of both viruses, along with those of other previously described viruses, such as Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Deformed wing virus (DWV), and Sacbrood virus (SBV). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the virome dynamics in honey bees. It highlights the importance of this type of study for the early detection of new viral pathogens, which could help to understand the tripartite network involving V. destructor, honey bees, and viruses.