PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
The grooming behavior of honeybees serves as a crucial auto-protective mechanism against Varroa mite infestations. Compared to Apis mellifera, Apis cerana demonstrates more effective grooming behavior in removing Varroa mites from the bodies of infested bees. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating grooming behavior remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the auto-grooming behavior between A. cerana and A. mellifera and employed RNA-sequencing technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in bee brains with varying degrees of grooming behavior intensity. We observed that A. cerana exhibited a higher frequency of mite removal between day 5 and day 15 compared to A. mellifera, with day-9 bees showing the highest frequency of mite removal in A. cerana. RNA-sequencing results revealed the differential expression of the HTR2A and SLC17A8 genes in A. cerana and the CCKAR and TpnC47D genes in A. mellifera. Subsequent homology analysis identified the HTR2A gene and SLC17A8 gene of A. cerana as homologous to the HTR2A gene and SLC17A7 gene of A. mellifera. These DEGs are annotated in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, the glutamatergic synaptic pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway. Moreover, CCKAR, TpnC47D, HTR2A, and SLC17A7 may be closely related to the auto-grooming behavior of A. mellifera, conferring resistance against Varroa infestation. Our results further explain the relationship between honeybee grooming behavior and brain function at the molecular level and provide a reference basis for further studies of the mechanism of honeybee grooming behavior.
摘要：
蜜蜂的修饰行为是对抗瓦螨感染的重要自动保护机制。与蜜蜂相比，Apiscerana在从受感染的蜜蜂体内去除瓦螨方面表现出更有效的修饰行为。然而,调节修饰行为的潜在机制仍然难以捉摸。在这项研究中,我们评估了A.cerana和A.mellifera之间自动修饰行为的功效,并采用RNA测序技术来鉴定具有不同程度修饰行为强度的蜜蜂大脑中的差异表达基因(DEGs).我们观察到，与A.mellifera相比，A.cerana在第5天和第15天之间表现出更高的螨去除频率，第9天的蜜蜂显示出最高的螨去除频率。RNA测序结果揭示了HTR2A和SLC17A8基因在A中的差异表达。随后的同源性分析鉴定了A.cerana的HTR2A基因和SLC17A8基因与A.mellifera的HTR2A基因和SLC17A7基因同源。这些DEGs在神经活性配体-受体相互作用途径中被注释，谷氨酸能突触通路，和钙信号通路。此外，CCKAR,TpnC47D,HTR2A,和SLC17A7可能与A.mellifera的自动修饰行为密切相关，赋予对瓦螨侵染的抗性。我们的研究结果在分子水平上进一步解释了蜜蜂修饰行为与脑功能的关系，为进一步研究蜜蜂修饰行为的机制提供参考依据。
