INRAE, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France.
Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Nat Chem Biol. 2021 May;17(5):524-530. doi: 10.1038/s41589-020-00720-3. Epub 2021 Jan 25.
Invasive species events related to globalization are increasing, resulting in parasitic outbreaks. Understanding of host defense mechanisms is needed to predict and mitigate against the consequences of parasite invasion. Using the honey bee Apis mellifera and the mite Varroa destructor, as a host-parasite model, we provide a comprehensive study of a mechanism of parasite detection that triggers a behavioral defense associated with social immunity. Six Varroa-parasitization-specific (VPS) compounds are identified that (1) trigger Varroa-sensitive hygiene (VSH, bees' key defense against Varroa sp.), (2) enable the selective recognition of a parasitized brood and (3) induce responses that mimic intrinsic VSH activity in bee colonies. We also show that individuals engaged in VSH exhibit a unique ability to discriminate VPS compounds from healthy brood signals. These findings enhance our understanding of a critical mechanism of host defense against parasites, and have the potential to apply the integration of pest management in the beekeeping sector.
与全球化相关的入侵物种事件正在增加，导致寄生虫爆发。为了预测和减轻寄生虫入侵的后果，我们需要了解宿主防御机制。本研究以蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）和壁虱（Varroa destructor）为宿主-寄生虫模型，对触发与社会免疫相关的行为防御的寄生虫检测机制进行了全面研究。鉴定出 6 种壁虱特有的（VPS）化合物，它们（1）触发对壁虱敏感的卫生行为（VSH，蜜蜂抵御壁虱的关键防御），（2）能够选择性识别被寄生的巢脾，（3）诱导的反应类似于蜂群中内在的 VSH 活性。我们还表明，参与 VSH 的个体表现出从健康巢脾信号中区分 VPS 化合物的独特能力。这些发现增强了我们对宿主防御寄生虫的关键机制的理解，并有可能将害虫管理整合到养蜂业中。
