Immune-Related Genes in the Honey Bee Mite ().

Despite its ecological and economic importance, many aspects of 's biology remain poorly understood, particularly its defense mechanisms against pathogens. The limited knowledge of 's immunity has hindered the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based strategies targeting immune-related genes. In this study, we investigated the immune gene repertoire of by querying its NCBI nr protein database and comparing it to model species of ticks () and mites ( and ). Transcription of candidate immune genes was confirmed by analyzing a de novo assembled transcriptome of . Our findings reveal that shares key immunological traits with ticks, including lysozymes, chitinases, and thioester-containing proteins (TEPs), but also shares the absence of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), Gram-negative binding proteins, and several lectin families involved in pathogen recognition. Additionally, mites, like ticks, lack homologs of crucial immune signaling components, such as the unpaired ligand (JAK/STAT), Eiger (JNK), and multiple elements of the IMD pathway. They also do not encode canonical antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) like defensins but possess putative homologs of ctenidins, AMPs previously identified in spiders and ticks, which may be adopted as a novel genetic readout for immune response in mites. Our findings lay the groundwork for future functional studies on mite immunity and open new avenues for RNAi-based biocontrol strategies targeting immune pathways to enhance management.