TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, U. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter A1 - Rolff, J. T1 - Exposure of the wild bee Osmia bicornis to the honey bee pathogen Nosema ceranae N2 - Wild bees are important pollinators for agricultural crops and solitary species such as Osmia bicornis are particularly suitable for pollination management. Wild bees share floral resources with managed honey bees and may be exposed to emerging infectious diseases. Although studies have explored the prevalence of pathogens in solitary wild bee species, data regarding the impact of pathogens on solitary bee health are lacking. We carried out experiments examining whether the solitary bee species O. bicornis is susceptible to infection with the emerging pathogen The results obtained indicate that N. ceranae may be able to infect O. bicornis but its impact on host fitness is negligible: survival rates did not differ between Control and inoculated bees, although male survival was marginally lower after infection. To explore the possible field-relevance of our findings, we collected wild bees near an infected and a non-infected hive and showed that N. ceranae was shared between managed and wild bees, although only the in presence of infected honey bees. The findings of the present study show that O. bicornis is susceptible to pathogen spillover and could act as a potential reservoir host for N. ceranae in pollinator networks. Additional studies on this species incorporating sublethal effects, multiple infections and other interacting stressors are warranted. KW - Wild bees KW - Nosema ceranae KW - Osmia bicornis KW - Pathogen spillover KW - Survival rates PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/afe.12338 SN - 1461-9555 SN - 1461-9563 VL - 21 IS - 4 SP - 363 EP - 371 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-49648 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bramke, K. A1 - Müller, U. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter A1 - Rolff, J. T1 - Exposure of Larvae of the Solitary Bee Osmia bicornis to the Honey Bee Pathogen Nosema ceranae Aects Life History N2 - Wild bees are important pollinators of wild plants and agricultural crops and they are threatened by several environmental stressors including emerging pathogens. Honey bees have been suggested as a potential source of pathogen spillover. One prevalent pathogen that has recently emerged as a honey bee disease is the microsporidian Nosema ceranae. While the impacts of N. ceranae in honey bees are well documented, virtually nothing is known about its effects in solitary wild bees. The solitary mason bee Osmia bicornis is a common pollinator in orchards and amenable to Commercial management. Here, we experimentally exposed larvae of O. bicornis to food contaminated with N. ceranae and document spore presence during larval development. We measured mortality, growth parameters, and timing of pupation in a semi-field experiment. Hatched individuals were assessed for physiological state including fat body mass, wing muscle mass, and body size. We recorded higher mortality in the viable-spore-exposed group but could only detect a low number of Spores among the individuals of this treatment. Viable-spore-treated individuals with higher head capsule width had a delayed pupation start. No impact on the physiological status could be detected in hatched imagines. Although we did not find overt evidence of O. bicornis infection, our findings indicate that exposure of larvae to viable N. ceranae spores could affect bee development. KW - Bee diseases KW - Wild bees KW - Nosema ceranae KW - Osmia bicornis KW - Pathogen transmission KW - Solitary bees KW - Bee health PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-496497 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10110380 VL - 10 IS - 11 SP - 380 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-49649 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Esparza Mora, Margy Alejandra. A1 - Davis, H. E. A1 - Meconcelli, S. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter A1 - Plarre, Rüdiger T1 - Inhibition of a Secreted Immune Molecule Interferes With Termite Social Immunity N2 - Social immune behaviors are described in a great variety of insect societies and their role in preventing emerging infectious diseases has become a major topic in insect research. The social immune system consists of multiple layers, ranging from the synthesis of external immune molecules to the coordination of individual behaviors into sophisticated collective defensive tasks. But our understanding of how complex group-level behavioral defenses are orchestrated has remained limited. We sought to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the relationship between the external activity of an important immune effector molecule in termites, Gram negative binding protein 2 (GNBP-2) and collective grooming and cannibalism. We reasoned that as an external enzyme capable of degrading entomopathogenic fungi, GNBP-2 can facilitate the spread of pathogenic molecules in the colony, and thus serve to trigger collective defenses in a manner analogous to pathogen-associated molecular signatures (PAMPs) of the individual immune system. To test whether GNBP-2 could play a role in regulating social immune behavior, we experimentally inhibited its fungicidal activity using the glycomimetic molecule, D-d-gluconolactone (GDL) and recorded collective behavioral responses to an infected nestmate. Contrary to expectations, GNBP-2 inhibition did not influence the rate or intensity of grooming of either control or fungus-infected nestmates. By contrast, we found that the probability of being harmed through defensive cannibalistic behaviors was significantly reduced by the inhibition of GNBP-2. Our findings indicate that the regulation of collective immune behaviors may depend in part on the external secretion of an enzyme originating from the individual immune system, but that other cues are also necessary. KW - Entomopathogen KW - Termite KW - Social immunity KW - Cannibalism KW - GNBP-2 KW - Hygienic behavior KW - GDL KW - Metarhizium PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-520037 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.00075 VL - 8 SP - Article 75 AN - OPUS4-52003 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter T1 - Evolution, recombination and virulence of emerging bee viruses N2 - Bee populations have declined significantly in recent years and this is thought to be attributable at least in part to the (re-)emergence of viruses. These viruses are predominantly positive single stranded (+ss) RNA viruses belonging to the Picornavirales. Managed honeybees are often infested with the invasive mite, Varroa destructor, which vectors RNA viruses including Deformed wing virus (DWV, family Iflaviridae): a leading culprit of colony losses. Many bee viruses have been sequenced and structural features are now available for viruses such as DWV. DWV consists of at least 3 distinct genotypes, two of which have been shown to be differentially virulent in honeybees. Molecular studies have demonstrated that DWV has a mean evolutionary rate of 1.35 x 10-3 per site per year. For such viruses – in contrast to their eukaryotic hosts – ecological and evolutionary timescales significantly overlap. This rapid evolution allows RNA viruses to adapt quickly to novel host environments with recombination representing an additional key source of genetic variation. Interestingly, recombination between genotypes of DWV has recently been shown to be a common occurrence in honeybees. A challenge has been to develop bioinformatics tools that can accurately reconstruct viral haplotypes – including recombinants – from heterogenous high-throughput sequence data. The impact of blood-to-blood Varroa destructor transmission on virus evolution represents an important question in bee virus research. Due to the nature of the V. destructor life cycle, predictions can be made about the potential impact of the mite on virus virulence evolution. Specifically, the developing honeybee host pupa should remain alive until close to the completion of metamorphosis to provide sufficient time for successful mite reproduction, including offspring mating. For optimal transmission, any virus found in a mature and mated daughter mite will hold a significant selective advantage over a virus found in an immature or unmated daughter mite – placing a cost on virus virulence that impacts honeybee pupae before mites can mate. On the other side, viruses replicating too slowly and with delayed virulence effects will hold a selective handicap because fewer transmission units will be found in mated mites. I have hypothesized that the evolution of virus virulence shifted following the arrival of V. destructor, with viruses, including recombinants and/or specific viral genotypes being selected for a level of virulence in pupae (and likely also in adults) that maximises R0, which represents the basic reproductive number of the virus in the host population. R0 is defined by the number of subsequent infections caused by a single infection and it must be greater than 1 for an infection to spread in a population. It is enhanced by maximising the number of transmission units passed to uninfected susceptible vectors, and ultimately hosts (Figure 1). Honeybee viruses are also shared with sympatric wild bees and viral prevalence and sequence data indicate frequent virus transmission between managed and wild bee species. In addition to infecting the western honeybee (Apis mellifera), DWV can infect other Asian honeybee species such as Apis ceranae. Outside of honeybees, DWV has been found widely in bumblebees, including solitary bees and wasps and there is evidence that it can actively replicate in several Bombus and solitary bee species. Whether the arrival of the V. destructor mite in A. mellifera has driven viral emergence in non-Apis bees is a target of ongoing research. T2 - 2nd European Virus Bioinformatics Centre (EVBC) conference CY - Utrecht, Netherlands DA - 09.05.2018 KW - Virus KW - Virulence KW - Bees PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-47155 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter T1 - Emerging Viruses in Bees: From Molecules toEmerging bee viruses: from molecules to host and vector ecology Ecology N2 - Technical advances in the study of molecular evolution have crystallized the fundamental insight that many bee pathogens evolve and adapt over timescales that overlap with host ecology. At the same time, the role played by bee host community ecology is increasingly being appreciated in host-parasite interactions. Here, we focus on Deformed wing virus (DWV) and present recent studies exploring the link between virulence, DWV genetic diversity and changes to host ecology - namely the arrival of an invasive ectoparasite, the Varroa destructor mite, which vectors viruses between honeybees. Specifically, we show how V. destructor may have created conditions for the emergence of more virulent strains of DWV in the western honeybee, Apis mellifera. We present a molecule-to-ecology framework to help interpret findings and to guide future hypotheses, emphasizing the role of molecular interactions between viruses and host immunity as drivers of change at the bee population level. T2 - International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI2018) CY - Guaruja, Brazil DA - 05.08.2018 KW - Disease KW - Virus KW - Emerging KW - Pathogen KW - Bee PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-47156 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter T1 - Exploring RNA viruses in edible insects: a case study using cockroaches, termites N2 - Our understanding of RNA viruses from edible insects is minimal at best, with studies largely focusing on model insect species and those associated with obvious signs of disease. This represents a considerable gap in understanding, given the growing role of insects as a source of food and feed, as well as the more general relevance of insects in agriculture and health. Illness due to entomophagy is rare but well documented, including fatal cases following the consumption of termites. Termites are eaten commonly in tropical Asia, Africa and South America, and are among the insects with the highest recorded fat content. There are many species of termites, with a wide range of diets and habitats centering around the consumption of wood and soil substrates. In this study, we report the results from a survey of more than 30 cockroach and termite transcriptomes, with the aim of understanding the diversity and evolution of RNA viruses as well as other potentially pathogenic organisms that are associated with this relevant but somewhat overlooked group of insects. We discuss our results in the context of the possible zoonotic risk posed by insects, as well as in the context of emerging viral and other disease threats that may face insects being reared at industrial scales. T2 - 4th International INSECTA 2018 Conference CY - Giessen, Germany DA - 05.09.2018 KW - Edible insects KW - Emerging KW - Virus KW - Pathogen KW - Termite KW - Cockroach PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-47157 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter T1 - The evolution of termite immunity N2 - The termites are a derived eusocial lineage of otherwise non-social cockroaches. Understanding the proximal and ultimate drivers of this major evolutionary transition represents an important goal in biology. One outstanding question concerns the evolution of termite immunity, which is thought to have undergone broad-sweeping adaptations in order to enhance group-level immune protection. To understand the evolutionary origins of termite immunity, we conducted qualitative and quantitative transcriptome analyses along a gradient of sociality. Firstly, we aimed to identify large-scale genetic shifts in immune traits linked to eusociality by comparing immune gene repertoires in solitary and subsocial cockroaches and across a range of eusocial termite lineages. Secondly, we compared the responses of a solitary cockroach, a subsocial wood-roach and different castes of a lower termite species to a non-specific immune challenge, in order to understand how sociality may have influenced the evolution of immune gene regulation. Firstly, we found that termites have a broadly representative repertoire of canonical immune genes as compared to gregarious cockroaches and subsocial wood-roaches. Secondly, with respect to immune challenge, the solitary cockroach and the subsocial wood-roach displayed a similarly comprehensive induced response, while the termite response was considerably dampened by comparison and strongly influenced by caste; with reproductives displaying a generally higher constitutive level of immune-gene expression compared to sterile castes. In summary we did not find termite eusociality to be associated with significant changes in immune gene diversity, but rather to be linked with significant modifications to the regulation of immunity following the origin of division of labour. T2 - BeGenDiv Annual Genomics Symposium 2018 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 02.10.2018 KW - Evolution KW - Immunity KW - Termite PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-471581 AN - OPUS4-47158 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ibrahim, B. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter A1 - Hufsky, F. A1 - Beer, M. A1 - Ding, L. A1 - Le Mercier, P. A1 - Palmarini, M. A1 - Thiel, V. A1 - Marz, M. T1 - A new era of virus bioinformatics N2 - Despite the recognized excellence of virology and bioinformatics, these two communities have interacted surprisingly sporadically, aside from some pioneering work on HIV-1 and influenza. Bringing together the Expertise of bioinformaticians and virologists is crucial, since very specific but fundamental computational approaches are required for virus research, particularly in an era of big data. Collaboration between virologists and bioinformaticians is necessary to improve existing analytical tools, cloud-based systems, computational resources, data sharing approaches, new diagnostic tools, and bioinformatic training. Here, we highlight current progress and discuss potential avenues for future developments in this promising era of virus bioinformatics. We end by presenting an overview of current technologies, and by outlining some of the Major challenges and Advantages that bioinformatics will bring to the field of virology. KW - Bioinformatics virology viruses software PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2018.05.009 SN - 0168-1702 SN - 1872-7492 VL - 251 SP - 86 EP - 90 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-45880 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ibrahim, B. A1 - Arkhipova, K. A1 - Andeweg, A.C. A1 - Posada-Céspedes, S. A1 - Enault, F. A1 - Gruber, A. A1 - Koonin, E.V. A1 - Kupczok, A. A1 - Lemey, P. A1 - McHardy, A.C. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter A1 - Pickett, B.E. A1 - Robertson, D.L. A1 - Scheuermann, R.H. A1 - Zhernakova, A. A1 - Zwart, M.P. A1 - Schönhuth, A. A1 - Dutilh, B.E. A1 - Marz, M. T1 - Bioinformatics meets virology: The European virus bioinformatics center's second annual meeting N2 - The Second Annual Meeting of the European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), held in Utrecht, Netherlands, focused on computational approaches in virology, with topics including (but not limited to) virus discovery, diagnostics, (meta-)genomics, modeling, epidemiology, molecular structure, evolution, and viral ecology. The goals of the Second Annual Meeting were threefold: (i) to bring together virologists and bioinformaticians from across the academic, industrial, professional, and training sectors to share best practice; (ii) to provide a meaningful and interactive scientific environment to promote discussion and collaboration between students, postdoctoral fellows, and both new and established investigators; (iii) to inspire and suggest new research directions and questions. Approximately 120 researchers from around the world attended the Second Annual Meeting of the EVBC this year, including 15 renowned international speakers. This report presents an overview of new developments and novel research findings that emerged during the meeting. KW - Bioinformatics KW - Software KW - Virology KW - Viruses PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-458814 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/v10050256 SN - 1999-4915 VL - 10 IS - 5 SP - 256, 1 EP - 19 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-45881 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Davis, Hannah A1 - Meconcelli, Stefania A1 - Radek, R. A1 - McMahon, Dino Peter T1 - Termites shape their collective behavioural response based on stage of infection N2 - Social insects employ a range of behaviours to protect their colonies against disease, but little is known about how such collective behaviours are orchestrated. This is especially true for the social Blattodea (termites). We developed an experimental approach that allowed us to explore how the social response to disease is co-ordinated by multistep host-pathogen interactions. We infected the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, and then, at different stages of infection, reintroduced them to healthy nestmates and recorded behavioural responses. As expected, termites groomed pathogen-exposed individuals significantly more than controls; however, grooming was significantly elevated after fungal germination than before, demonstrating the importance of fungal status to hygienic behaviour. Significantly, we found that cannibalism became prevalent only after exposed termites became visibly ill, highlighting the importance of host condition as a cue for social hygienic behaviour. Our study reveals the presence of a coordinated social response to disease that depends on stage of infection. Specifically, we show how the host may play a key role in triggering its own sacrifice. Sacrificial self-flagging has been observed in other social insects: our results demonstrate that termites have independently evolved to both recognize and destructively respond to sickness. KW - Social KW - Immunity KW - Cannibalism KW - Entomopathogen PY - 2018 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-463239 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32721-7 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 8 SP - 14433, 1 EP - 10 PB - Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-46323 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -