Researchers at the University of Minnesota have taken a big step towards understanding these viral dynamics among bee species. A recently published study in the journal Communications Biology shares some very promising news. It demonstrates that viruses passed these same ways between Western honey bees and native bumblebees do not give rise to novel viral variants. This finding could offer a new glimmer of hope for bee pollinators. Yet they have faced a deeply concerning erosion in the last quarter century.
Additionally, the study followed viral interactions for three years. It focused on the Western honey bee, the predominant bee kept by beekeepers around the world. The researchers employed genomic sequencing to scrutinize the viral landscapes of honey bees and assess whether these viruses could infect and adapt to bumblebees.
Insights from Genomic Sequencing
In the long time span of this overall study, the scientist gathered and PCR-typed various honey bees and bumblebee specimens. Their findings indicated that many of the viruses associated with honeybees were present in bumblebees. These viruses were more than 98% genetically identical to those found in honey bees. This exceptional genetic stability means that these viruses underwent limited mutational accumulation. Thus, they were not able to niche down directly to bumblebee hosts.
The implications of these findings are substantial. By establishing a baseline understanding of viral interactions within bee populations, researchers can better assess future risks posed by new or reintroduced viruses. This baseline will be an important marker for tracking shifts in bee health and population trends.
The Bumblebee Virome
Even more interestingly, the study pointed out that bumblebees have a unique virome, separate from that of honey bees. The widespread presence of viruses originating from honey bees in bumblebee populations is cause for questioning viral interaction between species. Researchers found viruses originally infecting honeybees now established in bumblebees. Yet, surprisingly, these viruses failed to elicit any real response or maladaptive trait in the native species.
In fact, bumblebees are at a much higher risk than honeybees from their own viruses. This indicates that bumblebee-specific viruses may have a pronounced effect on their health and survival [6]. This understanding is really important because it helps us focus on the very specific viral threats bumblebee populations are experiencing.
Implications for Bee Conservation
This study provides important new information about how various bee species cope with their viral loads. It illuminates the complicated web that exists between them. That’s wonderful news for the land and conservation advocates! Realizing that virus transmission does not lead to the emergence of new variants aids in efforts to defend these important pollinators. As bee populations continue to decline around the world, this understanding arms researchers and conservationists with the ability to act preemptively against possible viral threats.
