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The honeybee immune system as the key to overcome CCD. KU Leuven

Tom Wenseleers
Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology
Honeybees are of great economic importance due to their role in the pollination of many agricultural crops. Since 2006, however, honeybee populations are undergoing a great worldwide decline as a result of a disease dubbed colony collapse disorder (CCD). Various contributory factors have been identified, including parasitic Varroa mites, Israeli acute paralysis virus and Deformed wing virus (DWV). Possible treatment strategies are still limited, ...

Mechanisms by which honey bees in Africa (Ethiopia) cope with pathogens and pests Ghent University

Dirk de Graaf
Department of Biochemistry and microbiology

Pathogens and pests are highlighted as major constraining factors for declining trends of honeybee population worldwide. However, Africanized honeybees are are less affected by pathogens and pests attack. In order to develop sustainable control systems it is important to understand the mechanisms where honey bees in Africa rely on to control the drivers that cause bee mortality in other parts of the world.

Role of non-pathogenic viruses in efficacy of RNAi in the key pollinator bombus terrestris Ghent University

Guy Smagghe
Department of Crop protection

The main objective of this research hypothesis-driven proposal is to investigate whether latent or chronic non-lethal viral infections interfere with the efficacy of RNAi in insects. Up until now, the impact of such viruses on the RNAi response in insects has not been investigated. The project will make use of multiple biotechnology and insect physiology technologies to realize 5 specific objectives. In brief: deep sequencing technology will ...