Emergence and host switching in insect picorna-like viruses: wild and managed bee species as a model host community

蜜蜂是重要的家畜，因为它们的授粉服务。近年来，蜜蜂群体的损失不断增加，特别是在中欧和北方欧洲以及北美。这些损失的主要原因被认为是病毒性疾病，特别是变形翼病毒（DWV）组的阳性单链RNA病毒。自从瓦螨到达欧洲和北美蜜蜂，DWV的流行率上升，成为蜜蜂的一种新兴传染病（EID）。与此同时，最近的证据表明，野生蜜蜂，包括熊蜂和独居蜂，已经感染了DWV和相关病毒，可能从蜜蜂中蔓延出来;这些野生蜜蜂也是重要的授粉者。该项目采用现场采样、现场和半现场实验以及实验室测定相结合的方法，调查蜜蜂中DWV的出现是否伴随着病毒的遗传变化，病毒是否从蜜蜂溢出到野蜂，反之亦然，以及新的病毒变体是否具有更高的毒力或传播能力。通过研究分布在多个宿主中的多种病毒，该项目将探索病毒出现和物种转换的初期阶段背后的机制，以及病毒出现对宿主社区的后果。

Honey bees are important domestic animals because of their pollination services. Recent years have witnessed rising honey bee colony losses, particularly in Central and Northern Europe and North America. A major cause for these losses is thought to be viral diseases, particularly positive single stand RNA viruses of the deformed wing virus (DWV) group. Since the arrival of varroa mites to European and North American honey bees, DWV has risen in prevalence to become an emerging infectious disease (EID) of the honey bee. At the same time, recent evidence demonstrates that wild bees, including bumble bees and solitary bees, have become infected with DWV and related viruses, potentially spilling over from honey bees; these wild bees are also important pollinators. This project uses a combination of field sampling, field and semi-field experiments and laboratory assays to investigate whether the emergence of DWV in honey bees has been accompanied by genetic change in the virus, whether virus is spilling over from honey bees to wild bees, or vice versa, and whether novel viral variants possess elevated virulence or transmission. By examining multiple viruses distributed across multiple hosts, the project will explore mechanisms behind the incipient stages of viral emergence and species switching as well as the consequences of viral emergence for the host community.