The origins, global spread and evolution of novel honey bee parasites

该项目旨在研究紧急疾病是如何产生、传播和进化的，研究瓦螨--一种寄生于蜜蜂的寄生虫，这种寄生虫将不可避免地抵达澳大利亚，预计将破坏农业和环境。由于螨类具有良好的原生范围、独立的主机开关和有据可查的传播历史，它们是很好的模型。螨类在入侵后进化，但在中性标记上没有明显的遗传分化。该项目的目的是确定与寄主切换相关的遗传机制；重建Varroa全球传播的模式和人口学；并确定寄主切换后选择如何对螨类起作用。

This project aims to study how emergent diseases arise, spread and evolve, studying varroa mites – a parasite of honey bees that will inevitably arrive in Australia and is expected to damage agriculture and the environment. As the mites have a well-characterised native range, independent host switches and a well-documented history of spread, they make good models. Mites have evolved after invasion, although without significant genetic differentiation at neutral markers. This project aims to identify genetic mechanisms associated with the host switches; reconstruct the pattern and demography of varroa’s global spread; and determine how selection acted on the mites after the host switch.