A Metagenomic Survey of Microbes in Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
National Institutes of Health · Pennsylvania State University · +7 more institutions
Abstract
In colony collapse disorder (CCD), honey bee colonies inexplicably lose their workers. CCD has resulted in a loss of 50 to 90% of colonies in beekeeping operations across the United States. The observation that irradiated combs from affected colonies can be repopulated with naive bees suggests that infection may contribute to CCD. We used an unbiased metagenomic approach to survey microflora in CCD hives, normal hives, and imported royal jelly. Candidate pathogens were screened for significance of association with CCD by the examination of samples collected from several sites over a period of 3 years. One organism, Israeli acute paralysis virus of bees, was strongly correlated with CCD.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 132.86
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 18
Authors
22- DCDiana Cox-Foster
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, Fogarty International Center
- SCSean Conlan
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, Fogarty International Center
- ECEdward C. Holmes
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, Fogarty International Center
- GPGustavo Palacios
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, Fogarty International Center
- JDJay D. Evans
National Institutes of Health, Pennsylvania State University, United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, Fogarty International Center
Topics & keywords
- Biology
- Honey bee
- Metagenomics
- Beekeeping
- Honey Bees
- Zoology
- Microbiology
- Ecology