title: Large-scale field application of RNAi technology reducing Israeli acute paralysis virus disease in honey bees (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera: Apidae).
abstract: The importance of honey bees to the world economy far surpasses their contribution in terms of honey production; they are responsible for up to 30% of the world's food production through pollination of crops. Since fall 2006, honey bees in the U.S. have faced a serious population decline, due in part to a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which is a disease syndrome that is likely caused by several factors. Data from an initial study in which investigators compared pathogens in honey bees affected by CCD suggested a putative role for Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, IAPV. This is a single stranded RNA virus with no DNA stage placed taxonomically within the family Dicistroviridae. Although subsequent studies have failed to find IAPV in all CCD diagnosed colonies, IAPV has been shown to cause honey bee mortality. RNA interference technology (RNAi) has been used successfully to silence endogenous insect (including honey bee) genes both by injection and feeding. Moreover, RNAi was shown to prevent bees from succumbing to infection from IAPV under laboratory conditions. In the current study IAPV specific homologous dsRNA was used in the field, under natural beekeeping conditions in order to prevent mortality and improve the overall health of bees infected with IAPV. This controlled study included a total of 160 honey bee hives in two discrete climates, seasons and geographical locations (Florida and Pennsylvania). To our knowledge, this is the first successful large-scale real world use of RNAi for disease control.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Horticultural Research Lab, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanengelsdorp
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westervelt
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glick
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maori
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pettis
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cox-Foster
authors.forename: Nitzan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056630:Beekeeping / Q000379:methods; D001516:Bees / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D002980:Climate; D056631:Colony Collapse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D056629:Dicistroviridae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005431:Florida; D010414:Pennsylvania; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering