<i>Apis mellifera</i> Solinvivirus-1, a Novel Honey Bee Virus That Remained Undetected for over a Decade, Is Widespread in the USA

Eugene V. Ryabov; Anthony J. Nearman; Ashrafun Nessa; Kyle Grubbs; Benjamin Sallmann; Rachel Fahey; Mikayla E. Wilson; Karen D. Rennich; Nathalie Steinhauer; Anne Marie Fauvel; Yanping Chen; Jay D. Evans; Dennis vanEngelsdorp

doi:10.3390/v15071597

Viruses (Jul 2023)

<i>Apis mellifera</i> Solinvivirus-1, a Novel Honey Bee Virus That Remained Undetected for over a Decade, Is Widespread in the USA

Eugene V. Ryabov,
Anthony J. Nearman,
Ashrafun Nessa,
Kyle Grubbs,
Benjamin Sallmann,
Rachel Fahey,
Mikayla E. Wilson,
Karen D. Rennich,
Nathalie Steinhauer,
Anne Marie Fauvel,
Yanping Chen,
Jay D. Evans,
Dennis vanEngelsdorp

Affiliations

Eugene V. Ryabov: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Anthony J. Nearman: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Ashrafun Nessa: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Kyle Grubbs: Bee Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Benjamin Sallmann: Bee Informed Partnership, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Rachel Fahey: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Mikayla E. Wilson: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Karen D. Rennich: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Nathalie Steinhauer: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Anne Marie Fauvel: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Yanping Chen: Bee Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Jay D. Evans: Bee Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Dennis vanEngelsdorp: Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071597
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 7
p. 1597

Abstract

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A metagenomic analysis of the virome of honey bees (Apis mellifera) from an apiary with high rates of unexplained colony losses identified a novel RNA virus. The virus, which was named Apis mellifera solinvivirus 1 (AmSV1), contains a 10.6 kb positive-strand genomic RNA with a single ORF coding for a polyprotein with the protease, helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domains, as well as a single jelly-roll structural protein domain, showing highest similarity with viruses in the family Solinviviridae. The injection of honey bee pupae with AmSV1 preparation showed an increase in virus titer and the accumulation of the negative-strand of AmSV1 RNA 3 days after injection, indicating the replication of AmSV1. In the infected worker bees, AmSV1 was present in heads, thoraxes, and abdomens, indicating that this virus causes systemic infection. An analysis of the geographic and historic distribution of AmSV1, using over 900 apiary samples collected across the United States, showed AmSV1 presence since at least 2010. In the year 2021, AmSV1 was detected in 10.45% of apiaries (95%CI: 8.41–12.79%), mostly sampled in June and July in Northwestern and Northeastern United States. The diagnostic methods and information on the AmSV1 distribution will be used to investigate the connection of AmSV1 to honey bee colony losses.

Published in Viruses

ISSN: 1999-4915 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses

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