Studies on the Life Cycle and Transmission of \u3ci\u3eCougourdella\u3c/i\u3e Sp., A Microsporidian Parasite of \u3ci\u3eGlossosoma Nigrior\u3c/i\u3e (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae)

The trichopteran Glossosoma nigrior, the dominant benthic invertebrate grazer in Michigan trout streams, hosts a microsporidian (Protozoa) pathogen, Cougourdella sp., which strongly regulates the population density of larvae in the stream. In order to better understand the interactions between these two species, two possible modes of pathogen transmission, oral and transovum, were investigated. While both sexes of adult G. nigrior were found to be infected with mature environmental spores, spores were not found associated with reproductive tissue. This suggests that transovum transmission does not occur in this system. Glossosoma nigrior, when ex- posed to viable spores taken from infected larvae, did not produce Cougourdella sp. infections, which suggests that oral transmission also does not occur. It is possible that an intermediate host is required

A New Microsporidium in Alfalfa Weevil Populations: Distribution and Characterization

A microsporidium species, not previously reported, was found infecting field populations of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica, in Illinois. The pathogen is widely distributed thoughout the state. Percent infection ranged from 1 % to 50% at different collection locations. Characteristics of the microsporidium and possible modes of transmission are presented

USBombus, a database of contemporary survey data for North American Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) distributed in the United States

Koch J, Lozier J, Strange J, et al. USBombus, a database of contemporary survey data for North American Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Bombus) distributed in the United States. BDJ. 2015;3(3): e6833

Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Implications for Honey Bee Health

Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) is a widespread RNA virus of honey bees that has been linked with colony losses. Here we describe the transmission, prevalence, and genetic traits of this virus, along with host transcriptional responses to infections. Further, we present RNAi-based strategies for limiting an important mechanism used by IAPV to subvert host defenses. Our study shows that IAPV is established as a persistent infection in honey bee populations, likely enabled by both horizontal and vertical transmission pathways. The phenotypic differences in pathology among different strains of IAPV found globally may be due to high levels of standing genetic variation. Microarray profiles of host responses to IAPV infection revealed that mitochondrial function is the most significantly affected biological process, suggesting that viral infection causes significant disturbance in energy-related host processes. The expression of genes involved in immune pathways in adult bees indicates that IAPV infection triggers active immune responses. The evidence that silencing an IAPV-encoded putative suppressor of RNAi reduces IAPV replication suggests a functional assignment for a particular genomic region of IAPV and closely related viruses from the Family Dicistroviridae, and indicates a novel therapeutic strategy for limiting multiple honey bee viruses simultaneously and reducing colony losses due to viral diseases. We believe that the knowledge and insights gained from this study will provide a new platform for continuing studies of the IAPV–host interactions and have positive implications for disease management that will lead to mitigation of escalating honey bee colony losses worldwide

Exploiting information technology to uncover patterns in complex systems

USDA Accomplishments Report AD-421 (final report) Grant/Contract No: ILLU-875-380This project has involved the continuing development of a comprehensive database system, Mandala(http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/research/mandala/), for documenting information about specimens and taxonomic name history with its associated literature and illustrations.INHS Technical Report Prepared for USDA Accomplishments Report AD-421 (final report

Survey for Nosema bombi: a Potential Causative Agent for Decline of Bombus franklini and Bombus occidentalis Final Report

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Grant/Contract No: #101816M577, #101816M577Purpose of Research: To investigate the role of pathogens, particularly microsporidia, as a factor in the decline of Bombus franklini, B. occidentalis, and B. pensylvanicus. This project, US Fish & Wildlife Purchase Order #101816M577, provided a second season of collections (following project PO #134205M090) of Bombus spp. in the midwestern and northwestern U.S. We continue to gather information leading to understanding the potential role of pathogens in the decline of Bombus species in the western and Midwestern United States.INHS Technical Report Prepared for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servic

Host specificity of microsporidia: Physiological and ecological considerations

Results of traditional laboratory bioassays may not accurately represent ecological (field) host specificity of entomopathogens but, if carefully interpreted, may be used as a tool to predict ecological host specificity. I conducted two laboratory studies designed to predict the ecological host range of microsporidia, common protozoan pathogens of insects. In the first study, 49 nontarget lepidopteran species indigenous to North America were fed five biotypes of microsporidia which occur in European populations of Lymantria dispar but do not occur in North American populations of L. dispar. These microsporidia are candidates for release as classical biological control agents into L. dispar populations in the United States. The microsporidia produced a variety of responses in the nontarget hosts and, based on these responses, the nontarget hosts were placed in the following categories:(1) no infection, (2) atypical infections, and (3) heavy infections. Because most of the infections were not typical of infection in L. dispar, I predicted that four of the five microsporidian biotypes would not be horizontally transmitted within the nontarget insect populations. Because permission has not yet been granted to release all of these microsporidia into the field, it is not possible to evaluate ecological host specificity under field conditions. Therefore, I tested the predictive value of laboratory host range studies of microsporidia using a different concept for evaluating ecological host specificity. I considered L. dispar to be a potential nontarget host of microsporidia from indigenous North American insect species with which L. dispar overlaps ecologically. When fed purified viable spores, L. dispar was susceptible to nine biotypes of microsporidia from indigenous insect hosts and produced responses similar to those produced by L. dispar microsporidia in nontarget indigenous Lepidoptera. I then increased the complexity of the transmission experiments by exposing living uninfected L. dispar larvae in small cages to infected L. dispar larvae. Transmission of the microsporidia was greatly reduced or did not occur. Data sets from extensive pathogen surveys indicate that microsporidia do not occur in United States populations of L. dispar, validating the prediction that the physiological host range of microsporidia is broader than the ecological host range.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio

Studies on the Life Cycle and Transmission of \u3ci\u3eCougourdella\u3c/i\u3e Sp., A Microsporidian Parasite of \u3ci\u3eGlossosoma Nigrior\u3c/i\u3e (Trichoptera: Glossosomatidae)

The trichopteran Glossosoma nigrior, the dominant benthic invertebrate grazer in Michigan trout streams, hosts a microsporidian (Protozoa) pathogen, Cougourdella sp., which strongly regulates the population density of larvae in the stream. In order to better understand the interactions between these two species, two possible modes of pathogen transmission, oral and transovum, were investigated. While both sexes of adult G. nigrior were found to be infected with mature environmental spores, spores were not found associated with reproductive tissue. This suggests that transovum transmission does not occur in this system. Glossosoma nigrior, when ex- posed to viable spores taken from infected larvae, did not produce Cougourdella sp. infections, which suggests that oral transmission also does not occur. It is possible that an intermediate host is required

Alignment of translated MetAP2 genes.

<p>Circled amino acids are fumagillin binding sites; those marked with stars are metal ion binding sites. Species represented are <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Apis mellifera, Nosema apis, Nosema bombi, Nosema ceranae, Drosophila melanogaster, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, Encephalitozoon</i> species, <i>Homo sapiens</i>, and <i>Saccharomyces cerevis</i>.</p

Proteins identified from infected midgut tissues in honey bees fed varying concentrations of fumagillin using 2D-gel electrophoresis (Figure 3).

<p>Proteins identified from infected midgut tissues in honey bees fed varying concentrations of fumagillin using 2D-gel electrophoresis (<a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003185#ppat-1003185-g003" target="_blank">Figure 3</a>).</p