Symbiont-mediated antisense RNA delivery controls Nosema ceranae infections in Apis mellifera

Abstract

Nosema ceranae is a main parasite for honeybees (Apis mellifera) which causes colony collapse in spring. Effective management of N. ceranae infections in bees is imperative for beekeepers. RNA interference (RNAi) has been proven a promising method to control bee pathogens, including IAPV, Varroa destructor, and Nosema. Most studies in this field focused on oral inoculation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). We developed an easier method with long-term RNAi effects by engineering the bee symbiont, Bacillus subtilis, to deliver single-stranded antisense RNA (asRNA) in the bee guts, targeting N. ceranae genes. We interfered with the expression of a spore wall protein (SWP12) and a polar tube protein (PTP3) of N. ceranae, resulting in a 60.5% increase in bee lifespan and a 72.7% decrease in Nosema spore load. Our research introduced a novel approach to bee parasite control: B. subtilis-mediated asRNA delivery. Our strategy simplifies the procedure of RNAi, presenting a more efficient mechanism with both prophylactic and therapeutic effects on N. ceranae-infected bees.