Research Project: Using Genetics to Improve the Breeding and Health of Honey Bees

Location: Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Climatic predictors of varroa destructor, melissococcus plutonius, and vairimorpha detections in honey bee colonies - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mcafee, A., Walsh, E.M., Tran, L., Labuschagne, R., Cunningham, M., Tsvetkov, N., Common, J., Higo, H., Pernal, S., Giovenazz0, P. 2024. Climatic predictors of varroa destructor, melissococcus plutonius, and vairimorpha detections in honey bee colonies. PLOS Climate. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000485.

Pollen foraging mediates exposure to dichotomous stressor syndromes in honey bee - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wizenberg, S.M., French, S.K., Newburn, L.R., Pepinelli, M., Conflitti, I.M., Mouboney, M., Ritchie, C., Jamieson, A., Achkanian, A., Travas, A., Imrit, M., Khusi, D., Chihata, M., Higo, H., Common, J., Walsh, E.M., Bixby, M., Guarna, M.M., Pernal, S.F., Hoover, S.E., Currie, R., Giovenazzo, P., Guzman-Novoa, E., Borges, D., Foster, L.J., Zayed, Z. 2024. Pollen foraging mediates exposure to dichotomous stressor syndromes in honey bee. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences-Nexus. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae440.

BeeID: A molecular tool that identifies honey bee subspecies from different geographic populations - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Donthu, R., Marcelino, J., Giordano, R., Tao, Y., Weber, E., Avalos, A., Band, M., Akraiko, T., Shu-Ching, C., Reyes, M.P., Hao, H., Ortiz-Alvarado, Y., Cuff, C.A., Pérez Claudio, E., Smith-Pardo, A.H., Meikle, W.G., Evans, J.D., Giray, T., Abdelkader, F.B., Allsopp, M., Ball, D., Morgado, S.B., Barjadze, B., Correa-Benitez, A., Chakir, A., Báez, D.R., Chavez, N.M., Dalmon, A., Douglas, A.B., Fraccica, C., Fernández-Marín, H., Galindo-Cardona, A., Guzman-Novoa, E., Horsburgh, R., Kence, M., Kilonzo, J., Kükrer, M., Le Conte, Y., Mazzeo, G., Mota, F., Muli, E., Oskay, D., Ruiz-Martínez, J.A., Oliveri, E., Pichkhaia, I., Romane, A., Sanchez, C.G., Sikombwa, E., Satta, A., Scannapieco, A.A., Stanford, B., Soroker, V., Velarde, R.A., Vercelli, M., Huang, Z. 2024. BeeID: A molecular tool that identifies honey bee subspecies from different geographic populations. Science Advances. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12859-024-05776-9.

Climatic predictors of varroa destructor, melissococcus plutonius, and vairimorpha detections in honey bee colonies - (Other)
Mcafee, A., Alavi-Shoushtari, N., Tran, L., Labuschagne, R., Cunningham, M., Tsvetkov, N., Common, J., Higo, H., Pernal, S., Giovenazzo, P., Hoover, S., Guzman-Novoa, E., Currie, R., Veiga, P., French, S., Conflitti, I., Pepinelli, M., Borges, D., Walsh, E.M., Bishop, C., Zayed, A., Duffe, J., Foster, L.J., Guarna, M. 2024. Climatic predictors of varroa destructor, melissococcus plutonius, and vairimorpha detections in honey bee colonies. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.28.601058.

New honey bee health special issue of U.S. and Canadian research - (Trade Journal)
Walsh, E.M. 2024. New honey bee health special issue of U.S. and Canadian research. Entomology Today. https://entomologytoday.org/2024/06/12/honey-bee-health-new-collection-stressors-mitigation-methods/.

Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the U.S. and Canada - (Other)
Walsh, E., Simone-Finstrom, M. 2024. Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the U.S. and Canada. Journal of Insect Science. Volume 24 Page 3. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieae055.

A colony health and economic comparison between mite resistant and commercial honey bees (aymenoptera: apidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Avalos, A., Walsh, E.M., Bixby, M., Card Jr, A., Card, W. 2024. A colony health and economic comparison of varroa-resistant varroa destructor mesostigmata: varroidae and susceptible honey bees apis mellifera hymenoptera: apidae. Journal of Economic Entomology. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae166.

Relative impacts of varroa infestation and pesticide exposure and their effects on honey bee colony health and survival in a high-intensity corn and soybean producing region in northern Iowa - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Danka, R.G., Rinderer, T.E., Margotta, J., Bartlett, L., Healy, K. 2024. Relative impacts of varroa infestation and pesticide exposure and their effects on honey bee colony health and survival in a high-intensity corn and soybean producing region in northern Iowa. Journal of Insect Science. Vlume 25 Issue 3 Page 18. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieae054.

Baton Rouge bee lab enhances disease resistance and health using novel management tools - (Other)
Simone-Finstrom, M., Ricigliano, V.A. 2024. Baton Rouge bee lab enhances disease resistance and health using novel management tools. Honey Producer. 12/13.

Green biomanufacturing of edible antiviral therapeutics for managed pollinators - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Mcmenamin, A., Martin, A.M., Adjaye, D.F., Simone-Finstrom, M., Rainey, V.P. 2024. Green biomanufacturing of edible antiviral therapeutics for managed pollinators. NPJ Sustainable Agriculture. 2:Article4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00011-7.

Honey bee stressor networks are complex and dependent on crop and region - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
French, S.K., Pepinelli, M., Conflitti, I.M., Higo, H., Common, J., Bixby, M., Walsh, E.M., Guarna, M.M., Pernal, S.F., Hoover, S.E. 2024. A systems approach to honey bee health. Current Biology. Volume 34 Page 1893-1903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.039.

Temperature, strip age, exposure surface area affect the outcomes of testing for amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinkevich Jr, F.D. 2024. Temperature, strip age, exposure surface area affect the outcomes of testing for amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor. Journal of Apicultural Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2024.2314420.

Quantitative trait loci mapping for survival of virus infection and virus levels in honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lu, R.X., Bhatia, S., Simone-Finstrom, M., Rueppell, O. 2023. Quantitative trait loci mapping for survival of virus infection and virus levels in honey bees. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105534

Common signatures of selection reveal target loci for breeding across soybean populations - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gomes Viana, J., Avalos, A., Zhang, Z., Nelson, R., Hudson, M. 2024. Common signatures of selection reveal target loci for breeding across soybean populations. The Plant Genome. e20426. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20426.

Effects of ingested essential oils and propolis extracts on honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) health and gut microbiota - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ewert, A.M., Simone-Finstrom, M., Read, Q.D., Husseneder, H., Ricigliano, V.A. 2023. Effects of ingested essential oils and propolis extracts on honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) health and gut microbiota. Journal of Insect Science. 23/6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iead087.

Thinking inside the box: restoring the propolis envelope facilitates honey bee social immunity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shanahan, M., Simone-Finstrom, M., Tokarz, P.G., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Read, Q.D., Spivak, M. 2024. Thinking inside the box: restoring the propolis envelope facilitates honey bee social immunity. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291744.

Efficacy of a microalgal feed additive in commercial honey bee colonies used for crop pollination - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
McMenamin, A., Weiss, M., Meikle, W.G., Ricigliano, V.A. 2023. Efficacy of a microalgal feed additive in commercial honey bee colonies used for crop pollination. ACS Agricultural Science and Technology. 3(9):701-834. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.3c00082.

Potassium ion channels as a druggable target to inhibit viral replication in honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fellows, C., Simone-Finstrom, M., Anderston, T., Swale, D. 2023. Potassium ion channels as a druggable target to inhibit viral replication in honey bees. Virology. 20(134):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-023-02104-0.

Effects of honey bee queen exposure to Deformed wing virus-A on queen and juvenile infection and colony strength metrics - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lang, S., Simone-Finstrom, M., Healy, K. 2023. Effects of honey bee queen exposure to Deformed wing virus-A on queen and juvenile infection and colony strength metrics. Journal of Apicultural Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2023.2284034.

Single-cell dissection of a collective behaviour in honeybees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Traniello, I.M., Bukhari, S.A., Dibaeinia, P., Serrano, G., Avalos, A., Ahmed, A.C., Sankey, A., Hernaez, M., Sinha, S., Zhao, S.D., Catchen, J., Robinson, G.E. 2023. Single-cell dissection of a collective behaviour in honeybees. Nature Ecology and Evolution. 2:1-25. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2022.998310.

Transcriptomic analysis of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen brain reveals that gene expression is affected by pesticide exposure during development - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dickey, M., Walsh, E.M., Shepherd, T.F., Medina, R.F., Tarone, A., Rangel, J. 2023. Transcriptomic analysis of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen brain reveals that gene expression is affected by pesticide exposure during development. PLOS ONE. 18(4):e0284929. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284929.

Temperature affects assessment of amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Confirmation of the Y215H mutation in the ß2-octopamine receptor in Varroa destructor is associated with contemporary cases of amitraz resistance in United States - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Moreno-Marti, S., Hernandez-Rodriguez, C.S., Gonzalez-Cabrera, J. 2023. Confirmation of the Y215H mutation in the ß2-octopamine receptor in Varroa destructor is associated with contemporary cases of amitraz resistance in United States. Pest Management Science. pp.1-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7461.

Rough hives stimulate propolis production in support of bee health - (Abstract Only)
Simone-Finstrom, M., Shanahan, M., Read, Q.D., Spivak, M. 2023. Rough hives stimulate propolis production in support of bee health. Bee Culture. https://doi.org/10.55406/ABRC.22

Hangry bees: Pollen deprivation affects temper in Pol-line honey bees (Apis mellifera) - (Abstract Only)
Walsh, E.M., Simone-Finstrom, M., Avalos, A., Ihle, K.E., Lau, P.W. 2023. Hangry bees: Pollen deprivation affects temper in Pol-line honey bees (Apis mellifera). Bee Culture. https://doi.org/10.55406/ABRC.23.

When delicate brood makes for strong colonies - (Popular Publication)

Resin use and social immunity in honey bees and stingless bees - (Book / Chapter)
Shanahan, M., Simone-Finstrom, M., Spivak, M. 2024. Resin use and social immunity in honey bees and stingless bees. Book Chapter. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43274-3_10.

Baton Rouge scientist spotlight - (Trade Journal)
Walsh, E.M. 2023. Baton Rouge scientist spotlight. Bee Culture. 1.

Genetic stock affects expression patterns of the multifunctional gene Vitellogenin in honey bee workers - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ihle, K.E. 2023. Genetic stock affects expression patterns of the multifunctional gene Vitellogenin in honey bee workers. Journal of Apicultural Research. p. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1080/00218839.2023.2166231.

Fine-scale assessment of Chlorella syrup as a nutritional supplement for honey bee colonies - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dostalkova, S., Kodrik, D., Simone-Finstrom, M., Petrivalsky, M., Danihlik, J. 2022. Fine-scale assessment of Chlorella syrup as a nutritional supplement for honey bee colonies. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10(1028037):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.1028037.

Russian honey bee genotype identification through enhanced marker panel set - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Avalos, A., Bilodeau, A.L. 2022. Russian honey bee genotype identification through enhanced marker panel set. Frontiers in Insect Science. 2:998310. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2022.998310.

Uses and benefits of algae as a nutritional supplement for honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Nichols, B.J., Ricigliano, V.A. 2022. Uses and benefits of algae as a nutritional supplement for honey bees. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6:1005058. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1005058.

Viral species differentially influence macronutrient preferences based on honey bee genotype - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Penn, H., Simone-Finstrom, M., De Guzman, L.I., Tokarz, P.G., Dickens, R.D. 2022. Viral species differentially influence macronutrient preferences based on honey bee genotype. Biology Open. 11(10):bio059039. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.059039.

Metabolomics-guided comparison of pollen and microalgae-based artificial diets in honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Cank, K.B., Todd, D.A., Knowles, S.L., Oberlies, N.H. 2022. Metabolomics-guided comparison of pollen and microalgae-based artificial diets in honey bees. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02583.

The story so far on amitraz resistance in Varroa - (Trade Journal)
Rinkevich Jr, F.D., MacFawn, D. 2022. The story so far on amitraz resistance in Varroa. Bee Culture. pg. 1-6. https://www.beeculture.com/the-story-so-far/.

Honey bee genetic stock determines DWV symptom severity but not viral load or dissemination following pupal exposure - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Penn, H., Simone-Finstrom, M., Chen, Y., Healy, K.B. 2022. Honey bee genetic stock determines DWV symptom severity but not viral load or dissemination following pupal exposure. Frontiers in Genetics. 13:909392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.909392.

Colony-level viral load influences collective foraging in honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Penn, H., Simone-Finstrom, M., De Guzman, L.I., Tokarz, P.G., Dickens, R.D. 2022. Colony-level viral load influences collective foraging in honey bees. Frontiers in Insect Science. 2:894482. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2022.894482.

A derived honey bee stock confers resistance to Varroa destructor and associated viral transmission - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
O'Shea-Wheller, T.A., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Danka, R.G., Simone-Finstrom, M., Tokarz, P.G., Healy, K.B. 2022. A derived honey bee stock confers resistance to Varroa destructor and associated viral transmission. Scientific Reports. 12(1). Article 4852. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08643-w.

Impact of multiple selective breeding programs on genetic diversity in soybean germplasm - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gomes Viana, J.P., Fang, Y., Avalos, A., Song, Q., Nelson, R., Hudson, M.E. 2022. Impact of multiple selective breeding programs on genetic diversity in soybean germplasm. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 135(5):1591–1602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-022-04056-5.

Context-dependent viral transgenerational immune priming in honey bees (Hymenoptera: apidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lang, S.A., Simone-Finstrom, M., Healy, K. 2022. Context-dependent viral transgenerational immune priming in honey bees (Hymenoptera: apidae). Journal of Insect Science. 22(1):19. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieac001.

Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Williams, S.T., Oliver, R. 2022. Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota. BMC Veterinary Research. 18(52):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03151-5.

Differential expression of three dopamine receptors in varroa-resistant honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bilodeau, A.L., Beaman, G.D. 2022. Differential expression of three dopamine receptors in varroa-resistant honey bees. Journal of Insect Science. 22(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab109.

Genetic diversity and structure in a closed breeding system of Russian honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bilodeau, A.L. 2022. Genetic diversity and structure in a closed breeding system of Russian honey bees. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(2):682-687. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab266.

Amitraz resistance, a concern in the U.S. too - (Trade Journal)
Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Nicot, E., Giraud, F. 2021. Amitraz resistance, a concern in the U.S. too. La Sante de l'Abeille. 306:573-577.

Impact of honey bee migratory management on pathogen loads and immune gene expression is affected by complex interactions with environment, worker life history, and season - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Simone-Finstrom, M., Strand, M.K., Tarpy, D.R., Rueppell, O. 2022. Impact of honey bee migratory management on pathogen loads and immune gene expression is affected by complex interactions with environment, worker life history, and season. Journal of Insect Science. 22(1):17. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab096.

Host genotype and tissue type determine DWV infection intensity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Penn, H., Simone-Finstrom, M., Lang, S.A., Chen, Y., Healy, K. 2021. Host genotype and tissue type determine DWV infection intensity. Frontiers in Insect Science. 1:1-12. Article: 756690. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2021.756690.

Social apoptosis in Varroa mite resistant western honey bees (Apis mellifera) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ihle, K.E., De Guzman, L.I., Danka, R.G. 2022. Social apoptosis in Varroa mite resistant western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Journal of Insect Science. 22(1):13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab087.

Parallel mechanisms of visual memory formation across distinct regions of the honey bee brain - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Avalos, A., Traniello, I.M., Perez Claudio, E., Giray, T. 2021. Parallel mechanisms of visual memory formation across distinct regions of the honey bee brain. Journal of Experimental Biology. 224(19):jeb242292. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.242292.

Nutrigenetic comparison of two Varroa-resistant honey bee stocks fed pollen and spirulina microalgae - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Ihle, K.E., Williams, S.T. 2021. Nutrigenetic comparison of two Varroa-resistant honey bee stocks fed pollen and spirulina microalgae. Apidologie. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-021-00877-3.

A scientific note defining allelic nomenclature standards for the highly diverse complementary sex-determiner (csd) locus in honey bees. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bilodeau, A.L., Elsik, C. 2021. A scientific note defining allelic nomenclature standards for the highly diverse complementary sex-determiner (csd) locus in honey bees.. Apidologie. 58:749-754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-021-00861-x.

A rapid fabrication methodology for payload modules, piloted for the observation of queen honeybee (Apis mellifera) in microgravity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Smith, R., Kraemer, F., Bader, C., Smith, M., Weber, A., Simone-Finstrom, M., Wilson-Rich, N., Oxman, N. 2021. A rapid fabrication methodology for payload modules, piloted for the observation of queen honeybee (Apis mellifera) in microgravity. Gravitational and Space Research. 9:104-114. https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2021-0008.

Genetic variation of Ascosphaera apis and colony attributes do not explain chalkbrood disease outbreaks in Australian honey bees - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gerdts, J., Roberts, J., Simone-Finstrom, M., Ogbourne, S., Tuccie, J. 2021. Genetic variation of Ascosphaera apis and colony attributes do not explain chalkbrood disease outbreaks in Australian honey bees. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 180:107540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2021.107540.

Effects of aversive conditioning on expression of physiological stress in honey bees (apis mellifera) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Black, T.E., Fofah, O., Dinges, C., Ortiz-Alvarado, C.A., Avalos, A., Ortiz-Alvarado, Y., Abramson, C.I. 2021. Effects of aversive conditioning on expression of physiological stress in honey bees (apis mellifera). Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 178:107363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107363.

Honey bee proteome responses to plant and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) diets - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Dong, C., Richardson, L.T., Donnarummar, F., Williams, S.T., Solouki, T., Murrary, K.K. 2020. Honey bee proteome responses to plant and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) diets. ACS Food Science and Technology. 1:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.0c00001.

Genome-wide patterns of differentiation within and across U.S. commercial honey bee stocks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Saelao, P., Simone-Finstrom, M., Avalos, A., Bilodeau, A.L., Danka, R.G., De Guzman, L.I., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., Tokarz, P.G. 2020. Genome-wide patterns of differentiation within and across U.S. commercial honey bee stocks. BMC Genomics. 21:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-07111-x.

Differences in larval pesticide tolerance and esterase activity across honey bee (Apis mellifera) stocks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Milone, J.P., Rinkevich Jr, F.D., McAfee, A., Foster, L.J., Tarpy, D. 2020. Differences in larval pesticide tolerance and esterase activity across honey bee (Apis mellifera) stocks. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 206:111213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111213.

Genome-wide patterns of genetic differentiation within and across U.S. commercial honey bee stocks - (Proceedings)
Saelao, P., Simone-Finstrom, M., Avalos, A., Bilodeau, A.L., Danka, R.G., De Guzman, L.I., Rinkevich Jr, F.D. 2020. Genome-wide patterns of genetic differentiation within and across U.S. commercial honey bee stocks. Insects. 11(6):362. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11060362.

Probing the honey bee diet-microbiota-host axis using pollen restriction and organic acid feeding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ricigliano, V.A., Anderson, K.E. 2020. Probing the honey bee diet-microbiota-host axis using pollen restriction and organic acid feeding. Insects. 11(5):1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11050291.