Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
08:31

Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'

Published on: May 26, 2013

11.5K

Genome Sequences of Two Single-Stranded DNA Viruses Identified in Varroa destructor

Simona Kraberger1, Gabriel A Visnovsky2, Ron F van Toor3

  • 1The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA.

Genome Announcements
|March 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Two new viruses were discovered in the parasitic Varroa destructor mite, a major threat to honey bees and apiculture. This finding impacts our understanding of honey bee health and disease transmission.

Area of Science:

  • * Virology
  • * Entomology
  • * Apiculture Science

Background:

  • * The parasitic mite *Varroa destructor* is a significant global pest of honey bees (*Apis mellifera*).
  • * *V. destructor* mites transmit numerous pathogenic viruses, severely impacting honey bee colony health and survival.
  • * These viruses collectively pose a major threat to apiculture worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To identify and characterize novel viruses present in *Varroa destructor* mites.
  • * To investigate the viral diversity within mite populations affecting honey bees in New Zealand.

Main Methods:

  • * Mites (*V. destructor*) were collected from a honey bee hive near Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • * Viral DNA was extracted and sequenced.
  • * Bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify and classify novel viruses.

Main Results:

  • * Two previously unknown circular replication-associated protein (Rep)-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses were identified.
  • * These novel viruses were detected in *V. destructor* mites.
  • * The discovery adds to the known virome of this important honey bee parasite.

Conclusions:

  • * The identification of novel CRESS DNA viruses in *V. destructor* expands our knowledge of honey bee-associated viruses.
  • * These findings may have implications for understanding virus dynamics and pathogenicity in honey bee populations.
  • * Further research is needed to assess the prevalence and impact of these newly discovered viruses on honey bee health.

More Related Videos

Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites09:31

Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites

Published on: March 22, 2016

18.4K
Ultra-long Read Sequencing for Whole Genomic DNA Analysis10:34

Ultra-long Read Sequencing for Whole Genomic DNA Analysis

Published on: March 15, 2019

24.0K

Related Concept Videos

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins01:03

Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins

For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...
16.8K
Fixing Double-strand Breaks02:04

Fixing Double-strand Breaks

The double-stranded structure of DNA has two major advantages. First, it serves as a safe repository of genetic information where one strand serves as the back-up in case the other strand is damaged. Second, the double-helical structure can be wrapped around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which can then be tightly wound to form chromosomes. This way, DNA chains up to 2 inches long can be contained within microscopic structures in a cell. A double-stranded break not only damages...
15.0K
Genomics02:02

Genomics

Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
40.9K
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

Overview
128.4K
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
959
DNA-only Transposons02:57

DNA-only Transposons

DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
17.6K