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Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Use of an Optical Trap for Study of Host-Pathogen Interactions for Dynamic Live Cell Imaging
Published on: July 28, 2011
Interaction effects of different drivers of wild bee decline and their influence on host-pathogen dynamics
Ivan Meeus1, Matti Pisman1, Guy Smagghe1
1Department of Crop Protection, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract:
Wild bee decline is a multi-factorial problem, yet it is crucial to understand the impact of a single driver. Hereto the interaction effects of wild bee decline with multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors need to be clear. This is also true for the driver 'pathogens', as stressor induced disturbances of natural host-pathogen dynamics can unbalance settled virulence equilibria. Invasive species, bee domestication, habitat loss, climate changes and insecticides are recognized drivers of wild bee decline, but all influence host-pathogen dynamics as well. Many wild bee pathogens have multiple hosts, which relaxes the host-density limitation of virulence evolution. In conclusion, disturbances of bee-pathogen dynamics can be compared to a game of Russian roulette.
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