Proteomic marker-assisted selection in honey bees

In an earlier project we documented the distribution of resistance traits to the bacterial disease of honey bees, American foulbrood (AFB), and to the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, within two Western Canadian beekeeping populations.  Using quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we also examined protein expression in workers to identify putative biomarkers for improving the efficiency of selection for AFB and V. destructor resistance.   

During the summer of 2011, we tested HB from 635 honey bee colonies at commercial beekeeping operations across western Canada as a further validation of these markers.  An F₀ population was also established from colonies most highly expressing hygienic behavior (HB) at two queen breeding operations in British Columbia (n=110).  Based on the use of proteomic markers, we embarked on a breeding plan to successively select and propagate three new generations over 2012 and 2013 in a parallel and direct comparison of proteomic-based marker-assisted selection (MAS) against traditional behaviorally-based phenotypic selection for HB.  Detailed comparisons of the F₁ were made during the summer of 2012 and will continue for the F₃ during 2013, to evaluate resistance against AFB and V. destructor. 

In order to provide an economic baseline against which to evaluate future gains in stock selected by the HB and MAS selection regimes, twelve western Canadian producers were also intensively surveyed for productivity parameters, management practices and  diseases and pests (Nosema spp., V. destructor, AFB, viruses) during the spring, summer and fall of 2011 and the spring of 2012.  Ongoing project results will be discussed.