Comparative Virome Profiling and Discovery of Novel Viruses in Managed and Wild Bees using RNA-seq

Li-Byarlay, H.

doi:10.1101/2025.04.27.650873

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.04.27.650873

Comparative Virome Profiling and Discovery of Novel Viruses in Managed and Wild Bees using RNA-seq

Li-Byarlay, H.

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Abstract

Insect pollinators face growing challenges from viral pathogens that may contribute to population declines, yet comparative data on virome composition in managed versus wild bees remain limited. Using RNA-Seq-based metatranscriptomic analysis, we compared the virome of Apis mellifera L. and Ceratina calcarata Robertson collected from agricultural and non-agricultural landscapes. We identified multiple known bee pathogens including Black Queen Cell Virus and Deformed Wing Virus in A. mellifera, and discovered three novel insect viruses--two iflaviruses and one entomopoxvirus--associated with C. calcarata. Notably, one novel iflavirus was identified in A. mellifera. Our findings reveal species- and landscape-specific viral prevalence, highlight viral diversity beyond canonical bee pathogens, and provide genomic resources for future functional studies. These data offer new insights into virus-host dynamics and underscore the utility of virome profiling in understanding pollinator health at the molecular level.

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Li-Byarlay, H.. 2025-04-30. Comparative Virome Profiling and Discovery of Novel Viruses in Managed and Wild Bees using RNA-seq. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.27.650873

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