PHYSIOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL RELEVANCE OF POTASSIUM ION CHANNELS AND REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES WITH HONEY BEE HEALTH

Theoverarching goalsof this investigation are to 1) test the hypothesis that modulation of honey bee KATPchannels will stimulate production of ROS, which will serve as a secondary messenger to enhance immune function and reduce virus mediated mortality and 2) test the hypothesis that in-hive acaricides alter antiviral immunity and virus susceptibility of the individual bee.Collectively, these data will fill significant knowledge gaps pertaining to honey bee physiology and will provide tractable biochemical targets that can be exploited through product development campaigns (subsequent proposals). To achieve our goal, we will:Determine the relevance of KATPchannels to honey bee antiviral immunity and the impact of miticides to bee survivorship after inoculation with deformed wing virus;Determine the functional relevance of ROS to antiviral immunity and the functional linkage between KATPchannels and ROS levels to individual and colony immunity;Test the impact of KATPmodulators to virus dynamics at the level of the colony through controlled field studies?