Prevention and treatment of <i>nosema </i>disease in bees

摘要

Compositions and methods for reducing susceptibility and enhancing tolerance to Nosema disease (Nosemosis) using RNA interference technology, and more particularly, prevention and treatment of Nosema infections in honeybees by feeding of Nosema-specific dsRNA.

主权项

1. A method for reducing the susceptibility of a bee to a disease caused by a Nosema ceranae infection, comprising: feeding the bee an effective amount of a bee-ingestible composition comprising:
a) an isolated nucleic acid agent comprising a double stranded RNA comprising a sequence capable of binding through complementary base pairing to an mRNA encoding Nosema ceranae ATP/ADP transporter protein homologue Nc014, a double stranded RNA comprising a sequence capable of binding through complementary base pairing to an mRNA encoding Nosema ceranae ATP/ADP transporter protein homologue Nc017, and a double stranded RNA comprising a sequence capable of binding through complementary base pairing to an mRNA encoding Nosema ceranae TOM70; and b) bee feed, thereby reducing the susceptibility of said bee to said disease caused by a Nosema ceranae infection.