Verification of transcriptomic biomarkers for Varroa resistance in Anatolian honeybees

The ectoparasite Varroa destructor, often known as the Varroa mite, is the most noticeable parasitic that affects honey bee colonies and is thought to be the main reason for honey bee colony losses globally . Only found in honey bee colonies, varroa mites feed on both young and mature honey bees' fat body tissues to reproduce . This lessens tolerance to pesticides and affects immunology and pupal development. The fact that Varroa mites are carriers for a number of viruses that infect honey bees, along with the honey bees' impaired immune system, leads to a sharp decline in honey production and honeybee lifetime. Several transcriptomic biomarkers have been identified by RNA sequencing. This project aims for the experimental verification of those biomarkers expressing under pathogenic stress condition. The project solely involves molecular genetics to validate the putative genes involved in Varroa resistance in honeybees.