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Program Symposium

Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

25-Year Anniversary of RNAi for Pest Management: Milestones and Prospects - Applied Outcomes

From genes to eggs and reproductive failure: Molecular and phenotypic effects of calmodulin-targeting dsRNA for Varroa destructor in honey bee hives

Sunday, November 9, 2025
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, Portland Ballroom 251, OCC
Oral Presentation
Varroa mites and associated viruses are major global threats to honey bee colonies. An RNA interference (RNAi) product, NorroaTM , developed by GreenLight Biosciences, targets calmodulin gene expression. In this talk, I will review work on the molecular and phenotypic effects of this treatment on the mite. Using fluorescently labelled double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), we demonstrate that the treatment penetrates the mite cuticle and accumulates in the ovaries and associated glands. Although high dsRNA concentrations can induce mite mortality, the predominant mode of action within hives appears to be a suppression of mite reproduction. RNA-seq and gene ontology analyses revealed significant down-regulation of calcium ion signalling pathways and cadherin-related genes involved in cell adhesion and early embryogenesis. In trials with mini-hives, treated mites exhibited disrupted oogenesis and a substantial reduction in reproduction and overall fitness.