Nosema apis

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Classification

Classification: Domain: Eukaryota Phylum: Microsporidia Family: Nosematidae Genus: Nosema Species: N. apis

Description and Significance:

Noesma apis is a single celled parasite and a spore forming fungi that affects the Western honey bee. Nosema disease causes serious damage to adult honey bees and reduces the life span of bees and weakens or kills colonies.

Genome and Structure:

This is class Microsporidia which was previously thought to be protozoans but it is now classified as fungi. The spores are about 5–7 µm long and 3–4 µm wide and 8.5 mbp. It was predicted 2,771 protein- coding genes and 1.356 orthologs.

Cell structure, Metabolism, and Life Cycle:

Nosema apis is a single celled parasite and uses oxidative metabolism and Trehalase which is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of trehalose to glucose. When spores of Nosema apis are ingested by the honey bees, they germinate in 30 minutes in the stomach. It then penetrates the cells of the bee's stomach lining and continues to grow and multiply quickly while using the cell contents as food supply.

Ecology and Pathogenesis:

Nosema apis lives in the digestive tract of honey bees. N. apis spores are found in feces and directly/ indirectly are consumed by adult bees It develops in the intestines of the bees which affects the digestive functions. This microsporidium also will affect the bee's nutrition glands, which negatively interrupts their secretion. After Nosema apis contacts the bees, symptoms such as intestinal disorders, lack of royal jelly secretion, reducing activity, and decrease in laying eggs may occur.