Project Number: 6615-22430-002-08
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 21, 2008
End Date: Aug 14, 2010

Objective:
Development of novel approaches to control of arthropod and microbial pests of Honeybees.

Approach:
The molecular mechanisms associated with the multitrophic semiochemcial mediated infection of honeybee colonies by microbial/yeast pests vectored by arthropods will be elucidated using coupled molecular genetic and chemical techniques coupled with biological assays. Key genes associated with the communication system in both vectors and microbial/yeast pathogens will be identified and methods to inhibit functioning of the genes will be developed based on RNAI silencing.