Fuente: PubMed "honey" Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2026 May 6;192:104581. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2026.104581. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTVarroa destructor is an obligate ectoparasite and a major contributor to global colony losses of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Salivary secretions that modulate host immune responses and facilitate feeding are critical for successful parasitism of bee hosts, yet gaps in knowledge regarding the functional relevance of individual secreted proteins to feeding and parasitism remain. In this study, integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to characterize the sialome of V. destructor and to identify salivary proteins involved in feeding physiology. Among the highly expressed candidates, five proteins, VdOBP2, VdAV422, VTP, VdCHIsal, and VdKazal, were selected for further investigation. Tissue-specific expression of these genes was quantified by qPCR, revealing abundant transcription in the salivary glands of both mobile and reproductive mites. RNAi-mediated knockdown of these genes did not affect mite survival but knockdown of VdAV422, VTP, and VdCHIsal significantly reduced mite ingestion. Furthermore, knockdown of VdAV422 and VdCHIsal markedly decreased mite fertility. These data demonstrate that specific salivary proteins are essential for efficient feeding and reproduction of V. destructor. The comprehensive proteome-transcriptome dataset of the salivary gland and secreted saliva combined with the functional assays provide a valuable foundation for defining 1) V. destructor-bee interactions, 2) mechanisms of V. destructor parasitism, and 3) technology development to reduce mite-feeding induced damage.PMID:42102981 | DOI:10.1016/j.ibmb.2026.104581