J. D. Evans

Ripened plant-based cheese analogs in Europe: nutritional and microbial profiles

This study analyzes the nutritional and microbial profiles of eleven European plant-based cheese analogs, revealing differences in fatty acid composition and microbial communities compared to dairy cheeses.

Evaluation of efficacy of formic acid and thermal remediation for management of Tropilaelaps and Varroa mites in central Thailand

This study evaluates formic acid and thermal remediation for controlling Tropilaelaps and Varroa mites in honey bee colonies, finding formic acid more effective than thermal treatment.

Food Fermentation in Space Is Possible, Distinctive, and Beneficial

This study fermented miso on the International Space Station and found it is possible, with unique microbial and sensory characteristics compared to Earth-based controls.

Nano Colonies: Rearing honey bee queens and their offspring in small laboratory arenas

This paper introduces a new laboratory system to reliably rear honey bee queens and their offspring, bridging field research and lab trials while maintaining colony-like characteristics.

High temperatures augment inhibition of parasites by a honey bee gut symbiont

This study shows high temperatures enhance the antiparasitic effects of a honey bee gut symbiont by accelerating its growth and acid production, which inhibit parasite growth and reduce parasite heat tolerance.

Host-driven temperature dependence of viral infection in honey bees

This study examines how temperature affects viral infection in honey bees by comparing viral enzyme activity, host traits, and infection rates across different temperatures.

Kleptocytosis: Comparative Proteomics and Functional Imaging Show Varroa destructor Co-opts Intact Host Proteins for Rapid Development and Reproduction

This paper shows Varroa destructor steals intact host proteins for rapid development and reproduction, describing this as 'kleptocytosis'.

Oversharing by honey bees and the spread of viruses

This study investigates how DWV spreads among honey bees through social behaviors and vector interactions, showing host-to-host and host-to-vector transmission can sustain the pathogen in a population.

The vectoring competence of the mite Varroa destructor for Deformed wing virus of honey bees is highly dynamic and affects survival of the mite.

This study shows that Varroa destructor mites vector Deformed wing virus (DWV) with varying efficiency depending on their phoretic stage and the DWV type they transmit, with DWV-B reducing mite lifespan.

Promiscuous feeding across multiple honey bee hosts amplifies the vectorial capacity of Varroa destructor

This study shows Varroa destructor spreads viruses by switching hosts during feeding, increasing its vectorial capacity through promiscuous behavior.

Culture and genomic analysis of Arsenophonus apicola sp. nov. isolated from the honeybee Apis mellifera

The paper isolates and characterizes a new Arsenophonus species from honeybees, describes its genome, and proposes a new species name.

Can floral nectars reduce transmission of Leishmania?

This study shows that floral nectar from certain plants contains phytochemical concentrations that inhibit Leishmania growth, suggesting a landscape ecology-based approach to reduce parasite transmission.

Punch in the gut: Parasite tolerance of phytochemicals reflects host diet

This study investigates how host diet-associated phytochemicals influence the tolerance of trypanosomatid parasites in honey bees and mosquitoes, identifying compounds that could mitigate infection in bees.

Mites alight! Sunflower crop area and pollen supplementation enhance honey bee resistance to Varroa destructor

This study shows that increasing sunflower crop area and supplementing honey bees with sunflower pollen reduces Varroa destructor mite infestation.

Hot and sour: parasite adaptations to honey bee body temperature and pH

This study compares heat and pH tolerance of trypanosomatid parasites from social bees and mosquitoes, showing bee parasites are more heat-tolerant due to host endothermy and acid tolerance, while mosquito parasites prefer alkaline conditions.

Beeporter: a high-throughput tool for non-invasive analysis of honey bee virus infection

Beeporter enables non-invasive, high-throughput detection and quantification of DWV infection in honey bees using GFP-tagged virus and smartphone imaging.

Pupal cannibalism by worker honey bees contributes to the spread of Deformed wing virus.

The paper shows that worker honey bees cannibalizing DWV-infected pupae transmit the virus to other bees through trophallaxis, spreading DWV without Varroa mites.

Development of a honey bee RNA virus vector based on the genome of Deformed wing virus.

The paper develops a honey bee RNA virus vector using Deformed wing virus (DWV) by inserting eGFP and observes genome deletions in the progeny.

Aberrant cocoons found on honey bee comb cells are found to be Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski) (Hymenoptera Megachilidae)

The paper identifies Osmia cornifrons cocoons in honey bee cells, suggesting they use honey bee resources and may benefit from bee provisioning, potentially offering a method for mass-producing pollinators.

A novel system for maintaining Varroa destructor mites on artificial diets and its application for studying mites as a vector for honey bee viruses.

This paper introduces a novel in vitro system to maintain Varroa destructor mites on artificial diets and demonstrates their ability to acquire and transmit honey bee viruses.

Co-incubation of dsRNA reduces proportion of viable spores of Ascosphaera apis, a honey bee fungal pathogen

The paper shows that co-incubating Ascosphaera apis spores with dsRNA reduces viable spore proportion, suggesting RNAi can target this fungal pathogen.

Dynamic evolution in the key honey bee pathogen Deformed wing virus

This study investigates the population dynamics of Deformed wing virus (DWV) in honey bees, finding high genetic diversity in US colonies and proposing a model of diversification driven by negative frequency-dependent selection.

Deformed wing virus type A, a major honey bee pathogen, is vectored by the mite Varroa destructor in a non-propagative manner.

This study shows that Deformed wing virus type A is transmitted by Varroa mites without replication in the mites, as viral load decreases after passage and negative-strand RNA is only detected in mites exposed to high viral loads.