Compositions for controlling
An isolated nucleic acid agent is disclosed comprising a nucleic acid sequence which downregulates expression of a gene product of a Varroa destructor mite. Compositions comprising same and uses thereof are also disclosed.
1. A method of providing a nucleic acid agent to a Varroa destructor mite, comprising feeding a bee parasitized by the Varroa destructor mite a bee-ingestible composition comprising the nucleic acid agent, wherein the nucleic acid agent is double stranded RNA (dsRNA) comprising a nucleic acid sequence complementary to at least 21 nucleotides of Varroa destructor mite mRNA.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid agent down-regulates expression of a gene product of the Varroa destructor mite.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition is selected from the group consisting of a liquid bee-ingestible composition and a solid bee-ingestible composition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee is in the larval stage.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee is an adult.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition comprises protein.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition comprises pollen.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition comprises a carbohydrate.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of sucrose and corn syrup.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Varroa destructor mite mRNA encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of ATPase subunit A, RNA polymerase I, RNA polymerase III, Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), FAS apoptotic inhibitor and α-Tubulin.
11. A method of down-regulating expression of a gene product in a Varroa destructor mite, the method comprising administering a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) comprising a nucleic acid sequence complementary to at least 21 nucleotides of Varroa destructor mite mRNA of said gene product to a bee parasitized by the Varroa destructor mite, wherein an RNA silencing agent complementary to said nucleic acid sequence is provided to the Varroa destructor mite in the bee's hemolymph and downregulates expression of the gene product in the Varroa destructor mite.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bee is in the larval stage.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bee is an adult.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dsRNA is administered to the bee by feeding the bee a bee-ingestible composition comprising the dsRNA.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition is selected from the group consisting of a liquid bee-ingestible composition and a solid bee-ingestible composition.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bee-ingestible composition comprises one or more of a protein and a carbohydrate.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of sucrose and corn syrup.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the Varroa destructor mite mRNA encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of ATPase subunit A, RNA polymerase I, RNA polymerase III, Inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), FAS apoptotic inhibitor and α-Tubulin.