Gene Editing in Bee

Bee is winged insects closely related to wasps and ants, known for their roles in pollination. There are over 16,000 known species of bees in seven recognized biological families. Some species-including honey bees, bumblebees, and stingless bees-live socially in colonies while most species (>90%)-including mason bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees-are solitary. Bees feed on nectar and pollen, the former primarily as an energy source and the latter primarily for protein and other nutrients. Most pollen is used as food for their larvae.

Our Services for Gene Editing in Bee

Bee pollination is important both ecologically and commercially, and the decline in wild bees has increased the value of pollination by commercially managed hives of honey bees. Lifeasible provides gene editing services for bee with CRISPR/Cas9 to optimize the genetic traits of bee.

Editable genes	Relevant traits exhibited after editing
*fem*	We can knock out the fem gene in the diploid embryonic stage. When the individual develops into an adult, the sex changes from female to male. The compound eyes of the mutant individuals are obvious, and the testis and mucus glands of male bees are found in the mutant individuals.
*Ampabp2*	We can knock out the sex-determining gene Ampabp2, resulting in embryonic lethality.
*amYki*	We can edit the amYki gene to affect all stages of bee growth and development.
*lncRNA13164*	We can edit the lncRNA13164 gene in the larval gut to affect the expression of some downstream genes, which in turn affects the body's immune response to glomus infection.
*Stk* *e3ul* *or1*	We can edit the stk, e3ul and or1 genes to affect the body's immune response to pathogenic infection.
*PIP5KI*	We can edit the PIP5KI gene to affect the response process of the body's immune system after pathogen infection.

Our Methods for Gene Editing in Bee

CRISPR/Cas9

Lifeasible provides gene editing services for bee through the system of CRISPR/Cas9. We first determine the sgRNA sequence of the target gene, and then synthesize the sgRNA of the target gene. We then microinject the edited material on the dorsal caudal or ventral proximal rostral side of the bee eggs, and perform post-incubation of the injected eggs. After PCR amplification of the injected egg target gene, the obtained PCR amplification product was sequenced to obtain the gene editing result of the target gene.

Advantages

Editing the genes involved in sex determination affects larval sex development and maintenance, and even leads to embryonic death.
Edit growth and development-related genes to affect all growth and development stages of bee.
Edit immune response-related genes to interfere with the body's immune system.
We can reduce the ecological risks of gene editing research in bees.
We have greatly simplified the breeding process for breeding double-knock mutants.

Lifeasible provides gene editing services for bee by CRISPR/Cas9 to affect the immune system, and other growth and development stages of bee with low risk. If you are interested in our services or if you have any questions, please click online inquiry for more detailed information.

Reference

Nie, H.Y.; et al. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of Amyellow-y gene results in melanization defect of the cuticle in adult Apis mellifera. J Insect Physiol, 2021, 132:104264.

For research or industrial raw materials, not for personal medical use!

Services

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