This USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Project Grant, valued at $299,999.00, was awarded to the University of Southern Mississippi to conduct research on honey bee immunity and the impacts of microsporidian parasites.
The key objectives are to: 1) generate single-cell RNA sequencing of uninfected and parasite-infected honey bee immune cells (hemocytes) to advance understanding of host-parasite interactions, and 2) investigate the role of different hemocyte types in honey bee survival against bacterial and parasitic infections. The research aims to develop a comprehensive "hemocyte atlas" to enhance knowledge of honey bee immune response dynamics and identify potential targets for interventions to improve bee health and survival. This grant-funded project will provide critical insights into honey bee immunology that could benefit other solitary bee species important to U.S. agriculture.
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