Reduced proinsecticide activation by cytochrome P450 confers coumaphos resistance in the major bee parasite <i>Varroa destructor</i>

Abstract

<i>Varroa destructor</i> is one of the main problems in modern beekeeping. Highly selective acaricides with low toxicity to bees are used internationally to control this mite. One of the key acaricides is the organophosphorus (OP) proinsecticide coumaphos, that becomes toxic after enzymatic activation inside <i>Varroa</i> We show here that mites from the island Andros (AN-CR) exhibit high levels of coumaphos resistance. Resistance is not mediated by decreased coumaphos uptake, target-site resistance, or increased detoxification. Reduced proinsecticide activation by a cytochrome P450 enzyme was the main resistance mechanism, a powerful and rarely encountered evolutionary solution to insecticide selection pressure. After treatment with sublethal doses of [¹⁴C] coumaphos, susceptible mite extracts had substantial amounts of coroxon, the activated metabolite of coumaphos, while resistant mites had only trace amounts. This indicates a suppression of the P450 (CYP)-mediated activation step in the AN-CR mites. Bioassays with coroxon to bypass the activation step showed that resistance was dramatically reduced. There are 26 CYPs present in the <i>V. destructor</i> genome. Transcriptome analysis revealed overexpression in resistant mites of <i>CYP4DP24</i> and underexpression of <i>CYP3012A6</i> and <i>CYP4EP4</i> RNA interference of <i>CYP4EP4</i> in the susceptible population, to mimic underexpression seen in the resistant mites, prevented coumaphos activation and decreased coumaphos toxicity.