Computational Analysis of Transcription Factors and Gene Networks Using Honeybees (Apis mellifera) Infected with Nosema ceranae Disease Data

Background and Aim: The immune system constitutes numerous cells, which transport through the bloodstream. There are multiple external and internal factors in regulating this crucial system. Among them, the pathogen is an external factor that plays a negative role in honeybee's immunity and health. European honeybees (A. mellifera) are constantly exposed to many environmental stresses and pathogens. N. ceranae is one of the parasites that have a detrimental impact on the health of honeybees, which especially widespread in European honeybee spices.Methods: The abdomens of ۳۰ honeybees were selected in response to N. ceranae for RNA-Sequencing. Those honeybees were divided into groups representing three different stages: ۵-, ۱۰-and ۱۵-day-old. The Genomatix software was used to obtain and analyze transcription factor regions in the promoter sequences of module genes. Then, differential gene expression analysis was performed based on log۲ (fold-change). In the final step, to explore the interactions among the target genes with their TFs, Cytoscape software was used to visualize the identified gene regulatory networks.Results: According to our results, ۵۴ new transcription factors have been introduced in this mechanism that candidate genes (e.g.,Vg, JHBP-۱, Mrjp۹, Obp۳, and CPR۲۴) and related-TFs (e.g . DCAD, CEBP, DTCF, and DBRC) could have a functional role in A. mellifera infected with N. ceranae disease. Moreover, the networks were enriched for regulatory processes in the immune, cytological and metabolic system, exoskeleton formation, and olfactory traits.Conclusion: These findings can lead to the identification of the genes actively involved in the sensitivity and resistance of N. ceranae. Additionally, these genes can be a potential candidate for further breeding programs such as Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) methods without spending an extra cost, which provides novel insights into the regulatory network of genes-TFs and biologically relevant to each other in infected honeybees (A. mellifera) with N. ceranae disease.

Keywords:

European honeybees , N. ceranae , Regulatory network , Transcription factors