Gene Loss and Ecological Adaption in Honeybee Venom: Exploring the apparent absence of Melittin in Apis andreniformis

Authors

Grace Wong, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Diya Patel, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Rshubh Madabossi, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Kayllee Reyes Lazo, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Jovonne Grant, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Isabella Garcia, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Navi Gill Dhillon, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Publication Date

2026

Keywords

venom, melittin, honeybees, comparative genomics

Abstract

Venom composition within the Apis genus varies due to ecological divergence. In Apis mellifera, melittin constitutes 40–60% of venom dry weight and functions as the primary cytolytic toxin. However, BLAST analyses failed to identify a detectable melittin homolog in Apis andreniformis, despite evidence of comparable venom potency. Using comparative genomics and literature-based venom analysis, we evaluated whether melittin is absent, highly diverged, or functionally replaced. Our findings suggest venom efficacy in A. andreniformis is maintained through enzymatic synergy involving phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), apamin, and antimicrobial peptides, supporting a distributed toxin model shaped by ecological pressures.

This Research has been presented

Florida Undergraduate Research Conference: March 2026

Recommended Citation

Wong, Grace; Patel, Diya; Madabossi, Rshubh; Reyes Lazo, Kayllee; Grant, Jovonne; Garcia, Isabella; and Gill Dhillon, Navi, "Gene Loss and Ecological Adaption in Honeybee Venom: Exploring the apparent absence of Melittin in Apis andreniformis" (2026). Bioinformatics. 14.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/bioinformatics/14