Identification and functional characterization of CYP3002B2, a cytochrome P450 conferring amitraz resistance in the major bee parasite Varroa destructor

In this study we compared the transcriptomic profile of three Varroa destructor populations, a multi-resistant from the Modi'in region in Israel, a lowly resistant population from the Volcani Institute in Israel and the reference susceptible population from Athens, Greece. The transcriptomic analysis identified a cytochrome P450 gene, CYP3002B2, which was up-regulated in the multi-resistant population against both the lowly resistant and the susceptible population. Subsequently, CYP3002B2 was functionally expressed and is shown to metabolize effectively amitraz. Therefore, the over-expression of this gene is contributing to the V. destructor amitraz resistance.