Innate defense mechanisms against Nosema ceranae in hygienic honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies
Fig 5
Effect of N. ceranae infection levels on Vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression by colony hygienic status.
Vg gene expression levels (ΔΔCt, log-transformed) were impacted significantly by main effects of colony hygienic status (χ²₁ = 6.27, p = 0.012), N. ceranae infection levels (χ²₁ = 4.81, p = 0.028), and sampling day (χ²₄ = 14.27, p = 0.006). There was no significant interaction effect between colony hygienic status and N. ceranae infection levels (χ²₁ = 1.37, p = 0.242). Purple points/lines represent hygienic bees; green points/lines represent non-hygienic bees. Sample sizes are denoted as n = hygienic bees/ non-hygienic bees.