Caratterizzazione e distribuzione del viroma in popolazioni di formiche (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Italia: aspetti biologici, epidemiologici, ecologici e conservazionistici – VIRANT

Funder: Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 – Cascade Call related to the Program “National Biodiversity Future Center – NBFC – Spoke 3” funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU;

Award Number: Cascade Call related to the Program “National Biodiversity Future Center – NBFC – Spoke 3” CN00000033, CUP B63C22000650007;

Start date: 01/11/2024

End date: 31/08/2025

Total NRRP funding for the cascade call: €  2.500.000,00

Total NRRP funding for Unipr: € 250.000,00

The VIRANT project, led by the University of Parma (UNIPR), aims to enhance biological and epidemiological knowledge about ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Italy. Due to their spread, biodiversity and behavior, ants play a key role within multi-trophic networks in numerous environments and engage in strict relationships with virtually all biotic components of their ecosystems. In particular, thanks to their presence and interaction with numerous plant species, ants could play a role as simple hosts or vectors of some of these pathogens to and from other insects including many pollinating hymenopterans. This makes ants excellent study models in the "ecology and sociobiology of disease". The project focuses on the characterization and distribution of the virome in ant populations, examining biological, epidemiological, ecological, and conservation aspects. UNIPR's role involves sampling ant populations across different latitudes and environments in Italy, screening for viruses, and analyzing the ecological and biological factors influencing virus presence and distribution. The project also includes laboratory experiments to study the effects of entomopathogenic viruses on ant biology and behavior, particularly focusing on the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) that is a common pathogen of honeybees.  

UNIPR's research team, with extensive experience in insect biology (in particular myrmecology) and behavioral ecology, will conduct field sampling, virus screening, and laboratory experiments to understand the impact of viruses on ants and their potential role as virus reservoir and vectors especially for other hymenopterans such as bees. The project aims to create a national data bank to monitor the presence and distribution of viral strains in ants, contributing to the broader goals of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) and aligning with the "One-Health" perspective.

The University of Parma is involved in the following WP (work package):

• WP1: Field sampling and subsequent virome screening
• WP2: Laboratory experiments
• WP3: Dissemination

• Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability

The research activity will allow to extend the framework of attention on animal pathogens also to populations of ants obtaining a first extensive survey and analysis of the presence, spread, and distribution of ant viruses in relation to different species and environments. In the increasingly pursued perspective of a "One-Health" vision linked to biodiversity, its threats and consequences for the environment and for humans, the data that are expected to be obtained will be essential for decision-making practices functional to evaluate the state of ecosystems in relation to climate change, the protection of biodiversity also following the spread of alien species and the emergence of new diseases.

NBFC – National Biodiversity Future Center