COQ2 and infection: The slightly increased expression of immune/defense genes in CN > PN might reflect an escalated defense response in bees fed carbohydrates due to difficulty overcoming Nosema. In fact, defense activation was persistent even during late stage of infection (7 days post infection) relying on antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis (vvl, Diap2, Hel89B) and defense response to fungus (coq2 [136], cact, tub [137], and psh [138]).