【目的】 蜜蜂肠道是食物消化和营养吸收的主要部位，同时也是抵御病原侵染的重要场所。本研究旨在对意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica（简称意蜂）幼虫肠道的microRNAs（miRNAs）及其靶基因进行深入分析，进而解析miRNAs在幼虫肠道发育和生长过程中的作用。【方法】 利用small RNA-seq（sRNA-seq）技术对意蜂4、5和6日龄幼虫肠道进行测序，通过相关生物信息学软件对意蜂幼虫肠道的miRNAs进行预测及分析。利用TargetFinder软件预测miRNAs的靶基因，然后将靶基因通过BLAST软件进行GO和KEGG数据库的功能注释。利用Cytoscape软件构建miRNAs与其靶向结合的mRNAs的调控网络。【结果】 意蜂幼虫肠道样品的测序共获得96 329 456条有效标签序列（Clean tags），预测出560个miRNAs，包括45个novel miRNAs。上述miRNAs的长度主要分布在17-27 nt之间，且不同长度的miRNAs的首位碱基偏向性具有明显差异。表达量聚类分析结果显示，331个miRNAs为4、5和6日龄幼虫肠道所共有且表达量较为稳定，随着发育时间延长，特有miRNAs的表达水平呈总体增加的趋势。利用TargetFinder软件共预测出16 479个意蜂幼虫肠道的靶基因，其中有8 132和3 361个可分别注释到GO和KEGG数据库，进一步分析发现有224个靶基因注释在Wnt信号通路，分别有2个和27个靶基因与保幼激素和蜕皮激素的调控密切相关。【结论】 本研究在全基因组水平对意蜂幼虫肠道的miRNAs进行预测和分析，研究结果不仅丰富了意蜂的miRNAs信息，也为深入研究意蜂幼虫肠道的生长发育机理打下了初步基础。

[Objectives]  To analyze microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in the the honeybee Apis mellifera ligustica larval gut, and organ that is the main site of food digestion and nutrient absorption and that is also important for pathogen resistance, and reveal the role of miRNAs in honeybee development and growth. [Methods]  The guts of 4, 5 and 6-day-old larvae were sequenced using small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) technology, followed by bioinformatic prediction and analysis of miRNAs. Target genes of DEmiRNAs were predicted with TargetFinder and annotated in the GO and KEGG databases with BLAST. Regulatory networks between DEmiRNAs and target mRNAs were constructed using Cytoscape. [Results]  A total of 96 329 456 clean tags were obtained from deep sequencing of larval gut samples and 560 miRNAs, including 45 novel miRNAs, were predicted. The length of these miRNAs was mainly between 17 and 27 nt, and the first base bias of miRNAs of different lengths varied significantly. Expression clustering showed that 331 miRNAs were shared in 4-, 5- and 6-day-old larvae. Although their expression levels were generally stable, the expression of specific miRNAs showed a general upward trend with larval development. TargetFinder software predicted 16 479 target genes of these miRNAs, of which 8 132 and 3 361 could be annotated in the GO and KEGG databases, respectively. Further investigation demonstrated that 224 target genes were enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway, and that 2 and 27 target genes were closely related to juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid regulation. [Conclusion]  These results provide a foundation for improving understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the larval development of A. m. ligustica.