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Papp M, Tóth AG, Békési L, Farkas R, Makrai L, Maróti G, Solymosi N. Apis mellifera filamentous virus from a honey bee gut microbiome survey in Hungary. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5803. [PMID: 38461199 PMCID: PMC10924886 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56320-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
In Hungary, as part of a nationwide, climatically balanced survey for a next-generation sequencing-based study of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiome, repeated sampling was carried out during the honey production season (March and May 2019). Among other findings, the presence of Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) was detected in all samples, some at very high levels. AmFV-derived reads were more abundant in the March samples than in the May samples. In March, a higher abundance of AmFV-originated reads was identified in samples collected from warmer areas compared to those collected from cooler areas. A lower proportion of AmFV-derived reads were identified in samples collected in March from the wetter areas than those collected from the drier areas. AmFV-read abundance in samples collected in May showed no significant differences between groups based on either environmental temperature or precipitation. The AmFV abundance correlated negatively with Bartonella apihabitans, Bartonella choladocola, and positively with Frischella perrara, Gilliamella apicola, Gilliamella sp. ESL0443, Lactobacillus apis, Lactobacillus kullabergensis, Lactobacillus sp. IBH004. De novo metagenome assembly of four samples resulted in almost the complete AmFV genome. According to phylogenetic analysis based on DNA polymerase, the Hungarian strains are closest to the strain CH-05 isolated in Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Papp
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Gréta Tóth
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - László Békési
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | | | - Gergely Maróti
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, HUN-REN, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Faculty of Water Sciences, University of Public Service, Baja, 6500, Hungary
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, 1078, Hungary.
- Department of Phyisics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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Xiaowen C, Jiahao L, Zhaorun D, Wenfeng L, Richou H, Yanping C, Huichun X, Yi Z. Honeybee symbiont Bombella apis could restore larval-to-pupal transition disrupted by antibiotic treatment. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 153:104601. [PMID: 38142957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated the vital roles of gut microbes in the health, immunity, nutrient metabolism, and behavior of adult worker honeybees. However, a few studies have been conducted on gut microbiota associated with the larval stage of honeybees. In the present study, we explored the role of a gut bacterium in larval development and larval-pupal transition in the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana. First, our examination of gut microbial profiling showed that Bombella apis, a larvae-associated bacterium, was the most dominant bacterium colonized in the fifth instar larvae. Second, we demonstrated that tetracycline, an antibiotic used to treat a honeybee bacterial brood disease, could cause the complete depletion of gut bacteria. This antibiotic-induced gut microbiome depletion in turn, significantly impacted the survivorship, pupation rate and emergence rate of the treated larvae. Furthermore, our analysis of gene expression pattens revealed noteworthy changes in key genes. The expression of genes responsible for encoding storage proteins vitellogenin (vg) and major royal jelly protein 1 (mrjp1) was significantly down-regulated in the tetracycline-treated larvae. Concurrently, the expression of krüppel homolog 1(kr-h1), a pivotal gene in endocrine signaling, increased, whilethe expression of broad-complex (br-c) gene that plays a key role in the ecdysone regulation decreased. These alterations indicated a disruption in the coordination of juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid synthesis. Finally, we cultivated B. apis isolated from the fifth instar worker larval of A. cerana and fed tetracycline-treated larvae with a diet replenished by B. apis. This intervention resulted in a significant improvement in the pupation rate, emergence rate, and overall survival rate of the treated larvae. Our findings demonstrate the positive impact of B. apis on honeybee larvae development, providing new evidence of the functional capacities of gut microbes in honeybee growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xiaowen
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Medicinal Plant and Animal Resources, Qinghai Normal University, Xi'ning 810008, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Li Jiahao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Ding Zhaorun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Li Wenfeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Han Richou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Chen Yanping
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Xie Huichun
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Medicinal Plant and Animal Resources, Qinghai Normal University, Xi'ning 810008, China; Qinghai Ecosystem Observation and Research Station in the Southern Qilian Mountains, Haidong 810500, China.
| | - Zhang Yi
- School of Chinese Medicinal Resource, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Yunfu 527527, China.
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Motta EVS, Moran NA. The honeybee microbiota and its impact on health and disease. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:122-137. [PMID: 38049554 PMCID: PMC10998682 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00990-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are key pollinators that support global agriculture and are long-established models for developmental and behavioural research. Recently, they have emerged as models for studying gut microbial communities. Earlier research established that hindguts of adult worker bees harbour a conserved set of host-restricted bacterial species, each showing extensive strain variation. These bacteria can be cultured axenically and introduced to gnotobiotic hosts, and some have basic genetic tools available. In this Review, we explore the most recent research showing how the microbiota establishes itself in the gut and impacts bee biology and health. Microbiota members occupy specific niches within the gut where they interact with each other and the host. They engage in cross-feeding and antagonistic interactions, which likely contribute to the stability of the community and prevent pathogen invasion. An intact gut microbiota provides protection against diverse pathogens and parasites and contributes to the processing of refractory components of the pollen coat and dietary toxins. Absence or disruption of the microbiota results in altered expression of genes that underlie immunity, metabolism, behaviour and development. In the field, such disruption by agrochemicals may negatively impact bees. These findings demonstrate a key developmental and protective role of the microbiota, with broad implications for bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick V S Motta
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Nancy A Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
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Caesar L, Rice DW, McAfee A, Underwood R, Ganote C, Tarpy DR, Foster LJ, Newton ILG. Metagenomic analysis of the honey bee queen microbiome reveals low bacterial diversity and Caudoviricetes phages. mSystems 2024; 9:e0118223. [PMID: 38259099 PMCID: PMC10878037 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01182-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In eusocial insects, the health of the queens-the colony founders and sole reproductive females-is a primary determinant for colony success. Queen failure in the honey bee Apis mellifera, for example, is a major concern of beekeepers who annually suffer colony losses, necessitating a greater knowledge of queen health. Several studies on the microbiome of honey bees have characterized its diversity and shown its importance for the health of worker bees, the female non-reproductive caste. However, the microbiome of workers differs from that of queens, which, in comparison, is still poorly studied. Thus, direct investigations of the queen microbiome are required to understand colony-level microbiome assembly, functional roles, and evolution. Here, we used metagenomics to comprehensively characterize the honey bee queen microbiome. Comparing samples from different geographic locations and breeder sources, we show that the microbiome of queens is mostly shaped by the environment experienced since early life and is predicted to play roles in the breakdown of the diet and protection from pathogens and xenobiotics. We also reveal that the microbiome of queens comprises only four candidate core bacterial species, Apilactobacillus kunkeei, Lactobacillus apis, Bombella apis, and Commensalibacter sp. Interestingly, in addition to bacteria, we show that bacteriophages infect the queen microbiome, for which Lactobacillaceae are predicted to be the main reservoirs. Together, our results provide the basis to understand the honey bee colony microbiome assemblage, can guide improvements in queen-rearing processes, and highlight the importance of considering bacteriophages for queen microbiome health and microbiome homeostasis in eusocial insects.IMPORTANCEThe queen caste plays a central role in colony success in eusocial insects, as queens lay eggs and regulate colony behavior and development. Queen failure can cause colonies to collapse, which is one of the major concerns of beekeepers. Thus, understanding the biology behind the queen's health is a pressing issue. Previous studies have shown that the bee microbiome plays an important role in worker bee health, but little is known about the queen microbiome and its function in vivo. Here, we characterized the queen microbiome, identifying for the first time the present species and their putative functions. We show that the queen microbiome has predicted nutritional and protective roles in queen association and comprises only four consistently present bacterial species. Additionally, we bring to attention the spread of phages in the queen microbiome, which increased in abundance in failing queens and may impact the fate of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lílian Caesar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Danny W. Rice
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Alison McAfee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robyn Underwood
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carrie Ganote
- Luddy School of Informatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - David R. Tarpy
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Gouda MNR, Subramanian S, Kumar A, Ramakrishnan B. Microbial ensemble in the hives: deciphering the intricate gut ecosystem of hive and forager bees of Apis mellifera. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:262. [PMID: 38302671 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09239-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome of honey bees significantly influences vital traits and metabolic processes, including digestion, detoxification, nutrient provision, development, and immunity. However, there is a limited information is available on the gut bacterial diversity of western honey bee populations in India. This study addresses the critical knowledge gap and outcome of which would benefit the beekeepers in India. METHODS AND RESULTS This study investigates the gut bacterial diversity in forager and hive bees of Indian Apis mellifera, employing both culture-based and culture-independent methods. In the culturable study, a distinct difference in gut bacterial alpha and beta diversity between forager and hive bees emerges. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominate, with hive bees exhibiting a Firmicutes-rich gut (65%), while foragers showcase a higher proportion of Proteobacteria (37%). Lactobacillus in the hive bee foregut aligns with the findings by other researchers. Bacterial amplicon sequencing analysisreveals a more intricate bacterial composition with 18 identified phyla, expanding our understanding compared to culturable methods. Hive bees exhibit higher community richness and diversity, likely due to diverse diets and increased social interactions. The core microbiota includes Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, and Bombilactobacillus mellis and Lactobacillus helsingborgensis, crucial for digestion, metabolism, and pathogen resistance. The study emphasises bacteria's role in pollen and nectar digestion, with specific groups like Lactobacillus and Bifidobobacterium spp. associated with carbohydrate metabolism and polysaccharide breakdown. These microbes aid in starch and sucrose digestion, releasing beneficial short-chain fatty acids. CONCLUSION This research highlights the intricate relationship between honey bees and their gut microbiota, showcasing how the diverse and complex microbiome helps bees overcome dietary challenges and enhances overall host health. Understanding these interactions contributes to bee ecology knowledge and has implications for honey bee health management, emphasising the need for further exploration and conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Rudra Gouda
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Sabtharishi Subramanian
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Aundy Kumar
- Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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Zhang G, Dilday S, Kuesel RW, Hopkins B. Phytochemicals, Probiotics, Recombinant Proteins: Enzymatic Remedies to Pesticide Poisonings in Bees. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:54-62. [PMID: 38127782 PMCID: PMC10785755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing global decline of bees threatens biodiversity and food safety as both wild plants and crops rely on bee pollination to produce viable progeny or high-quality products in high yields. Pesticide exposure is a major driving force for the decline, yet pesticide use remains unreconciled with bee conservation since studies demonstrate that bees continue to be heavily exposed to and threatened by pesticides in crops and natural habitats. Pharmaceutical methods, including the administration of phytochemicals, probiotics (beneficial bacteria), and recombinant proteins (enzymes) with detoxification functions, show promise as potential solutions to mitigate pesticide poisonings. We discuss how these new methods can be appropriately developed and applied in agriculture from bee biology and ecotoxicology perspectives. As countless phytochemicals, probiotics, and recombinant proteins exist, this Perspective will provide suggestive guidance to accelerate the development of new techniques by directing research and resources toward promising candidates. Furthermore, we discuss practical limitations of the new methods mentioned above in realistic field applications and propose recommendations to overcome these limitations. This Perspective builds a framework to allow researchers to use new detoxification techniques more efficiently in order to mitigate the harmful impacts of pesticides on bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Sam Dilday
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Ryan William Kuesel
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Brandon Hopkins
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
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Thamm M, Reiß F, Sohl L, Gabel M, Noll M, Scheiner R. Solitary Bees Host More Bacteria and Fungi on Their Cuticle than Social Bees. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2780. [PMID: 38004791 PMCID: PMC10673014 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees come into contact with bacteria and fungi from flowering plants during their foraging trips. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) shows a pronounced hygienic behavior with social interactions, while the solitary red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) lacks a social immune system. Since both visit the same floral resources, it is intriguing to speculate that the body surface of a solitary bee should harbor a more complex microbiome than that of the social honeybee. We compared the cuticular microbiomes of A. mellifera (including three European subspecies) and O. bicornis for the first time by bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS gene-based high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The cuticular microbiome of the solitary O. bicornis was significantly more complex than that of the social A. mellifera. The microbiome composition of A. mellifera subspecies was very similar. However, we counted significantly different numbers of fungi and a higher diversity in the honeybee subspecies adapted to warmer climates. Our results suggest that the cuticular microbiome of bees is strongly affected by visited plants, lifestyle and adaptation to temperature, which have important implications for the maintenance of the health of bees under conditions of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Thamm
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
| | - Fabienne Reiß
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Leon Sohl
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Martin Gabel
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
- Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen, Bee Institute Kirchhain, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
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Nguyen PN, Rehan SM. Wild bee and pollen microbiomes across an urban-rural divide. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad158. [PMID: 38037395 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild pollinators and their microbiota are sensitive to land use changes from anthropogenic activities that disrupt landscape and environmental features. As urbanization and agriculture affect bee habitats, human-led disturbances are driving changes in bee microbiomes, potentially leading to dysbiosis detrimental to bee fitness. This study examines the bacterial, fungal, and plant compositions of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata, and its pollen provisions across an urban-rural divide. We performed metabarcoding of C. calcarata and provisions in Toronto by targeting the 16S rRNA, ITS, and rbcL regions. Despite similar plant composition and diversity across bees and their provisions, there was a greater microbial diversity in pollen provisions than in bees. By characterizing the differences in land use, climate, and pesticide residues that differentiate urban and rural landscapes, we find that urban areas support elevated levels of microbial diversity and more complex networks between microbes and plants than rural areas. However, urban areas may lead to lower relative abundances of known beneficial symbionts and increased levels of pathogens, such as Ascosphaera and Alternaria fungi. Further, rural pollen provisions indicate elevated pesticide residues that may dysregulate symbiosis. As anthropogenic activities continue to alter land use, ever changing environments threaten microbiota crucial in maintaining bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong N Nguyen
- Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
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Rodríguez MA, Fernández LA, Daisley BA, Reynaldi FJ, Allen-Vercoe E, Thompson GJ. Probiotics and in-hive fermentation as a source of beneficial microbes to support the gut microbial health of honey bees. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:19. [PMID: 38055943 PMCID: PMC10699873 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Managed populations of honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus; Hymenoptera: Apidae) are regularly exposed to infectious diseases. Good hive management including the occasional application of antibiotics can help mitigate infectious outbreaks, but new beekeeping tools and techniques that bolster immunity and help control disease transmission are welcome. In this review, we focus on the applications of beneficial microbes for disease management as well as to support hive health and sustainability within the apicultural industry. We draw attention to the latest advances in probiotic approaches as well as the integration of fermented foods (such as water kefir) with disease-fighting properties that might ultimately be delivered to hives as an alternative or partial antidote to antibiotics. There is substantial evidence from in vitro laboratory studies that suggest beneficial microbes could be an effective method for improving disease resistance in honey bees. However, colony level evidence is lacking and there is urgent need for further validation via controlled field trials experimentally designed to test defined microbial compositions against specific diseases of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- María A Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Estudios Apícolas (LabEA-CIC), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Leticia A Fernández
- Laboratorio de Estudios Apícolas (LabEA-CIC), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Brendan A Daisley
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Francisco J Reynaldi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada (CEMIBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Graham J Thompson
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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10
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Nguyen PN, Rehan SM. Environmental Effects on Bee Microbiota. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1487-1498. [PMID: 37099156 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02226-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities and increased land use, which include industrialization, agriculture and urbanization, directly affect pollinators by changing habitats and floral availability, and indirectly by influencing their microbial composition and diversity. Bees form vital symbioses with their microbiota, relying on microorganisms to perform physiological functions and aid in immunity. As altered environments and climate threaten bees and their microbiota, characterizing the microbiome and its complex relationships with its host offers insights into understanding bee health. This review summarizes the role of sociality in microbiota establishment, as well as examines if such factors result in increased susceptibility to altered microbiota due to environmental changes. We characterize the role of geographic distribution, temperature, precipitation, floral resources, agriculture, and urbanization on bee microbiota. Bee microbiota are affected by altered surroundings regardless of sociality. Solitary bees that predominantly acquire their microbiota through the environment are particularly sensitive to such effects. However, the microbiota of obligately eusocial bees are also impacted by environmental changes despite typically well conserved and socially inherited microbiota. We provide an overview of the role of microbiota in plant-pollinator relationships and how bee microbiota play a larger role in urban ecology, offering microbial connections between animals, humans, and the environment. Understanding bee microbiota presents opportunities for sustainable land use restoration and aiding in wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Canada.
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11
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Vázquez DE, Villegas Martínez LE, Medina V, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Zavala JA, Farina WM. Glyphosate affects larval gut microbiota and metamorphosis of honey bees with differences between rearing procedures. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122200. [PMID: 37460013 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The honey bee Apis mellifera is a sentinel species of the pollinator community which is exposed to a wide variety of pesticides. In the last half-century, the pesticide most applied worldwide has been the herbicide glyphosate (GLY) used for weed control and with microbiocide effects. After its application in crops, the GLY residues have been detected in flowers visited by honey bees as well as in the stored food of their hives. Therefore, the honey bee brood can ingest the herbicide during larval development. Recent studies proved that GLY has detrimental effects on adult honey bees and other insects associated with the disturbance of their gut microbiota. GLY induces changes in the growth, metabolism and survival of honey bees and stingless bees reared in vitro. However, the effect of GLY on larval microbiota is unknown so far and there are few studies with an in-hive exposure to GLY. For these reasons, this study aims to determine whether GLY induces dysbiosis in honey bee larvae and affects their metamorphosis during the exposure period (pre-defecation) and the post-exposure period. Furthermore, we assessed this herbicide in vitro and in the hive to compare its effects on different rearing procedures. Finally, we tested the pigment BLUE1 as an indirect exposure marker to detect and estimate the in-hive intake concentration of GLY. Our results indicate that the intake of field-relevant concentrations of GLY induced a slowdown in growth with dysbiosis in the larval gut microbiota followed by late effects on their metamorphosis such as teratogenesis and mortality of newly emerged bees. Nevertheless, brood from the same colonies expressed different signs of toxicity depending on the rearing procedure and in a dose-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego E Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Virginia Medina
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Cátedra de Bioquímica, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales, (INBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jose M Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge A Zavala
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Cátedra de Bioquímica, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales, (INBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Walter M Farina
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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12
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Wirta H, Jones M, Peña‐Aguilera P, Chacón‐Duque C, Vesterinen E, Ovaskainen O, Abrego N, Roslin T. The role of seasonality in shaping the interactions of honeybees with other taxa. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10580. [PMID: 37818248 PMCID: PMC10560870 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eltonian niche of a species is defined as its set of interactions with other taxa. How this set varies with biotic, abiotic and human influences is a core question of modern ecology. In seasonal environments, the realized Eltonian niche is likely to vary due to periodic changes in the occurrence and abundance of interaction partners and changes in species behavior and preferences. Also, human management decisions may leave strong imprints on species interactions. To compare the impact of seasonality to that of management effects, honeybees provide an excellent model system. Based on DNA traces of interaction partners archived in honey, we can infer honeybee interactions with floral resources and microbes in the surrounding habitats, their hives, and themselves. Here, we resolved seasonal and management-based impacts on honeybee interactions by sampling beehives repeatedly during the honey-storing period of honeybees in Finland. We then use a genome-skimming approach to identify the taxonomic contents of the DNA in the samples. To compare the effects of the season to the effects of location, management, and the colony itself in shaping honeybee interactions, we used joint species distribution modeling. We found that honeybee interactions with other taxa varied greatly among taxonomic and functional groups. Against a backdrop of wide variation in the interactions documented in the DNA content of honey from bees from different hives, regions, and beekeepers, the imprint of the season remained relatively small. Overall, a honey-based approach offers unique insights into seasonal variation in the identity and abundance of interaction partners among honeybees. During the summer, the availability and use of different interaction partners changed substantially, but hive- and taxon-specific patterns were largely idiosyncratic as modified by hive management. Thus, the beekeeper and colony identity are as important determinants of the honeybee's realized Eltonian niche as is seasonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Wirta
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Mirkka Jones
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Helsinki Institute of Life ScienceUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Pablo Peña‐Aguilera
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Camilo Chacón‐Duque
- Centre for PalaeogeneticsStockholmSweden
- Department of Archaeology and Classical StudiesStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
| | | | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity DynamicsNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Nerea Abrego
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Tomas Roslin
- Department of Agricultural SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
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13
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Lazarova S, Lozanova L, Neov B, Shumkova R, Balkanska R, Palova N, Salkova D, Radoslavov G, Hristov P. Composition and diversity of bacterial communities associated with honey bee foragers from two contrasting environments. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 113:693-702. [PMID: 37545319 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485323000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The honey bee is associated with a diverse community of microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists), commonly known as the microbiome. Here, we present data on honey bee microbiota from two localities having different surrounding landscapes - mountain (the Rhodope Mountains) and lowland (the Danube plain). The bacterial communities of abdomen of adult bees were studied using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition and dominance structure and their variability within and between localities, alpha and beta diversity, and core and differential taxa were compared at different hierarchical levels (operational taxonomic units to phylum). Seven genera (Lactobacillus, Gilliamella, Bifidobacterium, Commensalibacter, Bartonella, Snodgrassella, and Frischella), known to include core gut-associated phylotypes or species clusters, dominated (92-100%) the bacterial assemblages. Significant variations were found in taxa distribution across both geographical regions and within each apiary. Lactobacillus (Firmicutes) prevailed significantly in the mountain locality followed by Gilliamella and Bartonella (Proteobacteria). Bacteria of four genera, core (Bartonella and Lactobacillus) and non-core (Pseudomonas and Morganella), dominated the bee-associated assemblages of the Danube plain locality. Several ubiquitous bacterial genera (e.g., Klebsiella, Serratia, and Providencia), some species known also as potential and opportunistic bee pathogens, had been found in the lowland locality. Beta diversity analyses confirmed the observed differences in the bacterial communities from both localities. The occurrence of non-core taxa contributes substantially to higher microbial richness and diversity in bees from the Danube plain locality. We assume that the observed differences in the microbiota of honey bees from both apiaries are due to a combination of factors specific for each region. The surrounding landscape features of both localities and related vegetation, anthropogenic impact and land use intensity, the beekeeping management practices, and bee health status might all contribute to observed differences in bee microbiota traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stela Lazarova
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Lyudmila Lozanova
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Boyko Neov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rositsa Shumkova
- Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria
| | - Ralitsa Balkanska
- Department 'Special Branches', Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Academy, 2230 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria
| | - Nadezhda Palova
- Scientific Center of Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, Sredets 8300, Bulgaria
| | - Delka Salkova
- Department of Experimental Parasitology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi Radoslavov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Hristov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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14
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Mills TJT, Nelson TM, Pearson LA, Neilan BA. Hive Transplantation Has Minimal Impact on the Core Gut Microbiome of the Australian Stingless Bee, Tetragonula carbonaria. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2086-2096. [PMID: 37088849 PMCID: PMC10497653 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02222-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria residing in the guts of pollinating insects play a key role in nutrient acquisition, digestion, and resistance to pests and diseases. Imbalances in microbial flora in response to environmental change and stress can therefore impact insect health and resilience. This study is aimed at defining the core gut microbiome of the Australian native stingless bee, Tetragonula carbonaria, and exploring the impact of colony transplantation on gut health. The gut microbiomes of nine forager bees from natural (log) and manufactured (box) hives were examined via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Some differences were observed at the ASV level between the microbiomes of log and box hive bees. However, a core microbiome, dominated by Lactobacillus spp., unclassified Acetobacteraceae spp., and Bombella spp., was maintained. Further, the inferred functional potential of the microbiomes was consistent across all individuals. This study highlights that although hive transplantation has an impact on the overall diversity of stingless bee gut microbiomes, it is unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the overall health and resilience of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J T Mills
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - T M Nelson
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - L A Pearson
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - B A Neilan
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
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15
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Tang Q, Li W, Wang Z, Dong Z, Li X, Li J, Huang Q, Cao Z, Gong W, Zhao Y, Wang M, Guo J. Gut microbiome helps honeybee (Apis mellifera) resist the stress of toxic nectar plant (Bidens pilosa) exposure: Evidence for survival and immunity. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2020-2031. [PMID: 37291689 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Honeybee (Apis mellifera) ingestion of toxic nectar plants can threaten their health and survival. However, little is known about how to help honeybees mitigate the effects of toxic nectar plant poisoning. We exposed honeybees to different concentrations of Bidens pilosa flower extracts and found that B. pilosa exposure significantly reduced honeybee survival in a dose-dependent manner. By measuring changes in detoxification and antioxidant enzymes and the gut microbiome, we found that superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and carboxylesterase activities were significantly activated with increasing concentrations of B. pilosa and that different concentrations of B. pilosa exposure changed the structure of the honeybee gut microbiome, causing a significant reduction in the abundance of Bartonella (p < 0.001) and an increase in Lactobacillus. Importantly, by using Germ-Free bees, we found that colonization by the gut microbes Bartonella apis and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (original classification as Lactobacillus kunkeei) significantly increased the resistance of honeybees to B. pilosa and significantly upregulated bee-associated immune genes. These results suggest that honeybee detoxification systems possess a level of resistance to the toxic nectar plant B. pilosa and that the gut microbes B. apis and A. kunkeei may augment resistance to B. pilosa stress by improving host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihe Tang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wanli Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhengwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jinghong, China
| | - Zhixiang Dong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xijie Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jiali Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhe Cao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Yunnan Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture, Kunming, China
| | - Yazhou Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Minzeng Wang
- Beijing Xishan Experimental Forest Farm, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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16
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Daisley BA, Pitek AP, Torres C, Lowery R, Adair BA, Al KF, Niño B, Burton JP, Allen-Vercoe E, Thompson GJ, Reid G, Niño E. Delivery mechanism can enhance probiotic activity against honey bee pathogens. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1382-1395. [PMID: 37311937 PMCID: PMC10432525 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations play a crucial role in supporting pollination of food crops but are facing unsustainable colony losses, largely due to rampant disease spread within agricultural environments. While mounting evidence suggests that select lactobacilli strains (some being natural symbionts of honey bees) can protect against multiple infections, there has been limited validation at the field-level and few methods exist for applying viable microorganisms to the hive. Here, we compare how two different delivery systems-standard pollen patty infusion and a novel spray-based formulation-affect supplementation of a three-strain lactobacilli consortium (LX3). Hives in a pathogen-dense region of California are supplemented for 4 weeks and then monitored over a 20-week period for health outcomes. Results show both delivery methods facilitate viable uptake of LX3 in adult bees, although the strains do not colonize long-term. Despite this, LX3 treatments induce transcriptional immune responses leading to sustained decreases in many opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as selective enrichment of core symbionts including Bombilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bartonella spp. These changes are ultimately associated with greater brood production and colony growth relative to vehicle controls, and with no apparent trade-offs in ectoparasitic Varroa mite burdens. Furthermore, spray-LX3 exerts potent activities against Ascosphaera apis (a deadly brood pathogen) likely stemming from in-hive dispersal differences, whereas patty-LX3 promotes synergistic brood development via unique nutritional benefits. These findings provide a foundational basis for spray-based probiotic application in apiculture and collectively highlight the importance of considering delivery method in disease management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Daisley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Andrew P Pitek
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Christina Torres
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Robin Lowery
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Bethany A Adair
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Kait F Al
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Bernardo Niño
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jeremy P Burton
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Graham J Thompson
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Elina Niño
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA, 95618, USA.
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17
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Fernandes KE, Stanfield B, Frost EA, Shanahan ER, Susantio D, Dong AZ, Tran TD, Cokcetin NN, Carter DA. Low Levels of Hive Stress Are Associated with Decreased Honey Activity and Changes to the Gut Microbiome of Resident Honey Bees. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0074223. [PMID: 37289060 PMCID: PMC10434159 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00742-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) face increasing threats to their health, particularly from the degradation of floral resources and chronic pesticide exposure. The properties of honey and the bee gut microbiome are known to both affect and be affected by bee health. Using samples from healthy hives and hives showing signs of stress from a single apiary with access to the same floral resources, we profiled the antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honey and determined the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the bee gut and the hive environment. We found honey from healthy hives was significantly more active than honey from stressed hives, with increased phenolics and antioxidant content linked to higher antimicrobial activity. The bacterial microbiome was more diverse in stressed hives, suggesting they may have less capacity to exclude potential pathogens. Finally, bees from healthy and stressed hives had significant differences in core and opportunistically pathogenic taxa in gut samples. Our results emphasize the need for understanding and proactively managing bee health. IMPORTANCE Honey bees serve as pollinators for many plants and crops worldwide and produce valuable hive products such as honey and wax. Various sources of stress can disrupt honey bee colonies, affecting their health and productivity. Growing evidence suggests that honey is vitally important to hive functioning and overall health. In this study, we determined the antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honey from healthy hives and hives showing signs of stress, finding that honey from healthy hives was significantly more antimicrobial, with increased phenolics and antioxidant content. We next profiled the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the bee gut and the hive environment, finding significant differences between healthy and stressed hives. Our results underscore the need for greater understanding in this area, as we found even apparently minor stress can have implications for overall hive fitness as well as the economic potential of hive products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya E Fernandes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bridie Stanfield
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Frost
- ABGU, A Joint Venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Paterson, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erin R Shanahan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Susantio
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew Z Dong
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Trong D Tran
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nural N Cokcetin
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dee A Carter
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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18
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Gaubert J, Giovenazzo P, Derome N. Individual and social defenses in Apis mellifera: a playground to fight against synergistic stressor interactions. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1172859. [PMID: 37485064 PMCID: PMC10360197 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1172859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The honeybee is an important species for the agri-food and pharmaceutical industries through bee products and crop pollination services. However, honeybee health is a major concern, because beekeepers in many countries are experiencing significant colony losses. This phenomenon has been linked to the exposure of bees to multiple stresses in their environment. Indeed, several biotic and abiotic stressors interact with bees in a synergistic or antagonistic way. Synergistic stressors often act through a disruption of their defense systems (immune response or detoxification). Antagonistic interactions are most often caused by interactions between biotic stressors or disruptive activation of bee defenses. Honeybees have developed behavioral defense strategies and produce antimicrobial compounds to prevent exposure to various pathogens and chemicals. Expanding our knowledge about these processes could be used to develop strategies to shield bees from exposure. This review aims to describe current knowledge about the exposure of honeybees to multiple stresses and the defense mechanisms they have developed to protect themselves. The effect of multi-stress exposure is mainly due to a disruption of the immune response, detoxification, or an excessive defense response by the bee itself. In addition, bees have developed defenses against stressors, some behavioral, others involving the production of antimicrobials, or exploiting beneficial external factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Gaubert
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Laboratoire Giovenazzo, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Derome
- Laboratoire Derome, Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Laboratoire Giovenazzo, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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19
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Wang K, Cai M, Sun J, Chen H, Lin Z, Wang Z, Niu Q, Ji T. Atrazine exposure can dysregulate the immune system and increase the susceptibility against pathogens in honeybees in a dose-dependent manner. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 452:131179. [PMID: 36948121 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Recently, concerns regarding the impact of agrochemical pesticides on non-target organisms have increased. The effect of atrazine, the second-most widely used herbicide in commercial farming globally, on honeybees remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluated how atrazine impacts the survival of honeybees and pollen and sucrose consumption, investigating the morphology and mRNA expression levels of midgut tissue, along with bacterial composition (relative abundance) and load (absolute abundance) in the whole gut. Atrazine did not affect mortality, but high exposure (37.3 mg/L) reduced pollen and sucrose consumption, resulting in peritrophic membrane dysplasia. Sodium channels and chitin synthesis were considered potential atrazine targets, with the expression of various genes related to lipid metabolism, detoxification, immunity, and chemosensory activity being inhibited after atrazine exposure. Importantly, 37.3 mg/L atrazine exposure substantially altered the composition and size of the gut microbial community, clearly reducing both the absolute and relative abundance of three core gram-positive taxa, Lactobacillus Firm-5, Lactobacillus Firm-4, and Bifidobacterium asteroides. With altered microbiome composition and a weakened immune system following atrazine exposure, honeybees became more susceptible to infection by the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens. Thus, considering its scale of use, atrazine could negatively impact honeybee populations worldwide, which may adversely affect global food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minqi Cai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Heng Chen
- Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheguang Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin, China
| | - Qingsheng Niu
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin, China
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu, China.
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20
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Truong AT, Kang JE, Yoo MS, Nguyen TT, Youn SY, Yoon SS, Cho YS. Probiotic candidates for controlling Paenibacillus larvae, a causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honey bee. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:150. [PMID: 37226109 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND American foulbrood (AFB) disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae is dangerous, and threatens beekeeping. The eco-friendly treatment method using probiotics is expected to be the prospective method for controlling this pathogen in honey bees. Therefore, this study investigated the bacterial species that have antimicrobial activity against P. larvae. RESULTS Overall, 67 strains of the gut microbiome were isolated and identified in three phyla; the isolates had the following prevalence rates: Firmicutes 41/67 (61.19%), Actinobacteria 24/67 (35.82%), and Proteobacteria 2/67 (2.99%). Antimicrobial properties against P. larvae on agar plates were seen in 20 isolates of the genus Lactobacillus, Firmicutes phylum. Six representative strains from each species (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, L. melliventris HSY3_B5, L. kimbladii AHS3_B36, L. kullabergensis OMG2_B25, and L. mellis OMG2_B33) with the largest inhibition zones on agar plates were selected for in vitro larvae rearing challenges. The results showed that three isolates (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, and L. melliventris HSY3_B5) had the potential to be probiotic candidates with the properties of safety to larvae, inhibition against P. larvae in infected larvae, and high adhesion ability. CONCLUSIONS Overall, 20 strains of the genus Lactobacillus with antimicrobial properties against P. larvae were identified in this study. Three representative strains from different species (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, and L. melliventris HSY3_B5) were evaluated to be potential probiotic candidates and were selected for probiotic development for the prevention of AFB. Importantly, the species L. panisapium isolated from larvae was identified with antimicrobial activity for the first time in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Tai Truong
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen, 250000, Vietnam
| | - Jeong Eun Kang
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yoo
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Thi Thu Nguyen
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Youn Youn
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Seek Yoon
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.
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Kardas E, González-Rosario AM, Giray T, Ackerman JD, Godoy-Vitorino F. Gut microbiota variation of a tropical oil-collecting bee species far exceeds that of the honeybee. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1122489. [PMID: 37266018 PMCID: PMC10229882 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1122489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interest for bee microbiota has recently been rising, alleviating the gap in knowledge in regard to drivers of solitary bee gut microbiota. However, no study has addressed the microbial acquisition routes of tropical solitary bees. For both social and solitary bees, the gut microbiota has several essential roles such as food processing and immune responses. While social bees such as honeybees maintain a constant gut microbiota by direct transmission from individuals of the same hive, solitary bees do not have direct contact between generations. They thus acquire their gut microbiota from the environment and/or the provision of their brood cell. To establish the role of life history in structuring the gut microbiota of solitary bees, we characterized the gut microbiota of Centris decolorata from a beach population in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Females provide the initial brood cell provision for the larvae, while males patrol the nest without any contact with it. We hypothesized that this behavior influences their gut microbiota, and that the origin of larval microbiota is from brood cell provisions. Methods We collected samples from adult females and males of C. decolorata (n = 10 each, n = 20), larvae (n = 4), and brood cell provisions (n = 10). For comparison purposes, we also sampled co-occurring female foragers of social Apis mellifera (n = 6). The samples were dissected, their DNA extracted, and gut microbiota sequenced using 16S rRNA genes. Pollen loads of A. mellifera and C. decolorata were analyzed and interactions between bee species and their plant resources were visualized using a pollination network. Results While we found the gut of A. mellifera contained the same phylotypes previously reported in the literature, we noted that the variability in the gut microbiota of solitary C. decolorata was significantly higher than that of social A. mellifera. Furthermore, the microbiota of adult C. decolorata mostly consisted of acetic acid bacteria whereas that of A. mellifera mostly had lactic acid bacteria. Among C. decolorata, we found significant differences in alpha and beta diversity between adults and their brood cell provisions (Shannon and Chao1 p < 0.05), due to the higher abundance of families such as Rhizobiaceae and Chitinophagaceae in the brood cells, and of Acetobacteraceae in adults. In addition, the pollination network analysis indicated that A. mellifera had a stronger interaction with Byrsonima sp. and a weaker interaction with Combretaceae while interactions between C. decolorata and its plant resources were constant with the null model. Conclusion Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that behavioral differences in brood provisioning between solitary and social bees is a factor leading to relatively high variation in the microbiota of the solitary bee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Kardas
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| | | | - Tugrul Giray
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - James D. Ackerman
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, United States
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22
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Gu Y, Han W, Wang Y, Liang D, Gao J, Zhong Y, Zhao S, Wang S. Xylocopa caerulea and Xylocopa auripennis harbor a homologous gut microbiome related to that of eusocial bees. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124964. [PMID: 37266019 PMCID: PMC10229870 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Eusocial bees, such as bumblebees and honey bees, harbor host-specific gut microbiota through their social behaviors. Conversely, the gut microbiota of solitary bees is erratic owing to their lack of eusocial activities. Carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa) are long-lived bees that do not exhibit advanced eusociality like honey bees. However, they often compete for nests to reproduce. Xylocopa caerulea and Xylocopa auripennis are important pollinators of wild plants on Hainan Island. Whether they have host-specific bacteria in their guts similar to eusocial bees remains unknown. Methods We targeted the bacterial 16S rRNA V3-V4 region to investigate the diversity of bacterial symbionts in the fore-midgut and hindgut of two carpenter bees, X. caerulea and X. auripennis. Results A maximum of 4,429 unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected from all samples, belonging to 10 different phyla. X. caerulea and X. auripennis shared similar bacterial community profiles, with Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Orbaceae being dominant in their entire guts. X. caerulea and X. auripennis harbor a highly conserved core set of bacteria, including the genera Candidatus Schmidhempelia and Bombiscardovia. These two bacterial taxa from carpenter bees are closely related to those isolated from bumblebees. The LEfSe analysis showed that Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and the genus Bombilactobacillus were significantly enriched in the hindguts of both carpenter bees. Functional prediction suggested that the most enriched pathways were involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Conclusions Our results revealed the structure of the gut microbiota in two carpenter bees and confirmed the presence of some core bacterial taxa that were previously only found in the guts of social bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Gu
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wensu Han
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Bee Industry Technology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Yuquan Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Danlei Liang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinglin Gao
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Bee Industry Technology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Yihai Zhong
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Bee Industry Technology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Shan Zhao
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Bee Industry Technology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Shijie Wang
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
- Bee Industry Technology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
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23
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Balbuena S, Castelli L, Zunino P, Antúnez K. Effect of Chronic Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Imidacloprid and Nosema ceranae on Immunity, Gut Microbiota, and Survival of Africanized Honey Bees. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:1485-1497. [PMID: 35460373 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02014-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale honey bee colony losses reported around the world have been associated with intoxication with pesticides, as with the presence of pests and pathogens. Among pesticides, neonicotinoid insecticides are the biggest threat. Due to their extensive use, they can be found in all agricultural environments, including soil, water, and air, are persistent in the environment, and are highly toxic for honey bees. In addition, infection by different pests and pathogens can act synergistically, weakening bees. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of imidacloprid alone or combined with the microsporidia Nosema ceranae on the immune response, deformed wing virus infection (DWV), gut microbiota, and survival of Africanized honey bees. We found that imidacloprid affected the expression of some genes associated with immunity generating an altered physiological state, although it did not favor DWV or N. ceranae infection. The pesticide alone did not affect honey bee gut microbiota, as previously suggested, but when administered to N. ceranae infected bees, it generated significant changes. Finally, both stress factors caused high mortality rates. Those results illustrate the negative impact of imidacloprid alone or combined with N. ceranae on Africanized honey bees and are useful to understand colony losses in Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Balbuena
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia, 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Loreley Castelli
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia, 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Zunino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia, 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Karina Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia, 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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24
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Steinigeweg C, Alkassab AT, Erler S, Beims H, Wirtz IP, Richter D, Pistorius J. Impact of a Microbial Pest Control Product Containing Bacillus thuringiensis on Brood Development and Gut Microbiota of Apis mellifera Worker Honey Bees. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:1300-1307. [PMID: 35389085 PMCID: PMC10167108 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02004-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
To avoid potential adverse side effects of chemical plant protection products, microbial pest control products (MPCP) are commonly applied as biological alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the biosafety of a MPCP with the active organism Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai (strain: ABTS-1857). An in-hive feeding experiment was performed under field-realistic conditions to examine the effect of B. thuringiensis (B. t.) on brood development and the bacterial abundance of the core gut microbiome (Bifidobacterium asteroids, Gilliamella apicola, the group of Lactobacillus and Snodgrasella alvi) in Apis mellifera worker bees. We detected a higher brood termination rate and a non-successful development into worker bees of treated colonies compared to those of the controls. For the gut microbiome, all tested core members showed a significantly lower normalized abundance in bees of the treated colonies than in those of the controls; thus, a general response of the gut microbiome may be assumed. Consequently, colony exposure to B. t. strain ABTS-1857 had a negative effect on brood development under field-realistic conditions and caused dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Further studies with B. t.-based products, after field-realistic application in bee attractive crops, are needed to evaluate the potential risk of these MPCPs on honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdulrahim T Alkassab
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) - FederalResearch Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Silvio Erler
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) - FederalResearch Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hannes Beims
- Institute for Apiculture, Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), Celle, Germany
| | - Ina P Wirtz
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) - FederalResearch Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dania Richter
- Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jens Pistorius
- Institute for Bee Protection, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) - FederalResearch Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
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25
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Fernandez De Landa G, Alberoni D, Baffoni L, Fernandez De Landa M, Revainera PD, Porrini LP, Brasesco C, Quintana S, Zumpano F, Eguaras MJ, Maggi MD, Di Gioia D. The gut microbiome of solitary bees is mainly affected by pathogen assemblage and partially by land use. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:38. [PMID: 37098635 PMCID: PMC10131457 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00494-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pollinators, including solitary bees, are drastically declining worldwide. Among the factors contributing to this decline, bee pathogens and different land uses are of relevance. The link between the gut microbiome composition and host health has been recently studied for social pollinators (e.g. honeybees), whereas the information related to solitary bees is sparse. This work aimed at the characterization of the gut microbiome of the solitary bees Xylocopa augusti, Eucera fervens and Lasioglossum and attempted to correlate the gut microbial composition with the presence and load of different pathogens and land uses. Solitary bees were sampled in different sites (i.e. a farm, a natural reserve, and an urban plant nursery) showing different land uses. DNA was extracted from the gut, 16S rRNA gene amplified and sequenced. Eight pathogens, known for spillover from managed bees to wild ones, were quantified with qPCR. The results showed that the core microbiome profile of the three solitary bees significantly varied in the different species. Pseudomonas was found as the major core taxa in all solitary bees analyzed, whereas Lactobacillus, Spiroplasma and Sodalis were the second most abundant taxa in X. augusti, E. fervens and Lasioglossum, respectively. The main pathogens detected with qPCR were Nosema ceranae, Nosema bombi and Crithidia bombi, although differently abundant in the different bee species and sampling sites. Most microbial taxa did not show any correlation with the land use, apart from Snodgrassella and Nocardioides, showing higher abundances on less anthropized sites. Conversely, the pathogens species and load strongly affected the gut microbial composition, with Bifidobacterium, Apibacter, Serratia, Snodgrassella and Sodalis abundance that positively or negatively correlated with the detected pathogens load. Therefore, pathogens presence and load appear to be the main factor shaping the gut microbiome of solitary bees in Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Fernandez De Landa
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Daniele Alberoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Loredana Baffoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mateo Fernandez De Landa
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Pablo Damian Revainera
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Leonardo Pablo Porrini
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Constanza Brasesco
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Silvina Quintana
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Francisco Zumpano
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Funes 3350, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-CONICET, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Martìn Javier Eguaras
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Matias Daniel Maggi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Asociación Simple CIC PBA, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata, CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones en Abejas Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, , Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Diana Di Gioia
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy
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Xiong ZR, Sogin JH, Worobo RW. Microbiome analysis of raw honey reveals important factors influencing the bacterial and fungal communities. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1099522. [PMID: 36713191 PMCID: PMC9877413 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1099522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Raw honeys contain diverse microbial communities. Previous studies have focused on isolating bacteria and fungi that are culturable, while missing a large proportion of the microbial community due to culture-based constraints. This study utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the composition of microorganisms in raw honey; these data can reveal environmental and physicochemical variables that are associated with different microbial communities. To examine the microbial composition (bacteria and fungi) of raw honey and analyze its association with physicochemical properties, four types of honey (monofloral, wildflower, manuka, and feral; n total = 36) were analyzed via amplicon metagenomics. The analyzed honey samples had relatively similar bacterial communities but more distinct and diverse fungal communities. Honey type was determined as a significant factor influencing alpha and beta diversity metrics of bacterial and fungal communities. For the bacterial communities, titratable acidity (TA) was associated with community richness and diversity. For the fungal communities, Brix, TA, and color were associated with community richness, while water activity and color were associated with community diversity. Additionally, important bacterial and fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that influenced the overall community were identified. Results from this study provide important insights into the microbial communities associated with different types of raw honey, which could improve our understanding of microbial dynamics in beehives, improve honey production, and prevent honeybee disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Ray Xiong
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Tan Y, Gong B, Zhang Q, Li C, Weng J, Zhou X, Jin L. Diversity of endosymbionts in camellia spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus camelliae (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), estimated by 16S rRNA analysis and their biological implications. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124386. [PMID: 37138629 PMCID: PMC10149810 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Camellia spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus camelliae (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major pest in tea, which poses a serious threat to tea production. Similar to many insects, various bacterial symbioses inside A. camelliae may participate in the reproduction, metabolism, and detoxification of the host. However, few reports included research on the microbial composition and influence on A. camelliae growth. We first applied high-throughput sequencing of the V4 region in the 16S rRNA of symbiotic bacteria to study its component and effect on the biological trait of A. camelliae by comparing it with the antibiotic treatment group. The population parameters, survival rate, and fecundity rate of A. camelliae were also analyzed using the age-stage two-sex life table. Our results demonstrated that phylum Proteobacteria (higher than 96.15%) dominated the whole life cycle of A. camelliae. It unveiled the presence of Candidatus Portiera (primary endosymbiont) (67.15-73.33%), Arsenophonus (5.58-22.89%), Wolbachia (4.53-11.58%), Rickettsia (0.75-2.59%), and Pseudomonas (0.99-1.88%) genus. Antibiotic treatment caused a significant decrease in the endosymbiont, which negatively affected the host's biological properties and life process. For example, 1.5% rifampicin treatment caused a longer preadult stage in the offspring generation (55.92 d) compared to the control (49.75d) and a lower survival rate (0.36) than the control (0.60). The decreased intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R 0), and prolonged mean generation time (T) were signs of all disadvantageous effects associated with symbiotic reduction. Our findings confirmed the composition and richness of symbiotic bacteria in larva and adult of A. camelliae by an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 analysis and their influence on the development of the host by demographic research. Together, the results suggested that symbiotic bacteria play an important role in manipulating the biological development of their hosts, which might help us for developing new pest control agents and technologies for better management of A. camelliae.
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Magagnoli S, Alberoni D, Baffoni L, Martini A, Marini F, Di Gioia D, Mazzon M, Marzadori C, Campanelli G, Burgio G. The ground beetle Pseudoophonus rufipes gut microbiome is influenced by the farm management system. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22638. [PMID: 36587034 PMCID: PMC9805440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25408-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intensive conventional farm management, characterized by high agrochemicals input, could alter the composition of microbial communities with potential negative effects on both functional traits and the ecosystem services provided. In this study, we investigated the gut microbial composition of a high ecological relevance carabid Pseudoophonus rufipes, sampled in two fields subjected to conventional and organic management practices. Carabids' gut microbiota was analyzed via qPCR and NGS. Profound differences between the microbial composition of organic and conventional samples were detected: the abundance of Tenericutes and Proteobacteria was significant higher in organic and conventional samples, respectively. Spiroplasmataceae and Bifidobacteriaceae families were significantly more abundant in samples from organic management, while Enterococcaceae, Morganellaceae and Yersiniaceae were more abundant in samples from conventional management. The diverse gut microbial composition of insects between the two management systems is related to the pressure of environmental stressors and it may representing an important bioindication of ecological functions and services provided by a carabid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Magagnoli
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniele Alberoni
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Loredana Baffoni
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Martini
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Marini
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Diana Di Gioia
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Mazzon
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Marzadori
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Campanelli
- Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia – Centro di ricerca Orticoltura e Florovivaismo (CREA -OF) - Sede di Monsampolo del Tronto, via Salaria 1, 63077 Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy
| | - Giovanni Burgio
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari (DISTAL), Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Yang Y, Liu X, Guo J, Xu H, Liu Y, Lu Z. Gut bacterial communities and their assembly processing in Cnaphalocrocis medinalis from different geographic sources. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1035644. [PMID: 36590437 PMCID: PMC9797858 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1035644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The insect gut harbors numerous microorganisms that may have functions in development and reproduction, digestion, immunity and protection, and detoxification. Recently, the influence factors on gut microbiota were evaluated in the rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, a widespread insect pest in paddy fields. However, the relationship between gut microbiota composition and geography is poorly understood in C. medinalis. Methods To reveal the patterns of C. medinalis gut bacterial communities across geographic sources and the ecological processes driving the patterns, C. medinalis were sampled from six geographic sources in China, Thailand, and Vietnam in 2016, followed by gut bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results A total of 22 bacterial phyla, 56 classes, 84 orders, 138 families, 228 genera, and 299 species were generated in C. medinalis from six geographic sources. All alpha diversity indices differed among the samples from different geographic sources. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) both revealed significant differences in the gut microbiota of C. medinalis from six geographic sources. A total of 94 different taxa were screened as indicators for the gut microbiota of C. medinalis from six geographic sources by linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). The gene ontology (GO) pathways of the gut microbiota in C. medinalis differed among geographic sources. In total, the bacterial communities within geographic sources were mainly determined by stochastic processes, and those between geographic sources were mainly determined by deterministic processes. Discussion This study elucidates that geography plays a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiota of C. medinalis. Thus, it enriches our knowledge of gut bacteria in C. medinalis and sheds light on the mechanisms underlying C. medinalis gut microbial shifts across geography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaogai Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China,College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiawen Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongxing Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yinghong Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China,*Correspondence: Yinghong Liu,
| | - Zhongxian Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China,Zhongxian Lu,
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30
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Bridson C, Vellaniparambil L, Antwis RE, Müller W, Gilman RT, Rowntree JK. Genetic diversity of honeybee colonies predicts gut bacterial diversity of individual colony members. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:5643-5653. [PMID: 35920034 PMCID: PMC10087737 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiota of social bees is relatively simple and dominated by a set of core taxa found consistently in individuals around the world. Yet, variation remains and can affect host health. We characterized individual- and regional-scale variation in honeybee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiota from 64 colonies in North-West England by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and asked whether microbiota were influenced by host genotype and landscape composition. We also characterized the genotypes of individual bees and the land cover surrounding each colony. The literature-defined core taxa dominated across the region despite the varied environments. However, there was variation in the relative abundance of core taxa, and colony membership explained much of this variation. Individuals from more genetically diverse colonies had more diverse microbiotas, but individual genetic diversity did not influence gut microbial diversity. There were weak trends for colonies in more similar landscapes to have more similar microbiota, and for bees from more urban landscapes to have less diverse microbiota. To our knowledge, this is the first report for any species that the gut bacterial communities of individuals are influenced by the genotypes of others in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Bridson
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Translational Lung Research Centre (TLRC), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Latha Vellaniparambil
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Rachel E Antwis
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Werner Müller
- Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - R Tucker Gilman
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer K Rowntree
- Ecology and Environment Research Centre, Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.,School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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31
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Micro"bee"ota: Honey Bee Normal Microbiota as a Part of Superorganism. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122359. [PMID: 36557612 PMCID: PMC9785237 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are model organisms for microbiota research. Gut microbiomes are very interesting for surveys due to their simple structure and relationship with hive production. Long-term studies reveal the gut microbiota patterns of various hive members, as well as the functions, sources, and interactions of the majority of its bacteria. But the fungal non-pathogenic part of gut microbiota is almost unexplored, likewise some other related microbiota. Honey bees, as superorganisms, interact with their own microorganisms, the microbial communities of food stores, hive surfaces, and other environments. Understanding microbiota diversity, its transition ways, and hive niche colonization control are necessary for understanding any separate microbiota niche because of their interplay. The long coevolution of bees with the microorganisms populating these niches makes these systems co-dependent, integrated, and stable. Interaction with the environment, hive, and other bees determines caste lifestyle as well as individual microbiota. In this article, we bring together studies on the microbiota of the western honey bee. We show a possible relationship between caste determination and microbiota composition. And what is primary: caste differentiation or microbiota composition?
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32
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Ronchetti F, Polidori C, Schmitt T, Steffan-Dewenter I, Keller A. Bacterial gut microbiomes of aculeate brood parasites overlap with their aculeate hosts', but have higher diversity and specialization. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6832279. [PMID: 36396342 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite growing interest in gut microbiomes of aculeate Hymenoptera, research so far focused on social bees, wasps, and ants, whereas non-social taxa and their brood parasites have not received much attention. Brood parasitism, however, allows to distinguish between microbiome components horizontally transmitted by spill-over from the host with such inherited through vertical transmission by mothers. Here, we studied the bacterial gut microbiome of adults in seven aculeate species in four brood parasite-host systems: two bee-mutillid (host-parasitoid) systems, one halictid bee-cuckoo bee system, and one wasp-chrysidid cuckoo wasp system. We addressed the following questions: (1) Do closely related species possess a more similar gut microbiome? (2) Do brood parasites share components of the microbiome with their host? (3) Do brood parasites have different diversity and specialization of microbiome communities compared with the hosts? Our results indicate that the bacterial gut microbiome of the studied taxa was species-specific, yet with a limited effect of host phylogenetic relatedness and a major contribution of shared microbes between hosts and parasites. However, contrasting patterns emerged between bee-parasite systems and the wasp-parasite system. We conclude that the gut microbiome in adult brood parasites is largely affected by their host-parasite relationships and the similarity of trophic food sources between hosts and parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ronchetti
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Carlo Polidori
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), University of Milan, Via Celoria 2. 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Keller
- Cellular and Organismic Networks, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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33
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Gorrochategui-Ortega J, Muñoz-Colmenero M, Kovačić M, Filipi J, Puškadija Z, Kezić N, Parejo M, Büchler R, Estonba A, Zarraonaindia I. A short exposure to a semi-natural habitat alleviates the honey bee hive microbial imbalance caused by agricultural stress. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18832. [PMID: 36336704 PMCID: PMC9637708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23287-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee health and the species' gut microbiota are interconnected. Also noteworthy are the multiple niches present within hives, each with distinct microbiotas and all coexisting, which we termed "apibiome". External stressors (e.g. anthropization) can compromise microbial balance and bee resilience. We hypothesised that (1) the bacterial communities of hives located in areas with different degrees of anthropization differ in composition, and (2) due to interactions between the multiple microbiomes within the apibiome, changes in the community of a niche would impact the bacteria present in other hive sections. We characterised the bacterial consortia of different niches (bee gut, bee bread, hive entrance and internal hive air) of 43 hives from 3 different environments (agricultural, semi-natural and natural) through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Agricultural samples presented lower community evenness, depletion of beneficial bacteria, and increased recruitment of stress related pathways (predicted via PICRUSt2). The taxonomic and functional composition of gut and hive entrance followed an environmental gradient. Arsenophonus emerged as a possible indicator of anthropization, gradually decreasing in abundance from agriculture to the natural environment in multiple niches. Importantly, after 16 days of exposure to a semi-natural landscape hives showed intermediate profiles, suggesting alleviation of microbial dysbiosis through reduction of anthropization.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Gorrochategui-Ortega
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marta Muñoz-Colmenero
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain ,grid.419099.c0000 0001 1945 7711Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC)/Institute of Marine Research, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Pontevedra Spain
| | - Marin Kovačić
- grid.412680.90000 0001 1015 399XFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, V.Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Janja Filipi
- grid.424739.f0000 0001 2159 1688Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Trg Kneza Višeslava 9, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
| | - Zlatko Puškadija
- grid.412680.90000 0001 1015 399XFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, V.Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Nikola Kezić
- grid.4808.40000 0001 0657 4636Department of Fisheries, Apiculture and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Melanie Parejo
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ralph Büchler
- grid.506460.10000 0004 4679 6788Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH), Bieneninstitut, Erlenstraße 9, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany
| | - Andone Estonba
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Iratxe Zarraonaindia
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain ,grid.424810.b0000 0004 0467 2314IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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Özkurt E, Fritscher J, Soranzo N, Ng DYK, Davey RP, Bahram M, Hildebrand F. LotuS2: an ultrafast and highly accurate tool for amplicon sequencing analysis. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:176. [PMID: 36258257 PMCID: PMC9580208 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01365-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amplicon sequencing is an established and cost-efficient method for profiling microbiomes. However, many available tools to process this data require both bioinformatics skills and high computational power to process big datasets. Furthermore, there are only few tools that allow for long read amplicon data analysis. To bridge this gap, we developed the LotuS2 (less OTU scripts 2) pipeline, enabling user-friendly, resource friendly, and versatile analysis of raw amplicon sequences. RESULTS In LotuS2, six different sequence clustering algorithms as well as extensive pre- and post-processing options allow for flexible data analysis by both experts, where parameters can be fully adjusted, and novices, where defaults are provided for different scenarios. We benchmarked three independent gut and soil datasets, where LotuS2 was on average 29 times faster compared to other pipelines, yet could better reproduce the alpha- and beta-diversity of technical replicate samples. Further benchmarking a mock community with known taxon composition showed that, compared to the other pipelines, LotuS2 recovered a higher fraction of correctly identified taxa and a higher fraction of reads assigned to true taxa (48% and 57% at species; 83% and 98% at genus level, respectively). At ASV/OTU level, precision and F-score were highest for LotuS2, as was the fraction of correctly reported 16S sequences. CONCLUSION LotuS2 is a lightweight and user-friendly pipeline that is fast, precise, and streamlined, using extensive pre- and post-ASV/OTU clustering steps to further increase data quality. High data usage rates and reliability enable high-throughput microbiome analysis in minutes. AVAILABILITY LotuS2 is available from GitHub, conda, or via a Galaxy web interface, documented at http://lotus2.earlham.ac.uk/ . Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezgi Özkurt
- Gut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Joachim Fritscher
- Gut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Nicola Soranzo
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Duncan Y K Ng
- Gut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Robert P Davey
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Mohammad Bahram
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai St, 40, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Falk Hildebrand
- Gut Microbes & Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UQ, UK.
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK.
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35
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Papp M, Békési L, Farkas R, Makrai L, Judge MF, Maróti G, Tőzsér D, Solymosi N. Natural diversity of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut bacteriome in various climatic and seasonal states. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273844. [PMID: 36083885 PMCID: PMC9462563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As pollinators and producers of numerous human-consumed products, honey bees have great ecological, economic and health importance. The composition of their bacteriota, for which the available knowledge is limited, is essential for their body's functioning. Based on our survey, we performed a metagenomic analysis of samples collected by repeated sampling. We used geolocations that represent the climatic types of the study area over two nutritionally extreme periods (March and May) of the collection season. Regarding bacteriome composition, a significant difference was found between the samples from March and May. The samples' bacteriome from March showed a significant composition difference between cooler and warmer regions. However, there were no significant bacteriome composition differences among the climatic classes of samples taken in May. Based on our results, one may conclude that the composition of healthy core bacteriomes in honey bees varies depending on the climatic and seasonal conditions. This is likely due to climatic factors and vegetation states determining the availability and nutrient content of flowering plants. The results of our study prove that in order to gain a thorough understanding of a microbiome's natural diversity, we need to obtain the necessary information from extreme ranges within the host's healthy state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Papp
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Békési
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Makrai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maura Fiona Judge
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Maróti
- Plant Biology Institute of the Biological Research Center, Szeged, Hungary
- Faculty of Water Sciences, University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary
| | - Dóra Tőzsér
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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36
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Community Dynamics in Structure and Function of Honey Bee Gut Bacteria in Response to Winter Dietary Shift. mBio 2022; 13:e0113122. [PMID: 36036626 PMCID: PMC9600256 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01131-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperate honey bees (Apis mellifera) are challenged by low temperatures and abrupt dietary shifts associated with behavioral changes during winter. Case studies have revealed drastic turnover in the gut microbiota of winter bees, highlighted by the seasonal dominance of a non-core bacterium Bartonella. However, neither biological consequence nor underlying mechanism of this microbial turnover is clear. In particular, we ask whether such changes in gut profile are related to winter dietary shift and possibly beneficial to host and associated gut microbiome? Here, we integrated evidences from genomics, metagenomics, and metabolomics in three honey bee subspecies maintained at the same locality of northern China to profile both diversity and functional variations in gut bacteria across seasons. Our results showed that winter dominance of Bartonella was shared in all tested honey bee lineages. This seasonal change was likely a consequence of winter dietary shifts characterized by greatly reduced pollen consumption and accumulation of metabolic waste due to restricted excretion. Bartonella showed expanded genomic capacity in utilizing more diverse energy substrates, such as converting metabolic wastes lactate and ethanol into pyruvate, an energy source for self-utilization and possibly also for host and other symbionts. Furthermore, Bartonella was the only bacterium capable of both producing and secreting tryptophan and phenylalanine, whose metabolic products were detected in bee guts, even though all gut bacteria lacked relevant digestion enzymes. These results thus suggested a possible mechanism where the gut bacteria might benefit the host by supplementing them with essential amino acids lacking in a protein shortage diet.
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37
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Galanis A, Vardakas P, Reczko M, Harokopos V, Hatzis P, Skoulakis EMC, Pavlopoulos GA, Patalano S. Bee foraging preferences, microbiota and pathogens revealed by direct shotgun metagenomics of honey. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2506-2523. [PMID: 35593171 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) continue to succumb to human and environmental pressures despite their crucial role in providing essential ecosystem services. Owing to their foraging and honey production activities, honeybees form complex relationships with species across all domains, such as plants, viruses, bacteria and other hive pests, making honey a valuable biomonitoring tool for assessing their ecological niche. Thus, the application of honey shotgun metagenomics (SM) has paved the way for a detailed description of the species honeybees interact with. Nevertheless, SM bioinformatics tools and DNA extraction methods rely on resources not necessarily optimized for honey. In this study, we compared five widely used taxonomic classifiers using simulated species communities commonly found in honey. We found that Kraken 2 with a threshold of 0.5 performs best in assessing species distribution. We also optimized a simple NaOH-based honey DNA extraction methodology (Direct-SM), which profiled species seasonal variability similarly to an established column-based DNA extraction approach (SM). Both approaches produce results consistent with melissopalinology analysis describing the botanical landscape surrounding the apiary. Interestingly, we detected a strong stability of the bacteria constituting the core and noncore gut microbiome across seasons, pointing to the potential utility of honey for noninvasive assessment of bee microbiota. Finally, the Direct-SM approach to detect Varroa correlates well with the biomonitoring of mite infestation observed in hives. These observations suggest that Direct-SM methodology has the potential to comprehensively describe honeybee ecological niches and can be tested as a building block for large-scale studies to assess bee health in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Galanis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece.,Division of Animal and Human Physiology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Philippos Vardakas
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece.,Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science, Nea Moudania, Greece
| | - Martin Reczko
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
| | - Vaggelis Harokopos
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
| | - Pantelis Hatzis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
| | - Efthimios M C Skoulakis
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
| | - Georgios A Pavlopoulos
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
| | - Solenn Patalano
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research (IFBR), BSRC 'Alexander Fleming', Vari, Greece
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38
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Yu Y, Wang Q, Zhou P, Lv N, Li W, Zhao F, Zhu S, Liu D. First Glimpse of Gut Microbiota of Quarantine Insects in China. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 20:394-404. [PMID: 35623445 PMCID: PMC9684152 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Quarantine insects are economically important pests that frequently invade new habitats. A rapid and accurate monitoring method to trace the geographical sources of invaders is required for their prevention, detection, and eradication. Current methods based on genetics are typically time-consuming. Here, we developed a novel tracing method based on insect gut microbiota. The source location of the insect gut microbiota can be used to rapidly determine the geographical origin of the insect. We analyzed 179 gut microbiota samples from 591 individuals of 22 quarantine insect species collected from 36 regions in China. The gut microbiota of these insects primarily included Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Tenericutes. The diversity of the insect gut microbiota was closely associated with geographical and environmental factors. Different insect species could be distinguished based on the composition of gut microbiota at the phylum level. Populations of individual insect species from different regions could be distinguished based on the composition of gut microbiota at the phylum, class, and order levels. A method for determining the geographical origins of invasive insect species has been established; however, its practical application requires further investigations before implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxue Yu
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China,Computational Virology Group, Center for Bacteria and Virus Resources and Bioinformation, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Na Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei Li
- Computational Virology Group, Center for Bacteria and Virus Resources and Bioinformation, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Computational Genomics Lab, Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 102206, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuifang Zhu
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China,Corresponding authors.
| | - Di Liu
- Computational Virology Group, Center for Bacteria and Virus Resources and Bioinformation, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China,Corresponding authors.
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Hotchkiss MZ, Poulain AJ, Forrest JRK. Pesticide-induced disturbances of bee gut microbiotas. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6517452. [PMID: 35107129 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Social bee gut microbiotas play key roles in host health and performance. Worryingly, a growing body of literature shows that pesticide exposure can disturb these microbiotas. Most studies examine changes in taxonomic composition in Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiotas caused by insecticide exposure. Core bee gut microbiota taxa shift in abundance after exposure but are rarely eliminated, with declines in Bifidobacteriales and Lactobacillus near melliventris abundance being the most common shifts. Pesticide concentration, exposure duration, season and concurrent stressors all influence whether and how bee gut microbiotas are disturbed. Also, the mechanism of disturbance-i.e. whether a pesticide directly affects microbial growth or indirectly affects the microbiota by altering host health-likely affects disturbance consistency. Despite growing interest in this topic, important questions remain unanswered. Specifically, metabolic shifts in bee gut microbiotas remain largely uninvestigated, as do effects of pesticide-disturbed gut microbiotas on bee host performance. Furthermore, few bee species have been studied other than A. mellifera, and few herbicides and fungicides have been examined. We call for these knowledge gaps to be addressed so that we may obtain a comprehensive picture of how pesticides alter bee gut microbiotas, and of the functional consequences of these changes.
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Castelli L, Branchiccela B, Romero H, Zunino P, Antúnez K. Seasonal Dynamics of the Honey Bee Gut Microbiota in Colonies Under Subtropical Climate : Seasonal Dynamics of Honey Bee Gut Microbiota. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:492-500. [PMID: 33973059 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01756-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) provide invaluable benefits for food production and maintenance of biodiversity of natural environments through pollination. They are widely spread across the world, being adapted to different climatic conditions. To survive the winter in cold temperate regions, honey bees developed different strategies including storage of honey and pollen, confinement of individuals during the winter, and an annual cycle of colony growth and reproduction. Under these conditions, winter honey bees experience physiological changes, including changes in immunity and the composition of honey bee gut microbiota. However, under tropical or subtropical climates, the life cycle can experience alterations, i.e., queens lay eggs during almost all the year and new honey bees emerge constantly. In the present study, we characterized nurses' honey bee gut microbiota in colonies under subtropical region through a year, combining qPCR, PCR-DGGE, and 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. We also identified environmental variables involved in those changes. Our results showed that under the mentioned conditions, the number of bacteria is stable throughout the year. Diversity of gut microbiota is higher in spring and lower in summer and winter. Gradual changes in compositions occur between seasons: Lactobacillus spp. predominate in spring while Gilliamella apicola and Snodgrasella alvi predominate in summer and winter. Environmental variables (mainly precipitations) affected the composition of the honey bee gut microbiota. Our findings provide new insights into the dynamics of honey bee gut microbiota and may be useful to understand the adaptation of bees to different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreley Castelli
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Belén Branchiccela
- Sección Apicultura, Programa Nacional de Producción Familiar, INIA La Estanzuela, Ruta 50, Km 11, Colonia, Uruguay
| | - Héctor Romero
- Departamento de Ecología Y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Organización Y Evolución del Genoma, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Zunino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Karina Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Y Salud de Las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Ricigliano VA, Williams ST, Oliver R. Effects of different artificial diets on commercial honey bee colony performance, health biomarkers, and gut microbiota. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:52. [PMID: 35062935 PMCID: PMC8780706 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03151-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Honey bee colonies managed for agricultural pollination are highly dependent on human inputs, especially for disease control and supplemental nutrition. Hives are routinely fed artificial “pollen substitute” diets to compensate for insufficient nutritional forage in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different artificial diets in a northern California, US commercial beekeeping operation from August through February. This time period represents an extended forage dearth when supplemental nutrition is used to stimulate late winter colony growth prior to almond pollination in the early spring. A total of 144 honey bee colonies were divided into 8 feeding groups that were replicated at three apiary sites. Feeding groups received commercial diets (Global, Ultra Bee, Bulk Soft, MegaBee, AP23, Healthy Bees), a beekeeper-formulated diet (Homebrew), or a sugar negative control. Diets were analyzed for macronutrient and amino acid content then evaluated with respect to honey bee colony population size, average bee weight, nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota abundance, and pathogen levels. Results Replicated at three apiary sites, two pollen-containing diets (Global and Homebrew) produced the largest colonies and the heaviest bees per colony. Two diets (Bulk Soft and AP23) that did not contain pollen led to significantly larger colonies than a sugar negative control diet. Diet macronutrient content was not correlated with colony size or health biomarkers. The sum of dietary essential amino acid deficiencies relative to leucine content were correlated with average bee weight in November and colony size used for almond pollination in February. Nutrition-related gene expression, gut microbiota, and pathogen levels were influenced by apiary site, which overrode some diet effects. Regarding microbiota, diet had a significant impact on the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Gilliamella and trended towards effects on other prominent bee gut taxa. Conclusions Multiple colony and individual bee measures are necessary to test diet efficacy since honey bee nutritional responses are complex to evaluate. Balancing essential amino acid content relative to leucine instead of tryptophan may improve diet protein efficiency ratios. Optimization of bee diets could improve feed sustainability and agricultural pollination efficiency by supporting larger, healthier honey bee colonies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-022-03151-5.
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Yang J, Zhong Y, Xu L, Zeng B, Lai K, Yang M, Li D, Zhao Y, Zhang M, Li D. The Dominating Role of Genetic Background in Shaping Gut Microbiota of Honeybee Queen Over Environmental Factors. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:722901. [PMID: 34803942 PMCID: PMC8603915 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.722901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A balanced, diverse gut microbiota is vital for animal health. The microbial population is shaped by multiple factors including genetic background and environment, but other determinants remain controversial. Numerous studies suggest that the dominant factor is genetic background while others emphasize the environmental factors. Here, we bred asexual hybridization queens (AHQs) of honeybees through nutritional crossbreeding (laid in Apis mellifera colony but bred in Apis cerana colony), sequenced their gut microbiome, and compared it with normally bred sister queens to determine the primary factor shaping the gut microbiota. Our results showed that the dominant genera in the gut microbiota of AHQs were Brevundimonas, Bombella, and Lactobacillus, and its microbial community was more related to A. mellifera queens. The AHQs had a moderate number of different bacterial species and diversity, but total bacterial numbers were low. There were more significant taxa identified in the comparison between AHQ and A. cerana queen according to LEfSe analysis results. The only genetic-specific taxon we figured out was Brevundimonas. The growth of core bacterial abundance showed different characteristics among different queen groups in the first week after emerging. Collectively, this study suggested that the genetic background played a more dominant role than environmental factors in shaping the gut microbiota of honeybee queen and the microbiota of midgut was more sensitive than that of rectum to this impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiandong Yang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yun Zhong
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liqun Xu
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Zeng
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kang Lai
- Sichuan Province Apiculture Management Station, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingxian Yang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Diyan Li
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingwang Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Debing Li
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Moro MS, Wu X, Wei W, Mendes LW, Allen KC, Pinheiro JB, Clough SJ, Zucchi MI. Characterization and Comparison of Intestinal Bacterial Microbiomes of Euschistus heros and Piezodorus guildinii Collected in Brazil and the United States. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:769965. [PMID: 34777323 PMCID: PMC8579040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Herbivorous insects are one of the main biological threats to crops. One such group of insects, stink bugs, do not eat large amounts of tissue when feeding on soybean, but are damaging to the quality of the seed yield as they feed on green developing seeds leading to poorly marketable harvests. In addition to causing physical damage during sucking-feeding activities, the insects can also transmit microbial pathogens, leading to even greater yield loss. Conducting surveys of the insect intestinal microbiome can help identify possible pathogens, as well as detail what healthy stink bug digestive systems have in common. Methods: We used the conserved V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial microbiome of the red-banded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii collected in Brazil and the United States, as well as the neotropical brown stink bug Euschistus heros collected in Brazil. Results: After quality filtering of the data, 192 samples were kept for analyses: 117 samples from P. guildinii covering three sites in Brazil and four sites in the United States, and 75 samples for E. heros covering 10 sites in Brazil. The most interesting observations were that the diversity and abundance of some bacterial families were different in the different ecoregions of Brazil and the United States. Conclusion: Some families, such as Acetobacteraceae, Bacillaceae, Moraxellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Rhodocyclaceae, may be related to the better adaptation in some localities in providing nutrients, break down cellulose, detoxify phytochemicals, and degrade organic compounds, which makes it difficult to control these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Sartori Moro
- Genetics and Molecular Biology - Biology Institute, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.,Genetics and Genomics Conservation Laboratory (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Xing Wu
- Department of Crop Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Crop Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | | | - Kerry Clint Allen
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services, Southern Insect Management Research, Stoneville, MS, United States
| | - José Baldin Pinheiro
- Department of Genetics, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Steven J Clough
- Department of Crop Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States.,United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services, Soybean/Maize Germplasm, Pathology and Genetics Research, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Maria Imaculada Zucchi
- Genetics and Genomics Conservation Laboratory (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil.,São Paulo Agency of Agribusiness Technology (APTA), Piracicaba, Brazil
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von Ameln Lovison O, Jank L, de Souza WM, Ramalho Guerra R, Lamas AE, da Costa Ballestrin RA, da Silva Morais Hein C, da Silva TCB, Corção G, Martins AF. Identification of pesticides in water samples by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2021; 93:2670-2680. [PMID: 34355448 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), including pesticides, have been a trending topic and Brazil is the country with the highest usage of pesticides worldwide. This study aimed to measure the presence of pesticide residues in the water from different sources in the city of Porto Alegre. We analyzed 55 samples from drinking water treatment plants, public water sites, and sewage treatment plants from winter 2018 to summer 2020 by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Among 184 pesticides evaluated, 107 matched validation criteria (linearity, trueness, accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility) and 15 of them were detected in different water samples, including seven insecticides, five antifungals, and three herbicides, with a wide range of toxicity levels and noticeable seasonal differences. For the worst-case scenario evaluation, 20 out of 22 (90.9%) samples exceeded the Risk Quotient of 1. The sum of pesticide concentrations exceeded 100 ng L-1 in 66.7% of samples in February 19 and in 75% of samples in February 20 and the total pesticide concentration has reached the worrisome mark of 1615 and 954.96 ng L-1 respectively. Therefore, our results make evident the need to promote public policies to achieve better water quality monitoring. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Among 184 pesticides evaluated, 107 matched validation criteria (linearity, trueness, accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility). A total of 55 different water samples were analyzed, and 15 pesticides were detected and five quantified. For the worst-case scenario evaluation, 20 out of 21 samples exceeded the Risk Quotient of 1 on Feb/20. The pesticide concentrations sum exceeded 100 ng L-1 in 66.7% of samples on February 19 and in 75% of samples on February 20. It is mandatory to improve water monitoring to guide the development of public policies concerning its quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otávio von Ameln Lovison
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Louise Jank
- Laboratório Federal de Defesa Agropecuária - LFDA/RS, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - William Machado de Souza
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Ramalho Guerra
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Alex Elias Lamas
- Coordenadoria Geral de Vigilância em Saúde de Porto Alegre, Diretoria Geral de Vigilância em Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rogerio Antonio da Costa Ballestrin
- Coordenadoria Geral de Vigilância em Saúde de Porto Alegre, Diretoria Geral de Vigilância em Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Camila da Silva Morais Hein
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Gertrudes Corção
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Andreza Francisco Martins
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Microbial communities associated with honey bees in Brazil and in the United States. Braz J Microbiol 2021; 52:2097-2115. [PMID: 34264502 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00539-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee colony losses worldwide call for a more in-depth understanding of the pathogenic and mutualistic components of the honey bee microbiota and their relation with the environment. In this descriptive study, we characterized the yeast and bacterial communities that arise from six substrates associated with honey bees: corbicular pollen, beebread, hive debris, intestinal contents, body surface of nurses and forager bees, comparing two different landscapes, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Maryland, United States. The sampling of five hives in Brazil and four in the USA yielded 217 yeast and 284 bacterial isolates. Whereas the yeast community, accounted for 47 species from 29 genera, was dominated in Brazil by Aureobasidium sp. and Candida orthopsilosis, the major yeast recovered from the USA was Debaryomyces hansenii. The bacterial community was more diverse, encompassing 65 species distributed across 31 genera. Overall, most isolates belonged to Firmicutes, genus Bacillus. Among LAB, species from Lactobacillus were the most prevalent. Cluster analysis evidenced high structuration of the microbial communities, with two distinguished microbial groups between Brazil and the United States. In general, the higher difference among sites and substrates were dependents on the turnover effect (~ 93% of the beta diversity), with a more pronounced effect of nestedness (~ 28%) observed from Brazil microbiota change. The relative abundance of yeasts and bacteria also showed the dissimilarity of the microbial communities between both environments. These results provide a comprehensive view of microorganisms associated with A. mellifera, highlighting the importance of the environment in the establishment of the microbiota associated with honey bees.
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Castelli L, Balbuena S, Branchiccela B, Zunino P, Liberti J, Engel P, Antúnez K. Impact of Chronic Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Glyphosate on Honey Bee Immunity, Gut Microbiota and Infection by Pathogens. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040845. [PMID: 33920750 PMCID: PMC8071123 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glyphosate is the most used pesticide around the world. Although different studies have evidenced its negative effect on honey bees, including detrimental impacts on behavior, cognitive, sensory and developmental abilities, its use continues to grow. Recent studies have shown that it also alters the composition of the honey bee gut microbiota. In this study we explored the impact of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of glyphosate on the honey bee gut microbiota and its effects on the immune response, infection by Nosema ceranae and Deformed wing virus (DWV) and honey bee survival. Glyphosate combined with N. ceranae infection altered the structure and composition of the honey bee gut microbiota, for example by decreasing the relative abundance of the core members Snodgrassella alvi and Lactobacillus apis. Glyphosate increased the expression of some immune genes, possibly representing a physiological response to mitigate its negative effects. However, this response was not sufficient to maintain honey bee health, as glyphosate promoted the replication of DWV and decreased the expression of vitellogenin, which were accompanied by a reduced life span. Infection by N. ceranae also alters honey bee immunity although no synergistic effect with glyphosate was observed. These results corroborate previous findings suggesting deleterious effects of widespread use of glyphosate on honey bee health, and they contribute to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying a global decline of pollination services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreley Castelli
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Sofía Balbuena
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Belén Branchiccela
- Sección Apicultura, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Colonia 70002, Uruguay;
| | - Pablo Zunino
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Joanito Liberti
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (J.L.); (P.E.)
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; (J.L.); (P.E.)
| | - Karina Antúnez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Salud de las Abejas, Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Avda, Italia 3318, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (L.C.); (S.B.); (P.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +598-2-4871616
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Daisley BA, Reid G. BEExact: a Metataxonomic Database Tool for High-Resolution Inference of Bee-Associated Microbial Communities. mSystems 2021; 6:e00082-21. [PMID: 33824193 PMCID: PMC8546966 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00082-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing technologies have robust potential to improve our understanding of bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)-associated microbial communities and their impact on hive health and disease. Despite recent computation algorithms now permitting exact inferencing of high-resolution exact amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), the taxonomic classification of these ASVs remains a challenge due to inadequate reference databases. To address this, we assemble a comprehensive data set of all publicly available bee-associated 16S rRNA gene sequences, systematically annotate poorly resolved identities via inclusion of 618 placeholder labels for uncultivated microbial dark matter, and correct for phylogenetic inconsistencies using a complementary set of distance-based and maximum likelihood correction strategies. To benchmark the resultant database (BEExact), we compare performance against all existing reference databases in silico using a variety of classifier algorithms to produce probabilistic confidence scores. We also validate realistic classification rates on an independent set of ∼234 million short-read sequences derived from 32 studies encompassing 50 different bee types (36 eusocial and 14 solitary). Species-level classification rates on short-read ASVs range from 80 to 90% using BEExact (with ∼20% due to "bxid" placeholder names), whereas only ∼30% at best can be resolved with current universal databases. A series of data-driven recommendations are developed for future studies. We conclude that BEExact (https://github.com/bdaisley/BEExact) enables accurate and standardized microbiota profiling across a broad range of bee species-two factors of key importance to reproducibility and meaningful knowledge exchange within the scientific community that together, can enhance the overall utility and ecological relevance of routine 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing endeavors.IMPORTANCE The failure of current universal taxonomic databases to support the rapidly expanding field of bee microbiota research has led to many investigators relying on "in-house" reference sets or manual classification of sequence reads (usually based on BLAST searches), often with vague identity thresholds and subjective taxonomy choices. This time-consuming, error- and bias-prone process lacks standardization, cripples the potential for comparative cross-study analysis, and in many cases is likely to incorrectly sway study conclusions. BEExact is structured on and leverages several complementary bioinformatic techniques to enable refined inference of bee host-associated microbial communities without any other methodological modifications necessary. It also bridges the gap between current practical outcomes (i.e., phylotype-to-genus level constraints with 97% operational taxonomic units [OTUs]) and the theoretical resolution (i.e., species-to-strain level classification with 100% ASVs) attainable in future microbiota investigations. Other niche habitats could also likely benefit from customized database curation via implementation of the novel approaches introduced in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Daisley
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Human Microbiome and Probiotics Research, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine, London, Ontario, Canada
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Calvelo J, D'Anatro A. Mitochondrial genome architecture and phylogenetic relationships of Odontesthes argentinensis within Atherinomorpha. Genetica 2021; 149:129-141. [PMID: 33817771 DOI: 10.1007/s10709-021-00116-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Silversides are a widely distributed group across South America, with several species occupying marine, freshwater and estuarine environments. Several authors suggest main transitions among these environments took place during Pleistocene, and were accompanied with rapid speciation events. This scenario produced very limited genetic and morphological differentiation among the species. However, most of these surveys have an incomplete coverage of the intraspecific genetic diversity of the taxa studied. In this work, we reconstructed six mitochondrial genomes of O. argentinensis using transcriptomic data, and used them-in combination with several nuclear markers retrieved from the same transcriptomes-to explore the effect of additional coverage of intraspecific diversity of this species in phylogenetic reconstructions. Unlike previous works, phylogenetic analyses failed to identify O. argentinensis as a monophyletic group in relation with closely related taxa. Our results suggest that several species of the genus, especially those related to O. argentinensis, need further taxonomic revision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Calvelo
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alejandro D'Anatro
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Nowak A, Szczuka D, Górczyńska A, Motyl I, Kręgiel D. Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection-A Review. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030701. [PMID: 33809924 PMCID: PMC8004194 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous honeybee (Apis mellifera) products, such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, are used in traditional medicine to prevent illness and promote healing. Therefore, this insect has a huge impact on humans’ way of life and the environment. While the population of A. mellifera is large, there is concern that widespread commercialization of beekeeping, combined with environmental pollution and the action of bee pathogens, has caused significant problems for the health of honeybee populations. One of the strategies to preserve the welfare of honeybees is to better understand and protect their natural microbiota. This paper provides a unique overview of the latest research on the features and functioning of A. mellifera. Honeybee microbiome analysis focuses on both the function and numerous factors affecting it. In addition, we present the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an important part of the gut community and their special beneficial activities for honeybee health. The idea of probiotics for honeybees as a promising tool to improve their health is widely discussed. Knowledge of the natural gut microbiota provides an opportunity to create a broad strategy for honeybee vitality, including the development of modern probiotic preparations to use instead of conventional antibiotics, environmentally friendly biocides, and biological control agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Nowak
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-924 Łódź, Poland; (D.S.); (I.M.); (D.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Daria Szczuka
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-924 Łódź, Poland; (D.S.); (I.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Anna Górczyńska
- Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz, Kopcińskiego 8/12, 90-232 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Ilona Motyl
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-924 Łódź, Poland; (D.S.); (I.M.); (D.K.)
| | - Dorota Kręgiel
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wólczańska 171/173, 90-924 Łódź, Poland; (D.S.); (I.M.); (D.K.)
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Yu Y, Wang Y, Li H, Yu X, Shi W, Zhai J. Comparison of Microbial Communities in Colorado Potato Beetles ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) Collected From Different Sources in China. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:639913. [PMID: 33815327 PMCID: PMC8017321 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.639913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities in insects are related to their geographical sources and contribute to adaptation to the local habitat. The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) (CPB) is a potato pest that causes serious economic losses in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XJ) and Heilongjiang Province (HL), China. The influence of microorganisms in the invasion and dispersal of CPB is unclear. We studied microbial communities of CPB collected from nine geographic sources in China using high throughput sequencing technology. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most dominant phyla, Clostridia, Bacteroidetes, and γ-Proteobacteria were the most dominant classes, Enterobacterales, Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacteroidales were the most dominant orders, and Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcidae, Verrucomicrobiaceae, and Rikenellaceae were the most dominant families. There were significant differences, among sources, in the relative abundance of taxa at the genus level. A total of 383 genera were identified, and the dominant bacteria at the genus level were compared between XJ and HL. Pseudomonas was the unique dominant microorganism in the HL area, and the other four microorganisms (Lelliottia, Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Lactococcus) were common within the 2 regions. Bacterial community diversity in CPB from Urumqi, Jimunai, and Wenquan was higher than diversity in other regions. T-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (tSNE) analysis indicated that order and genus were appropriate taxonomic levels to distinguish geographical sources of CPB. These findings provide insight into the diversity of microorganisms of CPB in the differences among geographically isolated populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxue Yu
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China
| | | | - Hongwei Li
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China.,Department of Insects, School of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wangpeng Shi
- Department of Insects, School of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Zhai
- Institute of Plant Quarantine, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China
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