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Luca L, Pauliuc D, Oroian M. Honey microbiota, methods for determining the microbiological composition and the antimicrobial effect of honey - A review. Food Chem X 2024; 23:101524. [PMID: 38947342 PMCID: PMC11214184 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey is a natural product used since ancient times due to its taste, aroma, and therapeutic properties (antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity). The purpose of this review is to present the species of microorganisms that can survive in honey and the effect they can have on bees and consumers. The techniques for identifying the microorganisms present in honey are also described in this study. Honey contains bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses, and some of them may present beneficial properties for humans. The antimicrobial effect of honey is due to its acidity and high viscosity, high sugar concentration, low water content, the presence of hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxidase components, particularly methylglyoxal (MGO), phenolic acids, flavonoids, proteins, peptides, and non-peroxidase glycopeptides. Honey has antibacterial action (it has effectiveness against bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter, etc.), antifungal (effectiveness against Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp., and Penicillium spp.), antiviral (effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, Herpes simplex virus type 1, Influenza virus A and B, Varicella zoster virus), and antiparasitic action (effectiveness against Plasmodium berghei, Giardia and Trichomonas, Toxoplasma gondii) demonstrated by numerous studies that are comprised and discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Luca
- Suceava-Botoșani Regional Innovative Bioeconomy Cluster Association, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Daniela Pauliuc
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Mircea Oroian
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
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2
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Mietzsch M, Kailasan S, Bennett A, Chipman P, Fane B, Huiskonen JT, Clarke IN, McKenna R. The Structure of Spiroplasma Virus 4: Exploring the Capsid Diversity of the Microviridae. Viruses 2024; 16:1103. [PMID: 39066266 PMCID: PMC11281519 DOI: 10.3390/v16071103] [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: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Spiroplasma virus 4 (SpV4) is a bacteriophage of the Microviridae, which packages circular ssDNA within non-enveloped T = 1 icosahedral capsids. It infects spiroplasmas, which are known pathogens of honeybees. Here, the structure of the SpV4 virion is determined using cryo-electron microscopy to a resolution of 2.5 Å. A striking feature of the SpV4 capsid is the mushroom-like protrusions at the 3-fold axes, which is common among all members of the subfamily Gokushovirinae. While the function of the protrusion is currently unknown, this feature varies widely in this subfamily and is therefore possibly an adaptation for host recognition. Furthermore, on the interior of the SpV4 capsid, the location of DNA-binding protein VP8 was identified and shown to have low structural conservation to the capsids of other viruses in the family. The structural characterization of SpV4 will aid future studies analyzing the virus-host interaction, to understand disease mechanisms at a molecular level. Furthermore, the structural comparisons in this study, including a low-resolution structure of the chlamydia phage 2, provide an overview of the structural repertoire of the viruses in this family that infect various bacterial hosts, which in turn infect a wide range of animals and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA (A.B.)
| | - Shweta Kailasan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA (A.B.)
| | - Antonette Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA (A.B.)
| | - Paul Chipman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA (A.B.)
| | - Bentley Fane
- The BIO5 Institute, Keating Building, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Juha T. Huiskonen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ian N. Clarke
- Molecular Microbiology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA (A.B.)
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3
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Jones LJ, Miller DA, Schilder RJ, López‐Uribe MM. Body mass, temperature, and pathogen intensity differentially affect critical thermal maxima and their population-level variation in a solitary bee. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10945. [PMID: 38362170 PMCID: PMC10867875 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10945] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change presents a major threat to species distribution and persistence. Understanding what abiotic or biotic factors influence the thermal tolerances of natural populations is critical to assessing their vulnerability under rapidly changing thermal regimes. This study evaluates how body mass, local climate, and pathogen intensity influence heat tolerance and its population-level variation (SD) among individuals of the solitary bee Xenoglossa pruinosa. We assess the sex-specific relationships between these factors and heat tolerance given the differences in size between sexes and the ground-nesting behavior of the females. We collected X. pruinosa individuals from 14 sites across Pennsylvania, USA, that varied in mean temperature, precipitation, and soil texture. We measured the critical thermal maxima (CTmax) of X. pruinosa individuals as our proxy for heat tolerance and used quantitative PCR to determine relative intensities of three parasite groups-trypanosomes, Spiroplasma apis (mollicute bacteria), and Vairimorpha apis (microsporidian). While there was no difference in CTmax between the sexes, we found that CTmax increased significantly with body mass and that this relationship was stronger for males than for females. Air temperature, precipitation, and soil texture did not predict mean CTmax for either sex. However, population-level variation in CTmax was strongly and negatively correlated with air temperature, which suggests that temperature is acting as an environmental filter. Of the parasites screened, only trypanosome intensity correlated with heat tolerance. Specifically, trypanosome intensity negatively correlated with the CTmax of female X. pruinosa but not males. Our results highlight the importance of considering size, sex, and infection status when evaluating thermal tolerance traits. Importantly, this study reveals the need to evaluate trends in the variation of heat tolerance within and between populations and consider implications of reduced variation in heat tolerance for the persistence of ectotherms in future climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Jones
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator ResearchThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Douglas A. Miller
- Earth and Environmental Systems InstituteThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Rudolf J. Schilder
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator ResearchThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Margarita M. López‐Uribe
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in EcologyThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator ResearchThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
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4
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Smutin D, Taldaev A, Lebedev E, Adonin L. Shotgun Metagenomics Reveals Minor Micro" bee"omes Diversity Defining Differences between Larvae and Pupae Brood Combs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:741. [PMID: 38255816 PMCID: PMC10815634 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020741] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bees represent not only a valuable asset in agriculture, but also serve as a model organism within contemporary microbiology. The metagenomic composition of the bee superorganism has been substantially characterized. Nevertheless, traditional cultural methods served as the approach to studying brood combs in the past. Indeed, the comb microbiome may contribute to determining larval caste differentiation and hive immunity. To further this understanding, we conducted a shotgun sequencing analysis of the brood comb microbiome. While we found certain similarities regarding species diversity, it exhibits significant differentiation from all previously described hive metagenomes. Many microbiome members maintain a relatively constant ratio, yet taxa with the highest abundance level tend to be ephemeral. More than 90% of classified metagenomes were Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria genetic signatures. Jaccard dissimilarity between samples based on bacteria genus classifications hesitate from 0.63 to 0.77, which for shotgun sequencing indicates a high consistency in bacterial composition. Concurrently, we identified antagonistic relationships between certain bacterial clusters. The presence of genes related to antibiotic synthesis and antibiotic resistance suggests potential mechanisms underlying the stability of comb microbiomes. Differences between pupal and larval combs emerge in the total metagenome, while taxa with the highest abundance remained consistent. All this suggests that a key role in the functioning of the comb microbiome is played by minor biodiversity, the function of which remains to be established experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniil Smutin
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
- Faculty of Information Technology and Programming, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Amir Taldaev
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow 119121, Russia
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russia
| | - Egor Lebedev
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
| | - Leonid Adonin
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen State University, Tyumen 625003, Russia
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow 119121, Russia
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Hettiarachchi A, Cnockaert M, Joossens M, Gekière A, Meeus I, Vereecken NJ, Michez D, Smagghe G, Vandamme P. The wild solitary bees Andrena vaga, Anthophora plumipes, Colletes cunicularius, and Osmia cornuta microbiota are host specific and dominated by endosymbionts and environmental microorganisms. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:3013-3026. [PMID: 37794084 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02304-9] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
We characterized the microbial communities of the crop, midgut, hindgut, and ovaries of the wild solitary bees Andrena vaga, Anthophora plumipes, Colletes cunicularius, and Osmia cornuta through 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 amplicon sequencing and a large-scale isolation campaign. The bacterial communities of these bees were dominated by endosymbionts of the genera Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Bacterial and yeast genera representing the remaining predominant taxa were linked to an environmental origin. While only a single sampling site was examined for Andrena vaga, Anthophora plumipes, and Colletes cunicularius, and two sampling sites for Osmia cornuta, the microbiota appeared to be host specific: bacterial, but not fungal, communities generally differed between the analyzed bee species, gut compartments and ovaries. This may suggest a selective process determined by floral and host traits. Many of the gut symbionts identified in the present study are characterized by metabolic versatility. Whether they exert similar functionalities within the bee gut and thus functional redundancy remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hettiarachchi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Margo Cnockaert
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie Joossens
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Ivan Meeus
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants of Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Nicolas J Vereecken
- Agroecology Lab, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du parc 20, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants of Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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6
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Motta EVS, Arnott RLW, Moran NA. Caffeine Consumption Helps Honey Bees Fight a Bacterial Pathogen. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0052023. [PMID: 37212661 PMCID: PMC10269917 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00520-23] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Caffeine has long been used as a stimulant by humans. Although this secondary metabolite is produced by some plants as a mechanism of defense against herbivores, beneficial or detrimental effects of such consumption are usually associated with dose. The Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, can also be exposed to caffeine when foraging at Coffea and Citrus plants, and low doses as are found in the nectar of these plants seem to boost memory learning and ameliorate parasite infection in bees. In this study, we investigated the effects of caffeine consumption on the gut microbiota of honey bees and on susceptibility to bacterial infection. We performed in vivo experiments in which honey bees, deprived of or colonized with their native microbiota, were exposed to nectar-relevant concentrations of caffeine for a week, then challenged with the bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens. We found that caffeine consumption did not impact the gut microbiota or survival rates of honey bees. Moreover, microbiota-colonized bees exposed to caffeine were more resistant to infection and exhibited increased survival rates compared to microbiota-colonized or microbiota-deprived bees only exposed to the pathogen. Our findings point to an additional benefit of caffeine consumption in honey bee health by protecting against bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE The consumption of caffeine is a remarkable feature of the human diet. Common drinks, such as coffee and tea, contain caffeine as a stimulant. Interestingly, honey bees also seem to like caffeine. They are usually attracted to the low concentrations of caffeine found in nectar and pollen of Coffea plants, and consumption improves learning and memory retention, as well as protects against viruses and fungal parasites. In this study, we expanded these findings by demonstrating that caffeine can improve survival rates of honey bees infected with Serratia marcescens, a bacterial pathogen known to cause sepsis in animals. However, this beneficial effect was only observed when bees were colonized with their native gut microbiota, and caffeine seemed not to directly affect the gut microbiota or survival rates of bees. Our findings suggest a potential synergism between caffeine and gut microbial communities in protection against bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick V. S. Motta
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ryan L. W. Arnott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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7
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Jones LJ, Singh A, Schilder RJ, López-Uribe MM. Squash bees host high diversity and prevalence of parasites in the northeastern United States. J Invertebr Pathol 2022; 195:107848. [PMID: 36343669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The squash bee Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa is emerging as a model species to study how stressors impact solitary wild bees in North America. Here, we describe the prevalence of trypanosomes, microsporidians and mollicute bacteria in E. pruinosa and two other species, Bombus impatiens and Apis mellifera, that together comprise over 97% of the pollinator visitors of Cucurbita agroecosystems in Pennsylvania (United States). Our results indicate that all three parasite groups are commonly detected in these bee species, but E. pruinosa often exhibit higher prevalences. We further describe novel trypanosome parasites detected in E. pruinosa, however it is unknown how these parasites impact these bees. We suggest future work investigates parasite replication and infection outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Jones
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Avehi Singh
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rudolf J Schilder
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Margarita M López-Uribe
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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8
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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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9
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Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Arthropod, Fungal, Protozoan, Bacterial and Viral Pathogens of Honeybees. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050221. [PMID: 35622749 PMCID: PMC9145064 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The honeybee Apis mellifera is highly appreciated worldwide because of its products, but also as it is a pollinator of crops and wild plants. The beehive is vulnerable to infections due to arthropods, fungi, protozoa, bacteria and/or viruses that manage to by-pass the individual and social immune mechanisms of bees. Due to the close proximity of bees in the beehive and their foraging habits, infections easily spread within and between beehives. Moreover, international trade of bees has caused the global spread of infections, several of which result in significant losses for apiculture. Only in a few cases can infections be diagnosed with the naked eye, by direct observation of the pathogen in the case of some arthropods, or by pathogen-associated distinctive traits. Development of molecular methods based on the amplification and analysis of one or more genes or genomic segments has brought significant progress to the study of bee pathogens, allowing for: (i) the precise and sensitive identification of the infectious agent; (ii) the analysis of co-infections; (iii) the description of novel species; (iv) associations between geno- and pheno-types and (v) population structure studies. Sequencing of bee pathogen genomes has allowed for the identification of new molecular targets and the development of specific genotypification strategies.
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10
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Pons I, Scieur N, Dhondt L, Renard ME, Renoz F, Hance T. Pervasiveness of the symbiont Serratia symbiotica in the aphid natural environment: distribution, diversity and evolution at a multitrophic level. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6526308. [PMID: 35142841 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbioses are significant drivers of insect evolutionary ecology. Despite recent findings that these associations can emerge from environmentally derived bacterial precursors, there is still little information on how these potential progenitors of insect symbionts circulate in trophic systems. Serratia symbiotica represents a valuable model for deciphering evolutionary scenarios of bacterial acquisition by insects, as its diversity includes gut-associated strains that retained the ability to live independently of their hosts, representing a potential reservoir for symbioses emergence. Here, we conducted a field study to examine the distribution and diversity of S. symbiotica found in aphid populations, and in different compartments of their surrounding environment. Twenty % of aphids colonies were infected with S. symbiotica, including a wide diversity of strains with varied tissue tropism corresponding to different lifestyle. We also showed that the prevalence of S. symbiotica is influenced by seasonal temperatures. We found that S. symbiotica was present in non-aphid species and in host plants, and that its prevalence in these samples was higher when associated aphid colonies were infected. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggest the existence of horizontal transfers between the different trophic levels. These results provide a new picture of the pervasiveness of an insect symbiont in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inès Pons
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nora Scieur
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Linda Dhondt
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marie-Eve Renard
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - François Renoz
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Thierry Hance
- Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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11
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Drew GC, Budge GE, Frost CL, Neumann P, Siozios S, Yañez O, Hurst GDD. Transitions in symbiosis: evidence for environmental acquisition and social transmission within a clade of heritable symbionts. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2956-2968. [PMID: 33941888 PMCID: PMC8443716 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00977-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A dynamic continuum exists from free-living environmental microbes to strict host-associated symbionts that are vertically inherited. However, knowledge of the forces that drive transitions in symbiotic lifestyle and transmission mode is lacking. Arsenophonus is a diverse clade of bacterial symbionts, comprising reproductive parasites to coevolving obligate mutualists, in which the predominant mode of transmission is vertical. We describe a symbiosis between a member of the genus Arsenophonus and the Western honey bee. The symbiont shares common genomic and predicted metabolic properties with the male-killing symbiont Arsenophonus nasoniae, however we present multiple lines of evidence that the bee Arsenophonus deviates from a heritable model of transmission. Field sampling uncovered spatial and seasonal dynamics in symbiont prevalence, and rapid infection loss events were observed in field colonies and laboratory individuals. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation showed Arsenophonus localised in the gut, and detection was rare in screens of early honey bee life stages. We directly show horizontal transmission of Arsenophonus between bees under varying social conditions. We conclude that honey bees acquire Arsenophonus through a combination of environmental exposure and social contacts. These findings uncover a key link in the Arsenophonus clades trajectory from free-living ancestral life to obligate mutualism, and provide a foundation for studying transitions in symbiotic lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia C Drew
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Giles E Budge
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Crystal L Frost
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefanos Siozios
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gregory D D Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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12
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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: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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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13
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Yang K, Chen H, Bing XL, Xia X, Zhu YX, Hong XY. Wolbachia and Spiroplasma could influence bacterial communities of the spider mite Tetranychus truncatus. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 83:197-210. [PMID: 33484388 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00589-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The structures of arthropod bacterial communities are complex. These microbiotas usually provide many beneficial services to their hosts, whereas occasionally they may be parasitical. To date, little is known about the bacterial communities of Tetranychus truncatus and the factors contributing to the structure of its bacterial communities are unexplored yet. Here, we used four symbiont-infected T. truncatus strains-including one Wolbachia and Spiroplasma co-infected strain, two symbiont singly-infected strains and one symbiont uninfected strain-to investigate the influence of endosymbionts on the structure of the host mites' microbiota. Based on 16S rRNA genes sequencing analysis, we found Wolbachia and Spiroplasma were the two most abundant bacteria in T. truncatus and the presence of both symbionts could not change the diversity of bacterial communities (based on alpha-diversity indexes such as ACE, Chao1, Shannon and Simpson diversity index). Symbiont infection did alter the abundance of many other bacterial genera, such as Megamonas and Bacteroides. The structures of bacterial communities differed significantly among symbiont-infected strains. These results suggested a prominent effect of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma on bacterial communities of the host T. truncatus. These findings advance our understanding of T. truncatus microbiota and will be helpful for further study on bacterial communities of spider mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yang
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Li Bing
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Xia
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Xi Zhu
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yue Hong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
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14
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Ye MH, Fan SH, Li XY, Tarequl IM, Yan CX, Wei WH, Yang SM, Zhou B. Microbiota dysbiosis in honeybee ( Apis mellifera L .) larvae infected with brood diseases and foraging bees exposed to agrochemicals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201805. [PMID: 33614099 PMCID: PMC7890499 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
American foulbrood (AFB) disease and chalkbrood disease (CBD) are important bacterial and fungal diseases, respectively, that affect honeybee broods. Exposure to agrochemicals is an abiotic stressor that potentially weakens honeybee colonies. Gut microflora alterations in adult honeybees associated with these biotic and abiotic factors have been investigated. However, microbial compositions in AFB- and CBD-infected larvae and the profile of whole-body microbiota in foraging bees exposed to agrochemicals have not been fully studied. In this study, bacterial and fungal communities in healthy and diseased (AFB/CBD) honeybee larvae were characterized by amplicon sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal internal transcribed spacer1 region, respectively. The bacterial and fungal communities in disordered foraging bees poisoned by agrochemicals were analysed. Our results revealed that healthy larvae were significantly enriched in bacterial genera Lactobacillus and Stenotrophomonas and the fungal genera Alternaria and Aspergillus. The enrichment of these microorganisms, which had antagonistic activities against the etiologic agents for AFB and CBD, respectively, may protect larvae from potential infection. In disordered foraging bees, the relative abundance of bacterial genus Gilliamella and fungal species Cystofilobasidium macerans were significantly reduced, which may compromise hosts' capacities in nutrient absorption and immune defence against pathogens. Significantly higher frequency of environmentally derived fungi was observed in disordered foraging bees, which reflected the perturbed microbiota communities of hosts. Results from PICRUSt and FUNGuild analyses revealed significant differences in gene clusters of bacterial communities and fungal function profiles. Overall, results of this study provide references for the composition and function of microbial communities in AFB- and CBD-infected honeybee larvae and foraging bees exposed to agrochemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Hong Ye
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Hang Fan
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Islam Mohd Tarequl
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun-Xiang Yan
- Chunxiang Professional Beekeeping Cooperatives, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan-Hong Wei
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agricultural & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Mei Yang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agricultural & Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
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15
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Shotgun sequencing of honey DNA can describe honey bee derived environmental signatures and the honey bee hologenome complexity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9279. [PMID: 32518251 PMCID: PMC7283317 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66127-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are large-scale monitoring tools due to their extensive environmental exploration. In their activities and from the hive ecosystem complex, they get in close contact with many organisms whose traces can be transferred into the honey, which can represent an interesting reservoir of environmental DNA (eDNA) signatures and information useful to analyse the honey bee hologenome complexity. In this study, we tested a deep shotgun sequencing approach of honey DNA coupled with a specifically adapted bioinformatic pipeline. This methodology was applied to a few honey samples pointing out DNA sequences from 191 organisms spanning different kingdoms or phyla (viruses, bacteria, plants, fungi, protozoans, arthropods, mammals). Bacteria included the largest number of species. These multi-kingdom signatures listed common hive and honey bee gut microorganisms, honey bee pathogens, parasites and pests, which resembled a complex interplay that might provide a general picture of the honey bee pathosphere. Based on the Apis mellifera filamentous virus genome diversity (the most abundant detected DNA source) we obtained information that could define the origin of the honey at the apiary level. Mining Apis mellifera sequences made it possible to identify the honey bee subspecies both at the mitochondrial and nuclear genome levels.
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16
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Host Species Determines the Composition of the Prokaryotic Microbiota in Phlebotomus Sandflies. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9060428. [PMID: 32485988 PMCID: PMC7350354 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sandflies are vectors of the humans' and mammals' parasite Leishmania spp. Although the role of gut microbiome in the biological cycle of insects is acknowledged, we still know little about the factors modulating the composition of the gut microbiota of sandflies. We tested whether host species impose a strong structural effect on the gut microbiota of Phlebotomus spp. Sandflies were collected from the island of Leros, Greece, and classified to P. papatasi, P. neglectus, P. tobbi, and P. similis, all being negative to Leishmania spp. The prokaryotic gut microbiota was determined via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Phlebotomus species supported distinct microbial communities (p < 0.001). P. papatasi microbiota was the most distinct over-dominated by three Spiroplasma, Wolbachia and Paenibacillus operational taxonomic units (OTUs), while another Wolbachia OTU prevailed in P. neglectus. Conversely, the microbiota of P. tobbi and P. similis was composed of several less dominant OTUs. Archaea showed low presence with the dominant OTUs belonging to methanogenic Euryarcheota, ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarcheota, and Nanoarchaeota. We provide first insights into the composition of the bacterial and archaeal community of Phlebotomus sandflies and showed that, in the absence of Leishmania, host genotype is the major modulator of Phlebotomus sandfly gut microbiota.
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17
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Subotic S, Boddicker AM, Nguyen VM, Rivers J, Briles CE, Mosier AC. Honey bee microbiome associated with different hive and sample types over a honey production season. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223834. [PMID: 31703071 PMCID: PMC6839897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators in natural and agricultural ecosystems, and yet are in significant decline due to several factors including parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and habitat loss. A new beehive construction called the FlowTM hive was developed in 2015 to allow honey to be harvested directly from the hive without opening it, resulting in an apparent decrease in stress to the bees. Here, we compared the Flow and traditional Langstroth hive constructions to determine if there were any significant differences in the bee microbiome. The bee-associated bacterial communities did not differ between hive constructions and varied only slightly over the course of a honey production season. Samples were dominated by taxa belonging to the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bartonella, Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, and Frischella genera, as observed in previous studies. The top ten most abundant taxa made up the majority of the sequence data; however, many low abundance organisms were persistent across the majority of samples regardless of sampling time or hive type. We additionally compared different preparations of whole bee and dissected bee samples to elaborate on previous bee microbiome research. We found that bacterial sequences were overwhelming derived from the bee guts, and microbes on the bee surfaces (including pollen) contributed little to the overall microbiome of whole bees. Overall, the results indicate that different hive constructions and associated disturbance levels do not influence the bee gut microbiome, which has broader implications for supporting hive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sladjana Subotic
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Andrew M. Boddicker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Vy M. Nguyen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - James Rivers
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christy E. Briles
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Annika C. Mosier
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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López-Uribe MM, Ricigliano VA, Simone-Finstrom M. Defining Pollinator Health: A Holistic Approach Based on Ecological, Genetic, and Physiological Factors. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2019; 8:269-294. [PMID: 31618045 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-020518-115045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Evidence for global bee population declines has catalyzed a rapidly evolving area of research that aims to identify the causal factors and to effectively assess the status of pollinator populations. The term pollinator health emerged through efforts to understand causes of bee decline and colony losses, but it lacks a formal definition. In this review, we propose a definition for pollinator health and synthesize the available literature on the application of standardized biomarkers to assess health at the individual, colony, and population levels. We focus on biomarkers in honey bees, a model species, but extrapolate the potential application of these approaches to monitor the health status of wild bee populations. Biomarker-guided health measures can inform beekeeper management decisions, wild bee conservation efforts, and environmental policies. We conclude by addressing challenges to pollinator health from a One Health perspective that emphasizes the interplay between environmental quality and human, animal, and bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita M López-Uribe
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA;
| | - Vincent A Ricigliano
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research, USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820, USA; ,
| | - Michael Simone-Finstrom
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research, USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820, USA; ,
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19
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Tauber JP, Nguyen V, Lopez D, Evans JD. Effects of a Resident Yeast from the Honeybee Gut on Immunity, Microbiota, and Nosema Disease. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10090296. [PMID: 31540209 PMCID: PMC6780889 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) has a core bacterial microbiota that is well described and important for health. Honeybees also host a yeast community that is poorly understood with respect to host nutrition and immunity, and also the symbiotic bacterial microbiota. In this work, we present two studies focusing on the consequences of dysbiosis when honeybees were control-fed a yeast that was isolated from a honeybee midgut, Wickerhamomyces anomalus. Yeast augmentation for bees with developed microbiota appeared immunomodulatory (lowered immunity and hormone-related gene expression) and affected the microbial community, while yeast augmentation for newly emerged bees without an established bacterial background did not lead to decreased immunity— and hormone—related gene expression. In newly emerged bees that had a naturally occurring baseline level of W. anomalus, we observed that the addition of N. ceranae led to a decrease in yeast levels. Overall, we show that yeasts can affect the microbiome, immunity, and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Tauber
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Vy Nguyen
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Dawn Lopez
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
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20
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Araujo RDS, Lopes MP, Barbosa WF, Gonçalves WG, Fernandes KM, Martins GF, Tavares MG. Spinosad-mediated effects on survival, overall group activity and the midgut of workers of Partamona helleri (Hymenoptera: Apidae). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 175:148-154. [PMID: 30897413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Populations of stingless bees have declined around the world and pesticides have been indicated as one of the possible causes of this decrease. Spinosad, which is synthesized from the fermentation process produced by the soil actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, is one of the most used bioinsecticides today. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of spinosad (formulation) on survival, general group activity and the processes of autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress in two organs (midgut and brain) of workers of Partamona helleri, after 24 h of oral exposure. Workers were orally exposed to different concentrations of spinosad. The concentration (8.16 × 10-3 mg a.i./mL) that led to the mortality of approximately half the number of treated bees was considered LC50 and was used in behavior, histology and immunofluorescence bioassays. The results revealed that bee survival was substantially reduced with increasing spinosad concentrations. The LC50 of the bioinsecticide compromised general group activity, caused morphological alterations in the midgut and intensified the processes of autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress in this organ. The brain, on the other hand, did not present significant alterations under the tested conditions. The data obtained demonstrate, therefore, that spinosad negatively affects individual survival, general group activity and the midgut epithelium of P. helleri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renan Dos Santos Araujo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Estrutural, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa (MG), Brazil.
| | - Marcos Pereira Lopes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Estrutural, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa (MG), Brazil.
| | - Wagner Faria Barbosa
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa (MG), Brazil.
| | | | - Kenner Morais Fernandes
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa (MG), Brazil.
| | | | - Mara Garcia Tavares
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa (MG), Brazil.
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21
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Ebeling J, Knispel H, Fünfhaus A, Genersch E. The biological role of the enigmatic C3larvinAB toxin of the honey bee pathogenic bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:3091-3106. [PMID: 31187922 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of the notifiable epizootic American foulbrood, a fatal bacterial disease of honey bee larvae. The species P. larvae has been classified into four differentially virulent and prevalent genotypes (ERIC I-IV), which also differ in their virulence factor equipment. Recently, a novel P. larvae toxin, the C3-like C3larvin, has been described. Genome analysis now revealed that the C3larvin gene is actually a part of a toxin locus encompassing two genes encoding a binary AB toxin with the A subunit being C3larvin (C3larvinA) and a putative B subunit (C3larvinB) encoded by the second gene. Sequence and structural analyses demonstrated that C3larvinB is a homologue of the Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA), the B subunit of anthrax toxin. The C3larvinAB toxin locus was interrupted by point mutations in all analysed P. larvae ERIC I and ERIC II strains. Only one P. larvae ERIC III/IV strain harboured an uninterrupted toxin locus comprising full-length genes for C3larvinA and B. Exposure bioassays did not substantiate a role as virulence factor for C3larvinAB in P. larvae ERIC I/II. However, the PA homologue C3larvinB had an influence on the virulence of the unique P. larvae strain expressing the functional C3larvinAB locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Ebeling
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Henriette Knispel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Anne Fünfhaus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee Research, 16540, Hohen Neuendorf, Germany.,Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, 14163, Berlin, Germany
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22
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Etienne N, Bret L, Le Brun C, Lecuyer H, Moraly J, Lanternier F, Hermine O, Ferroni A, Lecuit M, Pereyre S, Beven L, Lortholary O. Disseminated Spiroplasma apis Infection in Patient with Agammaglobulinemia, France. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:2382-2386. [PMID: 30457541 PMCID: PMC6256403 DOI: 10.3201/eid2412.180567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a disseminated infection caused by Spiroplasma apis, a honeybee pathogen, in a patient in France who had X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Identification was challenging because initial bacterial cultures and direct examination by Gram staining were negative. Unexplained sepsis in patients with agammaglobulinemia warrants specific investigation to identify fastidious bacteria such as Spiroplasma spp.
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23
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McManus R, Ravenscraft A, Moore W. Bacterial Associates of a Gregarious Riparian Beetle With Explosive Defensive Chemistry. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2361. [PMID: 30344514 PMCID: PMC6182187 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bombardier beetles (Carabidae: Brachininae) are well known for their unique explosive defensive chemistry. These beetles are found in riparian corridors throughout the American Southwest, where they commonly form large diurnal multispecies aggregations in moist areas under rocks, in crevices, and in leaf litter. Using high throughput 16S amplicon sequencing, we provide the first microbiome survey of a bombardier beetle, Brachinus elongatulus, collected from two sites in Arizona. Two bacterial taxa were present in all individuals sampled: Enterococcus and Dysgonomonas. Enterococcus has been implicated in the production of fecal aggregation pheromone components, which have been shown to regulate aggregation in the German cockroach; it is possible that Enterococcus plays a similar role in Brachinus. Dysgonomonas was found in all the secretory cells of the defensive system and gut samples. Additional studies are needed to determine if these microbes play a role in these beetles' unique chemical defense. Results also show that the majority of B. elongatulus individuals collected from both sites were infected with Spiroplasma. Many Spiroplasma are intracellular, vertically transmitted insect symbionts that may manipulate host reproduction (e.g., cause male-killing) or provide resistance to nematodes and/or parasitoid wasps. Defensive protection could be especially beneficial to B. elongatulus, which are frequently parasitized by horsehair worms (Nematomorpha). In sum, findings suggest several testable hypotheses on the effects bacteria may have on bombardier beetle behavior and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reilly McManus
- Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Entomology and Insect Science, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Alison Ravenscraft
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Insect Science, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Wendy Moore
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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24
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Elmnasri K, Hamdi C, Ettoumi B, Crotti E, Guesmi A, Najjari A, Doudoumis V, Boudabous A, Daffonchio D, Tsiamis G, Cherif A. Highly divergent Mollicutes symbionts coexist in the scorpion Androctonus australis. J Basic Microbiol 2018; 58:827-835. [PMID: 30019339 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201800144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Androctonus australis is one of the most ubiquitous and common scorpion species in desert and arid lands from North Africa to India and it has an important ecological role and social impact. The bacterial community associated to this arachnid is unknown and we aimed to dissect its species composition in the gut, gonads, and venom gland. A 16S rRNA gene culture-independent diversity analysis revealed, among six other taxonomic groups (Firmicutes, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria), a dominance of Mollicutes phylotypes recorded both in the digestive tract and the gonads. These related Mollicutes include two Spiroplasma phylotypes (12.5% of DGGE bands and 15% of clones), and a new Mycoplasma cluster (80% of clones) showing 16S rRNA sequence identities of 95 and 93% with Mollicutes detected in the Mexican scorpions Centruroides limpidus and Vaejovis smithi, respectively. Such scorpion-associated Mollicutes form a new lineage that share a distant ancestor with Mycoplasma hominis. The observed host specificity with the apparent phylogenetic divergence suggests a relatively long co-evolution of these symbionts with the scorpion hosts. From the ecological point of view, such association may play a beneficial role for the host fitness, especially during dormancy or molt periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Elmnasri
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Chadlia Hamdi
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia.,Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Besma Ettoumi
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Crotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Amel Guesmi
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia.,Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Afef Najjari
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia.,Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Vangelis Doudoumis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Greece
| | - Abdellatif Boudabous
- Laboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Greece
| | - Ameur Cherif
- Univ. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
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Fünfhaus A, Ebeling J, Genersch E. Bacterial pathogens of bees. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 26:89-96. [PMID: 29764667 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Pollination is an indispensable ecosystem service provided by many insects, especially by wild and managed bee species. Hence, reports on large scale honey bee colony losses and on population declines of many wild bees were alarming and resulted in increased awareness of the importance of bee health and increased interest in bee pathogens. To serve this interest, this review will give a comprehensive overview on bacterial bee pathogens by covering not only the famous pathogens (Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius), but also the orphan pathogens which have largely been neglected by the scientific community so far (spiroplasmas) and the pathogens which were only recently discovered as being pathogenic to bees (Serratia marcescens, Lysinibacillus sphaericus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fünfhaus
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Friedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Julia Ebeling
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Friedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Institute for Bee Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Friedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
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26
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Yang D, Zha G, Li X, Gao H, Yu H. Immune responses in the haemolymph and antimicrobial peptide expression in the abdomen of Apis mellifera challenged with Spiroplasma melliferum CH-1. Microb Pathog 2017; 112:279-287. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Challenging the Wigglesworthia, Sodalis, Wolbachia symbiosis dogma in tsetse flies: Spiroplasma is present in both laboratory and natural populations. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4699. [PMID: 28680117 PMCID: PMC5498494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04740-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling of wild and laboratory tsetse populations using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing allowed us to examine whether the "Wigglesworthia-Sodalis-Wolbachia dogma" operates across species and populations. The most abundant taxa, in wild and laboratory populations, were Wigglesworthia (the primary endosymbiont), Sodalis and Wolbachia as previously characterized. The species richness of the microbiota was greater in wild than laboratory populations. Spiroplasma was identified as a new symbiont exclusively in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and G. tachinoides, members of the palpalis sub-group, and the infection prevalence in several laboratory and natural populations was surveyed. Multi locus sequencing typing (MLST) analysis identified two strains of tsetse-associated Spiroplasma, present in G. f. fuscipes and G. tachinoides. Spiroplasma density in G. f. fuscipes larva guts was significantly higher than in guts from teneral and 15-day old male and female adults. In gonads of teneral and 15-day old insects, Spiroplasma density was higher in testes than ovaries, and was significantly higher density in live versus prematurely deceased females indicating a potentially mutualistic association. Higher Spiroplasma density in testes than in ovaries was also detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization in G. f. fuscipes.
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Sepsis and Hemocyte Loss in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Infected with Serratia marcescens Strain Sicaria. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167752. [PMID: 28002470 PMCID: PMC5176276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Global loss of honey bee colonies is threatening the human food supply. Diverse pathogens reduce honey bee hardiness needed to sustain colonies, especially in winter. We isolated a free-living Gram negative bacillus from hemolymph of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera) found separated from winter clusters. In some hives, greater than 90% of the dying bees detached from the winter cluster were found to contain this bacterium in their hemolymph. Throughout the year, the same organism was rarely found in bees engaged in normal hive activities, but was detected in about half of Varroa destructor mites obtained from colonies that housed the septic bees. Flow cytometry of hemolymph from septic bees showed a significant reduction of plasmatocytes and other types of hemocytes. Interpretation of the16S rRNA sequence of the bacterium indicated that it belongs to the Serratia genus of Gram-negative Gammaproteobacteria, which has not previously been implicated as a pathogen of adult honey bees. Complete genome sequence analysis of the bacterium supported its classification as a novel strain of Serratia marcescens, which was designated as S. marcescens strain sicaria (Ss1). When compared with other strains of S. marcescens, Ss1 demonstrated several phenotypic and genetic differences, including 65 genes not previously found in other Serratia genomes. Some of the unique genes we identified in Ss1 were related to those from bacterial insect pathogens and commensals. Recovery of this organism extends a complex pathosphere of agents which may contribute to failure of honey bee colonies.
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29
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Structural basis of the high thermal stability of the histone-like HU protein from the mollicute Spiroplasma melliferum KC3. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36366. [PMID: 27808161 PMCID: PMC5093408 DOI: 10.1038/srep36366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The three-dimensional structure of the histone-like HU protein from the mycoplasma Spiroplasma melliferum KC3 (HUSpm) was determined at 1.4 Å resolution, and the thermal stability of the protein was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. A detailed analysis revealed that the three-dimensional structure of the HUSpm dimer is similar to that of its bacterial homologues but is characterized by stronger hydrophobic interactions at the dimer interface. This HUSpm dimer interface lacks salt bridges but is stabilized by a larger number of hydrogen bonds. According to the DSC data, HUSpm has a high denaturation temperature, comparable to that of HU proteins from thermophilic bacteria. To elucidate the structural basis of HUSpm thermal stability, we identified amino acid residues potentially responsible for this property and modified them by site-directed mutagenesis. A comparative analysis of the melting curves of mutant and wild-type HUSpm revealed the motifs that play a key role in protein thermal stability: non-conserved phenylalanine residues in the hydrophobic core, an additional hydrophobic loop at the N-terminal region of the protein, the absence of the internal cavity present at the dimer interface of some HU proteins, and the presence of additional hydrogen bonds between the monomers that are missing in homologous proteins.
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30
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Hubert J, Kamler M, Nesvorna M, Ledvinka O, Kopecky J, Erban T. Comparison of Varroa destructor and Worker Honeybee Microbiota Within Hives Indicates Shared Bacteria. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 72:448-459. [PMID: 27129319 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0776-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major pest of the honeybee Apis mellifera. In a previous study, bacteria were found in the guts of mites collected from winter beehive debris and were identified using Sanger sequencing of their 16S rRNA genes. In this study, community comparison and diversity analyses were performed to examine the microbiota of honeybees and mites at the population level. The microbiota of the mites and honeybees in 26 colonies in seven apiaries in Czechia was studied. Between 10 and 50 Varroa females were collected from the bottom board, and 10 worker bees were removed from the peripheral comb of the same beehive. Both bees and mites were surface sterilized. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene libraries revealed significant differences in the Varroa and honeybee microbiota. The Varroa microbiota was less diverse than was the honeybee microbiota, and the relative abundances of bacterial taxa in the mite and bee microbiota differed. The Varroa mites, but not the honeybees, were found to be inhabited by Diplorickettsia. The relative abundance of Arsenophonus, Morganella, Spiroplasma, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas was higher in Varroa than in honeybees, and the Diplorickettsia symbiont detected in this study is specific to Varroa mites. The results demonstrated that there are shared bacteria between Varroa and honeybee populations but that these bacteria occur in different relative proportions in the honeybee and mite bacteriomes. These results support the suggestion of bacterial transfer via mites, although only some of the transferred bacteria may be harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hubert
- Biologically Active Substances in Crop Protection, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czechia.
| | - Martin Kamler
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Libcice nad Vltavou, Czechia
| | - Marta Nesvorna
- Biologically Active Substances in Crop Protection, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czechia
| | - Ondrej Ledvinka
- Hydrological Database & Water Balance, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Na Sabatce 2050/17, 143 06, Prague 412, Czechia
| | - Jan Kopecky
- Epidemiology and Ecology of Microorganisms, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507, Prague 6, Ruzyne, CZ, 161 06, Czechia
| | - Tomas Erban
- Biologically Active Substances in Crop Protection, Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czechia
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31
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Yañez O, Gauthier L, Chantawannakul P, Neumann P. Endosymbiotic bacteria in honey bees: Arsenophonus spp. are not transmitted transovarially. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw147. [PMID: 27279628 PMCID: PMC4941583 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria are common and can play a crucial role for insect pathology. Therefore, such bacteria could be a potential key to our understanding of major losses of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) colonies. However, the transmission and potential effects of endosymbiotic bacteria in A. mellifera and other Apis spp. are poorly understood. Here, we explore the prevalence and transmission of the genera Arsenophonus, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia in Apis spp. Colonies of A. mellifera (N = 33, with 20 eggs from worker brood cells and 100 adult workers each) as well as mated honey bee queens of A. cerana, A. dorsata and A. florea (N = 12 each) were screened using PCR. While Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia were not detected, Arsenophonus spp. were found in 24.2% of A. mellifera colonies and respective queens as well as in queens of A. dorsata (8.3%) and A. florea (8.3%), but not in A. cerana. The absence of Arsenophonus spp. from reproductive organs of A. mellifera queens and surface-sterilized eggs does not support transovarial vertical transmission. Instead, horizontal transmission is most likely. Arsenophonus endosymbiotic bacteria are not transmitted transovarially in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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32
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PCR-specific detection of recently described Lotmaria passim (Trypanosomatidae) in Chilean apiaries. J Invertebr Pathol 2015; 134:1-5. [PMID: 26721451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The recently described trypanosome Lotmaria passim is currently considered the most predominant trypanosomatid in honey bees worldwide and could be a factor in honey bee declines. For a specific and quick detection of this pathogen, we developed primers based on the SSU rRNA and gGAPDH genes for the detection of L. passim in Chilean honey beehives. PCR products amplified and sequenced for these primers shared 99-100% identity with other sequences of L. passim. The designed primers were specific and we were able to detect a high prevalence (40-90%) of L. passim in bee hives distributed throughout Chile. Our described PCR-based method offers a feasible and specific detection of L. passim in any honey bee samples.
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33
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Hubert J, Erban T, Kamler M, Kopecky J, Nesvorna M, Hejdankova S, Titera D, Tyl J, Zurek L. Bacteria detected in the honeybee parasitic mite Varroa destructor collected from beehive winter debris. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 119:640-54. [PMID: 26176631 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The winter beehive debris containing bodies of honeybee parasitic mite Varroa destructor is used for veterinary diagnostics. The Varroa sucking honeybee haemolymph serves as a reservoir of pathogens including bacteria. Worker bees can pick up pathogens from the debris during cleaning activities and spread the infection to healthy bees within the colony. The aim of this study was to detect entomopathogenic bacteria in the Varroa collected from the winter beehive debris. METHODS AND RESULTS Culture-independent approach was used to analyse the mite-associated bacterial community. Total DNA was extracted from the samples of 10 Varroa female individuals sampled from 27 different sites in Czechia. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified using universal bacterial primers, cloned and sequenced, resulting in a set of 596 sequences representing 29 operational taxonomic units (OTU97). To confirm the presence of bacteria in Varroa, histological sections of the mites were observed. Undetermined bacteria were observed in the mite gut and fat tissue. CONCLUSION Morganella sp. was the most frequently detected taxon, followed by Enterococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Rahnella sp., Erwinia sp., and Arsenophonus sp. The honeybee putative pathogen Spiroplasma sp. was detected at one site and Bartonella-like bacteria were found at four sites. PCR-based analysis using genus-specific primers enabled detection of the following taxa: Enterococcus, Bartonella-like bacteria, Arsenophonus and Spiroplasma. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY We found potentially pathogenic (Spiroplasma) and parasitic bacteria (Arsenophonus) in mites from winter beehive debris. The mites can be reservoirs of the pathogenic bacteria in the apicultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hubert
- Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - T Erban
- Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - M Kamler
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Libcice nad Vltavou, Czechia
| | - J Kopecky
- Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - M Nesvorna
- Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - S Hejdankova
- Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - D Titera
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Libcice nad Vltavou, Czechia
| | - J Tyl
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Libcice nad Vltavou, Czechia
| | - L Zurek
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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34
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Schwarz RS, Huang Q, Evans JD. Hologenome theory and the honey bee pathosphere. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 10:1-7. [PMID: 29587997 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has provided improved genome-level views of diversity across global honey bee populations, the gut microbiota residing within them, and the expanding pathosphere challenging honey bees. Different combinations of bee/microbiota/pathosphere genome complexes may explain regional variation in apiculture productivity and mortality. To understand this, we must consider management and research approaches in light of a hologenome paradigm: that honey bee fitness is determined by the composite bee and microbiota genomes. Only by considering the hologenome can we truly interpret and address impacts from the pathosphere, pesticides, toxins, nutrition, climate and other stressors affecting bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Schwarz
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Qiang Huang
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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35
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Tozkar CÖ, Kence M, Kence A, Huang Q, Evans JD. Metatranscriptomic analyses of honey bee colonies. Front Genet 2015; 6:100. [PMID: 25852743 PMCID: PMC4365734 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees face numerous biotic threats from viruses to bacteria, fungi, protists, and mites. Here we describe a thorough analysis of microbes harbored by worker honey bees collected from field colonies in geographically distinct regions of Turkey. Turkey is one of the World's most important centers of apiculture, harboring five subspecies of Apis mellifera L., approximately 20% of the honey bee subspecies in the world. We use deep ILLUMINA-based RNA sequencing to capture RNA species for the honey bee and a sampling of all non-endogenous species carried by bees. After trimming and mapping these reads to the honey bee genome, approximately 10% of the sequences (9–10 million reads per library) remained. These were then mapped to a curated set of public sequences containing ca. Sixty megabase-pairs of sequence representing known microbial species associated with honey bees. Levels of key honey bee pathogens were confirmed using quantitative PCR screens. We contrast microbial matches across different sites in Turkey, showing new country recordings of Lake Sinai virus, two Spiroplasma bacterium species, symbionts Candidatus Schmidhempelia bombi, Frischella perrara, Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, Lactobacillus spp.), neogregarines, and a trypanosome species. By using metagenomic analysis, this study also reveals deep molecular evidence for the presence of bacterial pathogens (Melissococcus plutonius, Paenibacillus larvae), Varroa destructor-1 virus, Sacbrood virus, and fungi. Despite this effort we did not detect KBV, SBPV, Tobacco ringspot virus, VdMLV (Varroa Macula like virus), Acarapis spp., Tropilaeleps spp. and Apocephalus (phorid fly). We discuss possible impacts of management practices and honey bee subspecies on microbial retinues. The described workflow and curated microbial database will be generally useful for microbial surveys of healthy and declining honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cansu Ö Tozkar
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey
| | - Meral Kence
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aykut Kence
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey
| | - Qiang Huang
- Bee Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service Beltsville, MD, USA
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36
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Boyko K, Gorbacheva M, Rakitina T, Korzhenevskiy D, Vanyushkina A, Kamashev D, Lipkin A, Popov V. Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the histone-like HU protein from Spiroplasma melliferum KC3. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2015; 71:24-7. [PMID: 25615963 PMCID: PMC4304742 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x14025333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
HU proteins belong to the nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) that are involved in vital processes such as DNA compaction and reparation, gene transcription etc. No data are available on the structures of HU proteins from mycoplasmas. To this end, the HU protein from the parasitic mycoplasma Spiroplasma melliferum KC3 was cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Prismatic crystals of the protein were obtained by the vapour-diffusion technique at 4°C. The crystals diffracted to 1.36 Å resolution (the best resolution ever obtained for a HU protein). The diffraction data were indexed in space group C2 and the structure of the protein was solved by the molecular-replacement method with one monomer per asymmetric unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Boyko
- Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, RAS, Leninsky Prospekt 33/2, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
| | - Marina Gorbacheva
- Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, RAS, Leninsky Prospekt 33/2, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana Rakitina
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of Hormonal Regulation Proteins, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry Korzhenevskiy
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
| | - Anna Vanyushkina
- SRI of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Malaya Pirogovskaya 1a, Moscow 119435, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry Kamashev
- SRI of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Malaya Pirogovskaya 1a, Moscow 119435, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey Lipkin
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir Popov
- Laboratory of Enzyme Engineering, A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, RAS, Leninsky Prospekt 33/2, Moscow 119071, Russian Federation
- The Protein Factory, NBICS Center, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’, Akad. Kurchatova Square 1, Moscow 123182, Russian Federation
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