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Han B, Hu J, Yang C, Tang J, Du Y, Guo L, Wu Y, Zhang X, Zhou X. Lactobacillus Firm-5-derived succinate prevents honeybees from having diabetes-like symptoms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2405410121. [PMID: 39186650 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405410121] [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: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays an important role in honeybee hormonal regulation and growth, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we showed that the depletion of gut bacteria resulted in reduced expression of insulin-like peptide gene (ilp) in the head, accompanied by metabolic syndromes resembling those of Type 1 diabetes in humans: hyperglycemia, impaired lipid storage, and decreased metabolism. These symptoms were alleviated by gut bacterial inoculation. Gut metabolite profiling revealed that succinate, produced by Lactobacillus Firm-5, played deterministic roles in activating ilp gene expression and in regulating metabolism in honeybees. Notably, we demonstrated that succinate modulates host ilp gene expression through stimulating gut gluconeogenesis, a mechanism resembling that of humans. This study presents evidence for the role of gut metabolite in modulating host metabolism and contributes to the understanding of the interactions between gut microbiome and bee hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benfeng Han
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiawei Hu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chengfeng Yang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan 572024, China
| | - Junbo Tang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yating Du
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lizhen Guo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yashuai Wu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan 572024, China
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Feng Y, Wei R, Chen Q, Shang T, Zhou N, Wang Z, Chen Y, Chen G, Zhang G, Dong K, Zhong Y, Zhao H, Hu F, Zheng H. Host specificity and cophylogeny in the "animal-gut bacteria-phage" tripartite system. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:72. [PMID: 39191812 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00557-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cophylogeny has been identified between gut bacteria and their animal host and is highly relevant to host health, but little research has extended to gut bacteriophages. Here we use bee model to investigate host specificity and cophylogeny in the "animal-gut bacteria-phage" tripartite system. Through metagenomic sequencing upon different bee species, the gut phageome revealed a more variable composition than the gut bacteriome. Nevertheless, the bacteriome and the phageome showed a significant association of their dissimilarity matrices, indicating a reciprocal interaction between the two kinds of communities. Most of the gut phages were host generalist at the viral cluster level but host specialist at the viral OTU level. While the dominant gut bacteria Gilliamella and Snodgrassella exhibited matched phylogeny with bee hosts, most of their phages showed a diminished level of cophylogeny. The evolutionary rates of the bee, the gut bacteria and the gut phages showed a remarkably increasing trend, including synonymous and non-synonymous substitution and gene content variation. For all of the three codiversified tripartite members, however, their genes under positive selection and genes involving gain/loss during evolution simultaneously enriched the functions into metabolism of nutrients, therefore highlighting the tripartite coevolution that results in an enhanced ecological fitness for the whole holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Feng
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ruike Wei
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiuli Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tongyao Shang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nihong Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Gongwen Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guozhi Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Dong
- Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yihai Zhong
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agriculture Sciences, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hongxia Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huoqing Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Sbardellati DL, Vannette RL. Targeted viromes and total metagenomes capture distinct components of bee gut phage communities. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:155. [PMID: 39175056 PMCID: PMC11342477 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01875-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite being among the most abundant biological entities on earth, bacteriophage (phage) remain an understudied component of host-associated systems. One limitation to studying host-associated phage is the lack of consensus on methods for sampling phage communities. Here, we compare paired total metagenomes and viral size fraction metagenomes (viromes) as methods for investigating the dsDNA viral communities associated with the GI tract of two bee species: the European honey bee Apis mellifera and the eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens. RESULTS We find that viromes successfully enriched for phage, thereby increasing phage recovery, but only in honey bees. In contrast, for bumble bees, total metagenomes recovered greater phage diversity. Across both bee species, viromes better sampled low occupancy phage, while total metagenomes were biased towards sampling temperate phage. Additionally, many of the phage captured by total metagenomes were absent altogether from viromes. Comparing between bees, we show that phage communities in commercially reared bumble bees are significantly reduced in diversity compared to honey bees, likely reflecting differences in bacterial titer and diversity. In a broader context, these results highlight the complementary nature of total metagenomes and targeted viromes, especially when applied to host-associated environments. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we suggest that studies interested in assessing total communities of host-associated phage should consider using both approaches. However, given the constraints of virome sampling, total metagenomes may serve to sample phage communities with the understanding that they will preferentially sample dominant and temperate phage. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Lee Vannette
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Hotchkiss MZ, Forrest JRK, Poulain AJ. Changes in bumblebee queen gut microbiotas during and after overwintering diapause. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39175129 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Bumblebees are key pollinators with gut microbiotas that support host health. After bumblebee queens undergo winter diapause, which occurs before spring colony establishment, their gut microbiotas are disturbed, but little is known about community dynamics during diapause itself. Queen gut microbiotas also help seed worker microbiotas, so it is important that they recover post-diapause to a typical community structure, a process that may be impeded by pesticide exposure. We examined how bumblebee queen gut microbiota community structure and metabolic potential shift during and after winter diapause, and whether post-diapause recovery is affected by pesticide exposure. To do so, we placed commercial Bombus impatiens queens into diapause, euthanizing them at 0, 2 and 4 months of diapause. Additionally, we allowed some queens to recover from diapause for 1 week before euthanasia, exposing half to the common herbicide glyphosate. Using whole-community, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we found that core bee gut phylotypes dominated queen gut microbiotas before, during and after diapause, but that two phylotypes, Schmidhempelia and Snodgrassella, ceased to be detected during late diapause and recovery. Despite fluctuations in taxonomic community structure, metabolic potential remained constant through diapause and recovery. Also, glyphosate exposure did not affect post-diapause microbiota recovery. However, metagenomic assembly quality and our ability to detect microbial taxa and metabolic pathways declined alongside microbial abundance, which was substantially reduced during diapause. Our study offers new insights into how bumblebee queen gut microbiotas change taxonomically and functionally during a key life stage and provides guidance for future microbiota studies in diapausing bumblebees.
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Motta EVS, de Jong TK, Gage A, Edwards JA, Moran NA. Glyphosate effects on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts and diverse associated bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0051524. [PMID: 39012136 PMCID: PMC11337805 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00515-24] [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: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Biofilm formation is a common adaptation enabling bacteria to thrive in various environments and withstand external pressures. In the context of host-microbe interactions, biofilms play vital roles in establishing microbiomes associated with animals and plants and are used by opportunistic microbes to facilitate survival within hosts. Investigating biofilm dynamics, composition, and responses to environmental stressors is crucial for understanding microbial community assembly and biofilm regulation in health and disease. In this study, we explore in vivo colonization and in vitro biofilm formation abilities of core members of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiota. Additionally, we assess the impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide with antimicrobial properties, and a glyphosate-based herbicide formulation on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts as well as in other biofilm-forming bacteria associated with diverse animals and plants. Our results demonstrate that several strains of core bee gut bacterial species can colonize the bee gut, which probably depends on their ability to form biofilms. Furthermore, glyphosate exposure elicits variable effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. In some instances, the effects correlate with the bacteria's ability to encode a susceptible or tolerant version of the enzyme inhibited by glyphosate in the shikimate pathway. However, in other instances, no such correlation is observed. Testing the herbicide formulation further complicates comparisons, as results often diverge from glyphosate exposure alone, suggesting that co-formulants influence bacterial growth and biofilm formation. These findings highlight the nuanced impacts of environmental stressors on microbial biofilms, with both ecological and host health-related implications. IMPORTANCE Biofilms are essential for microbial communities to establish and thrive in diverse environments. In the honey bee gut, the core microbiota member Snodgrassella alvi forms biofilms, potentially aiding the establishment of other members and promoting interactions with the host. In this study, we show that specific strains of other core members, including Bifidobacterium, Bombilactobacillus, Gilliamella, and Lactobacillus, also form biofilms in vitro. We then examine the impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that can disrupt the bee microbiota, on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Our findings demonstrate the diverse effects of glyphosate on biofilm formation, ranging from inhibition to enhancement, reflecting observations in other beneficial or pathogenic bacteria associated with animals and plants. Thus, glyphosate exposure may influence bacterial growth and biofilm formation, potentially shaping microbial establishment on host surfaces and impacting health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick V. S. Motta
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Tyler K. de Jong
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Alejandra Gage
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Joseph A. Edwards
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Cabirol A, Chhun A, Liberti J, Kesner L, Neuschwander N, Schaerli Y, Engel P. Fecal transplant allows transmission of the gut microbiota in honey bees. mSphere 2024:e0026224. [PMID: 39158277 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00262-24] [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: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of the fecal microbiota is crucial for unraveling the pathways through which gut symbionts are acquired and transmitted. While stable gut microbial communities are essential for honey bee health, their modes of acquisition and transmission are yet to be confirmed. The gut of honey bees is colonized by symbiotic bacteria within 5 days after emergence from their wax cells as adults. Few studies have suggested that bees could be colonized in part via contact with fecal matter in the hive. However, the composition of the fecal microbiota is still unknown. It is particularly unclear whether all bacterial species can be found viable in the feces and can therefore be transmitted to newborn nestmates. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we revealed that the composition of the honey bee fecal microbiota is strikingly similar to the microbiota of entire guts. We found that fecal transplantation resulted in gut microbial communities similar to those obtained from feeding gut homogenates. Our study shows that fecal sampling and transplantation are viable tools for the non-invasive analysis of bacterial community composition and host-microbe interactions. It also implies that contact of young bees with fecal matter in the hive is a plausible route for gut microbiota acquisition. IMPORTANCE Honey bees are crucial pollinators for many crops and wildflowers. They are also powerful models for studying microbiome-host interactions. However, current methods rely on gut tissue disruption to analyze microbiota composition and use gut homogenates to inoculate microbiota-deprived bees. Here, we provide two new and non-invasive approaches that will open doors to longitudinal studies: fecal sampling and transplantation. Furthermore, our findings provide insights into gut microbiota transmission in social insects by showing that ingestion of fecal matter can result in gut microbiota acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Cabirol
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Audam Chhun
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joanito Liberti
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Kesner
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Neuschwander
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yolanda Schaerli
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Nguyen VH. Genomic investigations of diverse corbiculate bee gut-associated Gilliamella reveal conserved pathways for energy metabolism, with diverse and variable energy sources. Access Microbiol 2024; 6:000793.v3. [PMID: 39148688 PMCID: PMC11325843 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000793.v3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Gilliamella is a genus of bacteria commonly found as symbionts of corbiculate bees. Research into energy metabolism by this genus has predominantly been done through in vivo and in vitro experiments focused on the type species Gilliamella apicola. This study examined 95 publicly available genomes representing at least 18 Gilliamella species isolated predominantly from the hindgut of corbiculate bees. Energy metabolism pathways were found to be highly conserved across not only the Gilliamella but also other members of the family Orbaceae. Evidence suggests Gilliamella are capable of fermentation of both fumarate and pyruvate. Fermentation of the former produces succinate. Fermentation of the latter can produce acetate, ethanol, formate, and both isoforms of lactate for all Gilliamella and acetoin for some G. apicola strains. According to genomic evidence examined, all Gilliamella are only capable of respiration under microoxic conditions, while higher oxygen conditions likely inhibits respiration. Evidence suggests that the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways are essential mechanisms for the metabolism of energy sources, with the TCA cycle playing little to no role in energy metabolism for all Gilliamella species. Uptake of energy sources, i.e. sugars and derivatives, likely relies predominantly on the phosphoenol-pyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Differences in the utilized energy sources may confer fitness advantages associated with specific host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viet Hung Nguyen
- Project Genomes To Functional, Ecological, and Evolutionary Characterizations (Project G2FEEC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Tang J, Zuo W, Guo L, Han Z, Yang C, Han B, Dai L, Zhang X, Zhou X. Synergistic pectin deconstruction is a prerequisite for mutualistic interactions between honeybee gut bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6937. [PMID: 39138170 PMCID: PMC11322527 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51365-y] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The honeybee gut microbiome is crucial for degrading diverse pollen glycans. Yet it is unclear how this process shapes the interactions among bacteria. Here, we demonstrate a conditional mutualistic interaction between strains of two honeybee gut bacteria Bifidobacterium asteroides and Gilliamella apicola. When co-occurring in vitro and in vivo, Bifidobacterium provides complementary demethylation service to promote Gilliamella growth on methylated homogalacturonan, an enriched polysaccharide of pectin. In exchange, Gilliamella shares digestive products with Bifidobacterium, through which a positive interaction is established. This positive interaction vanishes when Bifidobacterium is not required on a non-methylated diet. Results from biochemical and gene expression analyses combined with model simulation further suggest that the ratio change of the two major homogalacturonan breakdown products, galacturonic acid (GalA) and di-GalA, determines the bacterial interaction. This study unravels how glycan metabolism may shape the interactions between honeybee gut bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbo Tang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, China
| | - Wenlong Zuo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lizhen Guo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, China
| | - Zhihao Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengfeng Yang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, China
| | - Benfeng Han
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Biological Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, China.
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Wang K, Zheng M, Cai M, Zhang Y, Fan Y, Lin Z, Wang Z, Niu Q, Ji T. Possible interactions between gut microbiome and division of labor in honey bees. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11707. [PMID: 39193168 PMCID: PMC11348130 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have provided new insights into the role of the microbiome in shaping host behavior. However, the relationship between the temporal division of labor among honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their gut microbial community has not been widely studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the link between the gut microbiome and division of labor in honey bees by examining the microbial absolute abundance and relative composition of 7-day-old nurse bees and 28-day-old forager bees from a natural hive, as well as those of worker bees of the same 14-day-old age showing different behaviors in a manipulated hive. We found that forager bees had fewer core bacteria, particularly gram-positive fermentative genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, with Bifidobacterium asteroides being the most sensitive to host behavioral tasks. Our results showed that forager bees have lower gut community stability compared to nurse bees, suggesting that their gut community is more susceptible to invasion by non-core members. Furthermore, a pollen limitation experiment using caged honey bees indicated that dietary changes during behavioral shifts may be a driving factor in honey bee microbial diversity. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiome and behavioral tasks and provides a foundation for future assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Ming Zheng
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Minqi Cai
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Yuanchan Fan
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Zheguang Lin
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Zhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for bee Genetics and BreedingJilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural SciencesJilinChina
| | - Qingsheng Niu
- Key Laboratory for bee Genetics and BreedingJilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural SciencesJilinChina
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and TechnologyYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
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Kibet S, Mudalungu CM, Kimani NM, Makwatta JO, Kabii J, Sevgan S, Kelemu S, Tanga CM. Unearthing Lactococcus lactis and Scheffersomyeces symbionts from edible wood-boring beetle larvae as a bio-resource for industrial applications. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:282. [PMID: 39080520 PMCID: PMC11290184 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03428-9] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gut microbiota have several advantages in influencing the host nutrition, metabolism, immunity and growth. However, the understanding of the gut microbiota in key edible wood-boring beetle larvae remain largely undefined. In the present study, the characteristics of the gut microbiota of two edible wood-boring species (Titocerus jaspideus and Passalus punctiger) from two indigenous forested areas were investigated. RESULTS Over 50% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) constituted of Firmicutes in T. jaspideus. The dominant phyla in both beetle species were Bacteroidota (4.20-19.79%) and Proteobacteria (15.10-23.90%). Lactococcus lactis was the most abundant and core prokaryote in the guts of T. jaspideus. The fungi identified in the gut of both insects belong to the phylum Obazoa (66%) and Ascomycota (> 15%). Scheffersomyeces sp. was the core eukaryote recorded. The diversity of gut microbiota in both insect species did not vary significantly. Most of the prokaryotic genes expressed were predominantly associated with biosynthesis and metabolism. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that Lactococcus lactis and Scheffersomyeces are core gut microbes of wood boring beetle larvae with desirable probiotic properties and promising use in food product fermentation for improved growth performance, gut barrier health, intestinal flora balance and immune protection for human and animals. Further studies to highlight the latest medical-based applications of L. lactis as live-delivery vector for the administration of therapeutics against both communicable and non-communicable diseases are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadrack Kibet
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Embu, P.O Box 6, Embu, 60100, Kenya
| | - Cynthia M Mudalungu
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
- School of Chemistry and Material Science, The Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Njogu M Kimani
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Embu, P.O Box 6, Embu, 60100, Kenya
| | - JohnMark O Makwatta
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - James Kabii
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Subramanian Sevgan
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Segenet Kelemu
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Chrysantus M Tanga
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O Box 30772, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya.
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11
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Shan HW, Xia XJ, Feng YL, Wu W, Li HJ, Sun ZT, Li JM, Chen JP. The plant-sucking insect selects assembly of the gut microbiota from environment to enhance host reproduction. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2024; 10:64. [PMID: 39080326 PMCID: PMC11289440 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00539-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-sucking insects have intricate associations with a diverse array of microorganisms to facilitate their adaptation to specific ecological niches. The midgut of phytophagous true bugs is generally structured into four distinct compartments to accommodate their microbiota. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding regarding the origins of these gut microbiomes, the mechanisms behind microbial community assembly, and the interactions between gut microbiomes and their insect hosts. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive survey of microbial communities within the midgut compartments of a bean bug Riptortus pedestris, soybean plant, and bulk soil across 12 distinct geographical fields in China, utilizing high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. Our findings illuminated that gut microbiota of the plant-sucking insects predominantly originated from the surrounding soil environment, and plants also play a subordinate role in mediating microbial acquisition for the insects. Furthermore, our investigation suggested that the composition of the insect gut microbiome was probably shaped by host selection and/or microbe-microbe interactions at the gut compartment level, with marginal influence from soil and geographical factors. Additionally, we had unveiled a noteworthy dynamic in the acquisition of core bacterial taxa, particularly Burkholderia, which were initially sourced from the environment and subsequently enriched within the insect midgut compartments. This bacterial enrichment played a significant role in enhancing insect host reproduction. These findings contribute to our evolving understanding of microbiomes within the insect-plant-soil ecosystem, shedding additional light on the intricate interactions between insects and their microbiomes that underpin the ecological significance of microbial partnerships in host adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Wei Shan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Xie-Jiang Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yi-Lu Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Hong-Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Zong-Tao Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jun-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jian-Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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12
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Zhang Z, Guo Y, Zhuang M, Liu F, Xia Z, Zhang Z, Yang F, Zeng H, Wu Y, Huang J, Xu K, Li J. Gut microbiome diversity and biogeography for Chinese bumblebee Bombus pyrosoma. mSystems 2024; 9:e0045924. [PMID: 38934544 PMCID: PMC11264632 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00459-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota of the bumblebee is critical as it modulates the health and fitness of the host. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of the diversity of bumblebee gut bacteria over a long period of evolution have yet to be elucidated. In particular, the gut bacterial diversity and community assembly processes of Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese border remain unclear. In this study, we systematically carried out unprecedented sampling of 513 workers of the species Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese landscape and used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to examine their gut microbiota diversity and biogeography. The gut microbiota composition and community structure of Bombus pyrosoma from different geographical locations were diverse. On the whole, the gut bacteria Gilliamella and Snodgrassella are dominant in bumblebees, but opportunistic pathogens Serratia and Pseudomonas are dominant in some sampling sites such as Hb15, Gs1, Gs45, Qhs15, and Ssx35. All or part of environmental factors such as latitude, annual mean temperature, elevation, human footprint, population density, and annual precipitation can affect the alpha diversity and community structure of gut bacteria. Further analysis showed that the assembly and shift of bumblebee gut bacterial communities under geographical variation were mainly driven by the stochastic drift of the neutral process rather than by variable selection of niche differentiation. In conclusion, our unprecedented sampling uncovers bumblebee gut microbiome diversity and shifts over evolutionary time. IMPORTANCE The microbiotas associated with organisms facilitates host health and fitness, and the homeostasis status of gut microbiota also reflects the habitat security faced by the host. In addition, managing gut microbiota is important to improve bumblebee health by understanding the ecological process of the gut microbiome. Thus, we first carried out an runprecedented sampling of 513 workers of the species Bombus pyrosoma across the Chinese landscape and used full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to uncover their gut microbiota diversity and biogeography. Our study provides new insights into the understanding of gut microbiome diversity and shifts for Chinese Bumblebee over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fugang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongyan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huayan Zeng
- Luoping Yunling Bee Industry and Trade Co., Ltd, Yunnan, China
| | - Yueguo Wu
- Luoping Yunling Bee Industry and Trade Co., Ltd, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiaxing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Apiculture science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, China
| | - Jilian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Luo S, Zhang X, Zhou X. Temporospatial dynamics and host specificity of honeybee gut bacteria. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114408. [PMID: 38935504 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are important pollinators worldwide, with their gut microbiota playing a crucial role in maintaining their health. The gut bacteria of honeybees consist of primarily five core lineages that are spread through social interactions. Previous studies have provided a basic understanding of the composition and function of the honeybee gut microbiota, with recent advancements focusing on analyzing diversity at the strain level and changes in bacterial functional genes. Research on honeybee gut microbiota across different regions globally has provided insights into microbial ecology. Additionally, recent findings have shed light on the mechanisms of host specificity of honeybee gut bacteria. This review explores the temporospatial dynamics in honeybee gut microbiota, discussing the reasons and mechanisms behind these fluctuations. This synopsis provides insights into host-microbe interactions and is invaluable for honeybee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Luo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
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14
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Wang X, Zheng X, Guo N, Geng M, Wang R, Huang T, Ji Q, Liu Z, Zhao Y. Improving bee feed recipes to safeguard honeybee colonies during times of food scarcity. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 116:e22129. [PMID: 38973114 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
In beekeeping, when natural nectar or pollen sources become limited, it is crucial to provide supplemental bee feed to maintain the viability of the bee colony. This study was conducted during the autumn food shortage season, during which bees were fed with different proportions of modified bee feed. We identified an optimal bee diet by evaluating honeybee longevity, food consumption, body weight, and gut microbe distribution, with natural pollen serving as a control diet. The results indicated that bees preferred a mixture of 65% defatted soy flour, 20% corn protein powder, 13% wheat germ flour, 2% yeast powder, and a 50% sucrose solution. This bee food recipe significantly increased the longevity, feed consumption, and body weight of bees. The group fed the natural pollen diet exhibited a greater abundance of essential intestinal bacteria. The bee diets used in this study contained higher protein levels and lower concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins than did the diets stored within the colonies. Therefore, we propose that incorporating both bee feed and natural pollen in beekeeping practices will achieve more balanced nutritional intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nana Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingyang Geng
- Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture General Animal Husbandry Station, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Rongshen Wang
- Shijiazhuang Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Hebei, China
| | - Ting Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Quanzhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenxing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yazhou Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Maccaro JJ, Figueroa LL, McFrederick QS. From pollen to putrid: Comparative metagenomics reveals how microbiomes support dietary specialization in vulture bees. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17421. [PMID: 38828760 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
For most animals, the microbiome is key for nutrition and pathogen defence, and is often shaped by diet. Corbiculate bees, including honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees, share a core microbiome that has been shaped, at least in part, by the challenges associated with pollen digestion. However, three species of stingless bees deviate from the general rule of bees obtaining their protein exclusively from pollen (obligate pollinivores) and instead consume carrion as their sole protein source (obligate necrophages) or consume both pollen and carrion (facultative necrophages). These three life histories can provide missing insights into microbiome evolution associated with extreme dietary transitions. Here, we investigate, via shotgun metagenomics, the functionality of the microbiome across three bee diet types: obligate pollinivory, obligate necrophagy, and facultative necrophagy. We find distinct differences in microbiome composition and gene functional profiles between the diet types. Obligate necrophages and pollinivores have more specialized microbes, whereas facultative necrophages have a diversity of environmental microbes associated with several dietary niches. Our study suggests that necrophagous bee microbiomes may have evolved to overcome cellular stress and microbial competition associated with carrion. We hypothesize that the microbiome evolved social phenotypes, such as biofilms, that protect the bees from opportunistic pathogens present on carcasses, allowing them to overcome novel nutritional challenges. Whether specific microbes enabled diet shifts or diet shifts occurred first and microbial evolution followed requires further research to disentangle. Nonetheless, we find that necrophagous microbiomes, vertebrate and invertebrate alike, have functional commonalities regardless of their taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Maccaro
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Laura L Figueroa
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
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16
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Cerqueira AES, Lima HS, Silva LCF, Veloso TGR, de Paula SO, Santana WC, da Silva CC. Melipona stingless bees and honey microbiota reveal the diversity, composition, and modes of symbionts transmission. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae063. [PMID: 38650068 PMCID: PMC11217820 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The Melipona gut microbiota differs from other social bees, being characterized by the absence of crucial corbiculate core gut symbionts and a high occurrence of environmental strains. We studied the microbial diversity and composition of three Melipona species and their honey to understand which strains are obtained by horizontal transmission (HT) from the pollination environment, represent symbionts with HT from the hive/food stores or social transmission (ST) between nestmates. Bees harbored higher microbial alpha diversity and a different and more species-specific bacterial composition than honey. The fungal communities of bee and honey samples are also different but less dissimilar. As expected, the eusocial corbiculate core symbionts Snodgrassella and Gilliamella were absent in bees that had a prevalence of Lactobacillaceae - including Lactobacillus (formerly known as Firm-5), Bifidobacteriaceae, Acetobacteraceae, and Streptococcaceae - mainly strains close to Floricoccus, a putative novel symbiont acquired from flowers. They might have co-evolved with these bees via ST, and along with environmental Lactobacillaceae and Pectinatus (Veillonellaceae) strains obtained by HT, and Metschnikowia and Saccharomycetales yeasts acquired by HT from honey or the pollination environment, including plants/flowers, possibly compose the Melipona core microbiota. This work contributes to the understanding of Melipona symbionts and their modes of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Emanuel Silva Cerqueira
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia Ambiental Aplicada, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Edifício Chotaro Shimoya – sala 318, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway, NMS 4.216, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Helena Santiago Lima
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia Ambiental Aplicada, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Edifício Chotaro Shimoya – sala 318, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lívia Carneiro Fidélis Silva
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia Ambiental Aplicada, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Edifício Chotaro Shimoya – sala 318, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tomás Gomes Reis Veloso
- Laboratorio de Associações Micorrízicas, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Microbiologia, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Bioagro – sala 313, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Oliveira de Paula
- Laboratório de Imunovirologia Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Edifício Chotaro Shimoya – sala 241, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Weyder Cristiano Santana
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Rod. MG 230 Km 08 - Campus Universitário, Rio Paranaíba – Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa,Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Canêdo da Silva
- Laboratorio de Microbiologia Ambiental Aplicada, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n – Campus Universitário, Edifício Chotaro Shimoya – sala 318, Viçosa – Minas Gerais, Brazil
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17
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Tsang CTT, Hui TKL, Chung NM, Yuen WT, Tsang LM. Comparative analysis of gut microbiome of mangrove brachyuran crabs revealed patterns of phylosymbiosis and codiversification. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17377. [PMID: 38713089 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17377] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The acquisition of microbial symbionts enables animals to rapidly adapt to and exploit novel ecological niches, thus significantly enhancing the evolutionary fitness and success of their hosts. However, the dynamics of host-microbe interactions and their evolutionary implications remain largely underexplored in marine invertebrates. Crabs of the family Sesarmidae (Crustacea: Brachyura) are dominant inhabitants of mangrove forests and are considered keystone species there. Their rapid diversification, particularly after adopting a plant-feeding lifestyle, is believed to have been facilitated by symbiotic gut microbes, enabling successful colonization of intertidal and terrestrial environments. To investigate the patterns and mechanisms shaping the microbial communities and the role of microbes in the evolution of Sesarmidae, we characterized and compared the gut microbiome compositions across 43 crab species from Sesarmidae and other mangrove-associated families using 16S metabarcoding. We found that the gut microbiome assemblages in crabs are primarily determined by host identity, with a secondary influence from environmental factors such as microhabitat and sampling location, and to a lesser extent influenced by biological factors such as sex and gut region. While patterns of phylosymbiosis (i.e. when microbial community relationships recapitulate the phylogeny of their hosts) were consistently observed in all beta-diversity metrics analysed, the strength of phylosymbiosis varied across crab families. This suggests that the bacterial assemblages in each family were differentially shaped by different degrees of host filtering and/or other evolutionary processes. Notably, Sesarmidae displayed signals of cophylogeny with its core gut bacterial genera, which likely play crucial functional roles in their hosts by providing lignocellulolytic enzymes, essential amino acids, and fatty acids supplementation. Our results support the hypothesis of microbial contribution to herbivory and terrestrialization in mangrove crabs, highlighting the tight association and codiversification of the crab holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandlar Tsz To Tsang
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tom Kwok Lun Hui
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nga Man Chung
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing Tan Yuen
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ling Ming Tsang
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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18
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Meng Y, Zhang X, Zhai Y, Li Y, Shao Z, Liu S, Zhang C, Xing XH, Zheng H. Identification of the mutual gliding locus as a factor for gut colonization in non-native bee hosts using the ARTP mutagenesis. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:93. [PMID: 38778376 PMCID: PMC11112851 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01813-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiota and their hosts profoundly affect each other's physiology and evolution. Identifying host-selected traits is crucial to understanding the processes that govern the evolving interactions between animals and symbiotic microbes. Current experimental approaches mainly focus on the model bacteria, like hypermutating Escherichia coli or the evolutionary changes of wild stains by host transmissions. A method called atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) may overcome the bottleneck of low spontaneous mutation rates while maintaining mild conditions for the gut bacteria. RESULTS We established an experimental symbiotic system with gnotobiotic bee models to unravel the molecular mechanisms promoting host colonization. By in vivo serial passage, we tracked the genetic changes of ARTP-treated Snodgrassella strains from Bombus terrestris in the non-native honeybee host. We observed that passaged isolates showing genetic changes in the mutual gliding locus have a competitive advantage in the non-native host. Specifically, alleles in the orphan mglB, the GTPase activating protein, promoted colonization potentially by altering the type IV pili-dependent motility of the cells. Finally, competition assays confirmed that the mutations out-competed the ancestral strain in the non-native honeybee gut but not in the native host. CONCLUSIONS Using the ARTP mutagenesis to generate a mutation library of gut symbionts, we explored the potential genetic mechanisms for improved gut colonization in non-native hosts. Our findings demonstrate the implication of the cell mutual-gliding motility in host association and provide an experimental system for future study on host-microbe interactions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Meng
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
- MGI Tech, Qingdao, 266426, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yifan Zhai
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Yuan Li
- MGI Tech, Qingdao, 266426, China
| | | | | | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin-Hui Xing
- Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
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19
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Maritan E, Quagliariello A, Frago E, Patarnello T, Martino ME. The role of animal hosts in shaping gut microbiome variation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230071. [PMID: 38497257 PMCID: PMC10945410 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0071] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Millions of years of co-evolution between animals and their associated microbial communities have shaped and diversified the nature of their relationship. Studies continue to reveal new layers of complexity in host-microbe interactions, the fate of which depends on a variety of different factors, ranging from neutral processes and environmental factors to local dynamics. Research is increasingly integrating ecosystem-based approaches, metagenomics and mathematical modelling to disentangle the individual contribution of ecological factors to microbiome evolution. Within this framework, host factors are known to be among the dominant drivers of microbiome composition in different animal species. However, the extent to which they shape microbiome assembly and evolution remains unclear. In this review, we summarize our understanding of how host factors drive microbial communities and how these dynamics are conserved and vary across taxa. We conclude by outlining key avenues for research and highlight the need for implementation of and key modifications to existing theory to fully capture the dynamics of host-associated microbiomes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maritan
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Quagliariello
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy
| | - Enric Frago
- CIRAD, UMR CBGP, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Université Montpellier, 34398 Montpellier, France
| | - Tomaso Patarnello
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Martino
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy
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20
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Botero J, Peeters C, De Canck E, Laureys D, Wieme AD, Cleenwerck I, Depoorter E, Praet J, Michez D, Smagghe G, Vandamme P. A comparative genomic analysis of Fructobacillus evanidus sp. nov. from bumble bees. Syst Appl Microbiol 2024; 47:126505. [PMID: 38564984 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2024.126505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The increase in studies on bee microbiomes is prompted by concerns over global pollinator declines. Bumble bees host core and non-core microbiota which may contribute to increased lifetime fitness. The presence of Fructobacillus in the gut microbiomes of bumble bee workers, or the replacement of core symbionts with Fructobacillus bacteria, has been considered a marker of dysbiosis. A phylogenomic analysis and functional genomic characterization of the genomes of 21 Fructobacillus isolates from bumble bees demonstrated that they represented four species, i.e. Fructobacillus cardui, Fructobacillus fructosus, Fructobacillus tropaeoli, and the novel species Fructobacillus evanidus sp. nov. Our results confirmed and substantiated the presence of two phylogenetically and functionally distinct Fructobacillus species clades that differ in genome size, percentage G + C content, the number of coding DNA sequences and metabolic characteristics. Clade 1 and clade 2 species differed in amino acid and, to a lesser extent, in carbohydrate metabolism, with F. evanidus and F. tropaeoli genomes featuring a higher number of complete metabolic pathways. While Fructobacillus genomes encoded genes that allow adhesion, biofilm formation, antibacterial activity and detoxification, other bacteria isolated from the bumble bee gut appeared better equipped to co-exist with the bumble bee host. The isolation and identification of multiple Fructobacillus species from several bumble bee gut samples in the present study also argued against a specific partnership between Fructobacillus species and their bumble bee hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Botero
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Peeters
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Evelien De Canck
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Laureys
- Innovation Centre for Brewing & Fermentation, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anneleen D Wieme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ilse Cleenwerck
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eliza Depoorter
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jessy Praet
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, 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 and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Yang C, Hu J, Su Q, Zhang Z, Du Y, Wang J, Sun H, Han B, Tang J, Guo L, Li H, Cai W, Zheng H, Zhou X, Zhang X. A review on recent taxonomic updates of gut bacteria associated with social bees, with a curated genomic reference database. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38594229 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Honeybees and bumblebees play a crucial role as essential pollinators. The special gut microbiome of social bees is a key factor in determining the overall fitness and health of the host. Although bees harbor relatively simple microbial communities at the genus level, recent studies have unveiled significant genetic divergence and variations in gene content within each bacterial genus. However, a comprehensive and refined genomics-based taxonomic database specific to social bee gut microbiomes remains lacking. Here, we first provided an overview of the current knowledge on the distribution and function of social bee gut bacteria, as well as the factors that influence the gut population dynamics. We then consolidated all available genomes of the gut bacteria of social bees and refined the species-level taxonomy, by constructing a maximum-likelihood core genome phylogeny and calculating genome-wide pairwise average nucleotide identity. On the basis of the refined species taxonomy, we constructed a curated genomic reference database, named the bee gut microbe genome sequence database (BGM-GDb). To evaluate the species-profiling performance of the curated BGM-GDb, we retrieved a series of bee gut metagenomic data and inferred the species-level composition using metagenomic intra-species diversity analysis system (MIDAS), and then compared the results with those obtained from a prebuilt MIDAS database. We found that compared with the default database, the BGM-GDb excelled in aligned read counts and bacterial richness. Overall, this high-resolution and precise genomic reference database will facilitate research in understanding the gut community structure of social bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengfeng Yang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan Province, China
| | - Jiawei Hu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinzhi Su
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Zijing Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yating Du
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jieni Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Huihui Sun
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan Province, China
| | - Benfeng Han
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junbo Tang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lizhen Guo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hu Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wanzhi Cai
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan Province, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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22
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Aguado-López D, Urbieta Magro A, Higes M, Rodríguez JM, Martín-Hernández R. Influence of Age of Infection on the Gut Microbiota in Worker Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera iberiensis) Experimentally Infected with Nosema ceranae. Microorganisms 2024; 12:635. [PMID: 38674580 PMCID: PMC11051791 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota of honey bees has received increasing interest in the past decades due to its crucial role in their health, and can be disrupted by pathogen infection. Nosema ceranae is an intracellular parasite that affects the epithelial cells of the midgut, altering gut homeostasis and representing a major threat to honey bees. Previous studies indicated that younger worker bees are more susceptible to experimental infection by this parasite, although the impact of infection and of age on the gut bacterial communities remains unclear. To address this, honey bees were experimentally infected with a consistent number of N. ceranae spores at various ages post-emergence (p.e.) and the gut bacteria 7 days post-infection (p.i.) were analysed using real-time quantitative PCR, with the results compared to non-infected controls. Infected bees had a significantly higher proportion and load of Gilliamella apicola. In respect to the age of infection, the bees infected just after emergence had elevated loads of G. apicola, Bifidobacterium asteroides, Bombilactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Bartonella apis, and Bombella apis. Moreover, the G. apicola load was higher in bees infected at nearly all ages, whereas older non-infected bees had higher loads of Bifidobacterium asteroides, Bombilactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Ba. apis, and Bo apis. These findings suggest that N. ceranae infection and, in particular, the age of bees at infection modulate the gut bacterial community, with G. apicola being the most severely affected species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Aguado-López
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Almudena Urbieta Magro
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Juan Miguel Rodríguez
- Departamento de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
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23
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Han L, Chang ZM, Ren CS, Chen XS, Smagghe G, Yuan YG, Long JK. Colony performance of three native bumblebee species from South China and association with their gut microbiome. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38516802 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Bumblebees play an important ecological economic role as pollinators in nature and agriculture. For reasons of biosecurity, many countries promote the cultivation of native bumblebee species for crop pollination instead of importing "alien" species. In South China, a few bumblebee species are considered useful in this way, particularly, Bombus atripes, Bombus bicoloratus and Bombus breviceps. However, whether they are suitable for artificial rearing and forming healthy colonies for pollination, remains unknown. In this project, queens from the 3 native species of Guizhou Province were collected and colonies were started under standardized conditions. The colonies were scored based on 19 parameters, including the stage of colony development, number and weight of offspring, and diet consumed. The data revealed that B. breviceps had the best performance, produced more workers and consumed the smallest diet. Next, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing of the bacterial communities found in the guts of offspring workers, and then a correlation analysis between colony performance and gut bacteria was conducted. Here, B. breviceps showed the highest diversity in gut bacterial composition, dominated by the bacteria Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Enterobacter, and Lactobacillus Firm5. The higher the abundance of Snodgrassella, the better the performance of the colony in the foundation stage, and later Lactobacillus Firm5, Apibacter and Bifidobacterium were beneficial during the stages of rapid growth and colony decline. Although we do not understand all of the interactions yet, these correlations explain why B. breviceps demonstrated better colony performance. Our data provide valuable information for breeding local Bombus species and will contribute to developing strong colonies for crop pollination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education/College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhi-Min Chang
- Institute of Entomology/Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Developing and Utilization of Insect Resources, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chang-Shi Ren
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education/College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiang-Sheng Chen
- Institute of Entomology/Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Developing and Utilization of Insect Resources, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Institute of Entomology/Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Developing and Utilization of Insect Resources, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yi-Ge Yuan
- Institute of Entomology/Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Developing and Utilization of Insect Resources, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian-Kun Long
- Institute of Entomology/Provincial Special Key Laboratory for Developing and Utilization of Insect Resources, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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24
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Weinhold A, Grüner E, Keller A. Bumble bee microbiota shows temporal succession and increase of lactic acid bacteria when exposed to outdoor environments. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1342781. [PMID: 38500505 PMCID: PMC10945022 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1342781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Question The large earth bumble bee (Bombus terrestris) maintains a social core gut-microbiota, similar as known from the honey bee, which plays an important role for host health and resistance. Experiments under laboratory conditions with commercial hives are limited to vertically transmitted microbes and neglect influences of environmental factors or external acquisition of microbes. Various environmental and landscape-level factors may have an impact on the gut-microbiota of pollinating insects, with consequences for pollinator health and fitness in agroecosystems. Still, it is not fully clear whether access to different flower diversities will have a significant influence on the bumble bee microbiota. Here, we tested in a semi-field experiment if the bumble bee microbiota changes over time when exposed to different flower diversities within outdoor flight cages. We used commercial hives to distinguish between vertically and horizontally transmitted bacteria, respectively from the nest environment or the exposed outside environment. Result The sequential sampling of foraging workers over a period of 35 days indicated a temporal progression of the bumble bee microbiota when placed outside. The microbiota increased in diversity and changed in composition and variability over time. We observed a major increase in relative abundance of the families Lactobacillaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and Weeksellaceae. In contrast, major core-taxa like Snodgrassella and Gilliamella declined in their relative abundance over time. The genus Lactobacillus showed a high diversity and strain specific turnover, so that only specific ASVs showed an increase over time, while others had a more erratic occurrence pattern. Exposure to different flower diversities had no significant influence on the progression of the bumble bee microbiota. Conclusion The bumble bee microbiota showed a dynamic temporal succession with distinct compositional changes and diversification over time when placed outdoor. The exposure of bumble bees to environmental conditions, or environmental microbes, increases dissimilarity and changes the gut-community composition. This shows the importance of environmental influences on the temporal dynamic and progression of the bumble bee microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Weinhold
- Cellular and Organismic Networks, Faculty of Biology, Center for Organismic Adaptation, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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25
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Conradie TA, Lawson K, Allsopp M, Jacobs K. Exploring the impact of fungicide exposure and nutritional stress on the microbiota and immune response of the Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis). Microbiol Res 2024; 280:127587. [PMID: 38142516 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) harbour a stable core microbial community within their gut, that is suggested to play a role in metabolic functioning, immune regulation, and host homeostasis. This microbiota presents a unique opportunity to observe the effects of stressors on honey bee health. We examined the effects of two common honey bee stressors: indirect fungicide contamination and nutrient limitation. These effects were observed through changes in their hind- and midgut microbiota using Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), alongside high-throughput amplicon sequencing. Expression of the honey bees' immune response was examined through the expression of three immune-related genes, namely, immune deficiency (imd), proPhenolOxidase (proPO), and spaetzle (spz). Additionally, longevity of the honey bees was monitored through observation of the expression levels of Vitellogenin (Vg). Both treatment groups were compared to a negative control, and a diseased positive control. There was no effect on the hindgut microbiota due to the stressors, while significant changes in the midgut was observed. This was also observed in the expression of the immune-related genes within the treatment groups. The Imd pathway was substantially downregulated, with upregulation in the prophenoloxidase pathway. However, no significant effect was observed in the expression of spz, and only the pollen treatment group showed reduced longevity through a downregulation of Vg. Overall, the effect of these two common stressors indicate a compromise in honey bee immunity, and potential vulnerabilities within the immune defence mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tersia A Conradie
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Kayla Lawson
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Mike Allsopp
- Agricultural Research Council - Plant, Health & Protection, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Karin Jacobs
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
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26
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Motta EVS, Moran NA. The honeybee microbiota and its impact on health and disease. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:122-137. [PMID: 38049554 PMCID: PMC10998682 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00990-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are key pollinators that support global agriculture and are long-established models for developmental and behavioural research. Recently, they have emerged as models for studying gut microbial communities. Earlier research established that hindguts of adult worker bees harbour a conserved set of host-restricted bacterial species, each showing extensive strain variation. These bacteria can be cultured axenically and introduced to gnotobiotic hosts, and some have basic genetic tools available. In this Review, we explore the most recent research showing how the microbiota establishes itself in the gut and impacts bee biology and health. Microbiota members occupy specific niches within the gut where they interact with each other and the host. They engage in cross-feeding and antagonistic interactions, which likely contribute to the stability of the community and prevent pathogen invasion. An intact gut microbiota provides protection against diverse pathogens and parasites and contributes to the processing of refractory components of the pollen coat and dietary toxins. Absence or disruption of the microbiota results in altered expression of genes that underlie immunity, metabolism, behaviour and development. In the field, such disruption by agrochemicals may negatively impact bees. These findings demonstrate a key developmental and protective role of the microbiota, with broad implications for bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick V S Motta
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Nancy A Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
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27
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Tejerina MR, Cabana MJ, Enríquez PA, Benítez-Ahrendts MR, Fonseca MI. Bacterial Strains Isolated from Stingless Bee Workers Inhibit the Growth of Apis mellifera Pathogens. Curr Microbiol 2024; 81:106. [PMID: 38418777 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-024-03618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Apis mellifera bees are an important resource for the local economy of various regions in Argentina and the maintenance of natural ecosystems. In recent years, different alternatives have been investigated to avoid the reduction or loss of colonies caused by pathogens and parasites such as Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, and Paenibacillus larvae. We focused on bacterial strains isolated from the intestine of native stingless bees, to elucidate their antagonistic effect on diseases of A. mellifera colonies. For this purpose, worker bees of the species Tetragonisca fiebrigi, Plebeia spp., and Scaptotrigona jujuyensis were captured from the entrance to tree hives and transported to the laboratory, where their intestines were extracted. Twenty bacterial colonies were isolated from the intestines, and those capable of inhibiting enterobacteria in vitro and producing organic acids, proteases, and chitinases were selected. Four genera, Levilactobacillus, Acetobacter, Lactiplantibacillus, and Pantoea, were selected and identified by the molecular marker that codes for the 16S rRNA gene. For inhibition assays, cell suspensions and cell-free suspensions were performed. All treatments showed significant antibacterial effects, in comparison with the controls, against P. larvae and antifungal effects against A. apis and A. flavus. However, the mechanisms by which these bacteria inhibit the growth of these pathogens were not studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Raúl Tejerina
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Sanidad Apícola y Meliponícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, 4600, Jujuy, Argentina.
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Avenida Bolivia 1239, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina.
| | - María José Cabana
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Sanidad Apícola y Meliponícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, 4600, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Pablo Adrián Enríquez
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Sanidad Apícola y Meliponícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, 4600, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Rafael Benítez-Ahrendts
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Sanidad Apícola y Meliponícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, 4600, Jujuy, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Avenida Bolivia 1239, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - María Isabel Fonseca
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Instituto de Biotecnología "Dra. María Ebe Reca" (INBIOMIS), Laboratorio de Biotecnología Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Misiones, Argentina
- CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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28
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Castillo DC, Sinpoo C, Phokasem P, Yongsawas R, Sansupa C, Attasopa K, Suwannarach N, Inwongwan S, Noirungsee N, Disayathanoowat T. Distinct fungal microbiomes of two Thai commercial stingless bee species, Lepidotrigona terminata and Tetragonula pagdeni suggest a possible niche separation in a shared habitat. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1367010. [PMID: 38469352 PMCID: PMC10925696 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1367010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Stingless bees, a social corbiculate bee member, play a crucial role in providing pollination services. Despite their importance, the structure of their microbiome, particularly the fungal communities, remains poorly understood. This study presents an initial characterization of the fungal community associated with two Thai commercial stingless bee species, Lepidotrigona terminata (Smith) and Tetragonula pagdeni (Schwarz) from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Utilizing ITS amplicon sequencing, we identified distinct fungal microbiomes in these two species. Notably, fungi from the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mucoromycota, Mortierellomycota, and Rozellomycota were present. The most dominant genera, which varied significantly between species, included Candida and Starmerella. Additionally, several key enzymes associated with energy metabolism, structural strength, and host defense reactions, such as adenosine triphosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, chitinase, and peptidylprolyl isomerase, were predicted. Our findings not only augment the limited knowledge of the fungal microbiome in Thai commercial stingless bees but also provide insights for their sustainable management through understanding their microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Castillo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chainarong Sinpoo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Patcharin Phokasem
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Rujipas Yongsawas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chakriya Sansupa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Korrawat Attasopa
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nakarin Suwannarach
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Sahutchai Inwongwan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nuttapol Noirungsee
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Terd Disayathanoowat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals (SMART BEE SDGs), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Hotchkiss MZ, Forrest JRK, Poulain AJ. Exposure to a fungicide for a field-realistic duration does not alter bumble bee fecal microbiota structure. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0173923. [PMID: 38240563 PMCID: PMC10880609 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01739-23] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Social bees are frequently exposed to pesticides when foraging on nectar and pollen. Recent research has shown that pesticide exposure not only impacts social bee host health but can also alter the community structure of social bee gut microbiotas. However, most research on pesticide-bee gut microbiota interactions has been conducted in honey bees; bumble bees, native North American pollinators, have received less attention and, due to differences in their ecology, may be exposed to certain pesticides for shorter durations than honey bees. Here, we examine how exposure to the fungicide chlorothalonil for a short, field-realistic duration alters bumble bee fecal microbiotas (used as a proxy for gut microbiotas) and host performance. We expose small groups of Bombus impatiens workers (microcolonies) to field-realistic chlorothalonil concentrations for 5 days, track changes in fecal microbiotas during the exposure period and a recovery period, and compare microcolony offspring production between treatments at the end of the experiment. We also assess the use of fecal microbiotas as a gut microbiota proxy by comparing community structures of fecal and gut microbiotas. We find that chlorothalonil exposure for a short duration does not alter bumble bee fecal microbiota structure or affect microcolony production at any concentration but that fecal and gut microbiotas differ significantly in community structure. Our results show that, at least when exposure durations are brief and unaccompanied by other stressors, bumble bee microbiotas are resilient to fungicide exposure. Additionally, our work highlights the importance of sampling gut microbiotas directly, when possible.IMPORTANCEWith global pesticide use expected to increase in the coming decades, studies on how pesticides affect the health and performance of animals, including and perhaps especially pollinators, will be crucial to minimize negative environmental impacts of pesticides in agriculture. Here, we find no effect of exposure to chlorothalonil for a short, field-realistic period on bumble bee fecal microbiota community structure or microcolony production regardless of pesticide concentration. Our results can help inform pesticide use practices to minimize negative environmental impacts on the health and fitness of bumble bees, which are key native, commercial pollinators in North America. We also find that concurrently sampled bumble bee fecal and gut microbiotas contain similar microbes but differ from one another in community structure and consequently suggest that using fecal microbiotas as a proxy for gut microbiotas be done cautiously; this result contributes to our understanding of proxy use in gut microbiota research.
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Caesar L, Rice DW, McAfee A, Underwood R, Ganote C, Tarpy DR, Foster LJ, Newton ILG. Metagenomic analysis of the honey bee queen microbiome reveals low bacterial diversity and Caudoviricetes phages. mSystems 2024; 9:e0118223. [PMID: 38259099 PMCID: PMC10878037 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01182-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In eusocial insects, the health of the queens-the colony founders and sole reproductive females-is a primary determinant for colony success. Queen failure in the honey bee Apis mellifera, for example, is a major concern of beekeepers who annually suffer colony losses, necessitating a greater knowledge of queen health. Several studies on the microbiome of honey bees have characterized its diversity and shown its importance for the health of worker bees, the female non-reproductive caste. However, the microbiome of workers differs from that of queens, which, in comparison, is still poorly studied. Thus, direct investigations of the queen microbiome are required to understand colony-level microbiome assembly, functional roles, and evolution. Here, we used metagenomics to comprehensively characterize the honey bee queen microbiome. Comparing samples from different geographic locations and breeder sources, we show that the microbiome of queens is mostly shaped by the environment experienced since early life and is predicted to play roles in the breakdown of the diet and protection from pathogens and xenobiotics. We also reveal that the microbiome of queens comprises only four candidate core bacterial species, Apilactobacillus kunkeei, Lactobacillus apis, Bombella apis, and Commensalibacter sp. Interestingly, in addition to bacteria, we show that bacteriophages infect the queen microbiome, for which Lactobacillaceae are predicted to be the main reservoirs. Together, our results provide the basis to understand the honey bee colony microbiome assemblage, can guide improvements in queen-rearing processes, and highlight the importance of considering bacteriophages for queen microbiome health and microbiome homeostasis in eusocial insects.IMPORTANCEThe queen caste plays a central role in colony success in eusocial insects, as queens lay eggs and regulate colony behavior and development. Queen failure can cause colonies to collapse, which is one of the major concerns of beekeepers. Thus, understanding the biology behind the queen's health is a pressing issue. Previous studies have shown that the bee microbiome plays an important role in worker bee health, but little is known about the queen microbiome and its function in vivo. Here, we characterized the queen microbiome, identifying for the first time the present species and their putative functions. We show that the queen microbiome has predicted nutritional and protective roles in queen association and comprises only four consistently present bacterial species. Additionally, we bring to attention the spread of phages in the queen microbiome, which increased in abundance in failing queens and may impact the fate of the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lílian Caesar
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Danny W. Rice
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Alison McAfee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robyn Underwood
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carrie Ganote
- Luddy School of Informatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - David R. Tarpy
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Acheampong SA, Polat MF, Kwong WK. Complete genome sequences of 12 bacterial strains from the honey bee gut, resolved with long-read nanopore sequencing. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0077523. [PMID: 38193702 PMCID: PMC10868161 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00775-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the de novo sequencing of six bacterial strains isolated from the Western honey bee, as well as the resequencing of six strains that have existing draft genomes, to obtain complete, chromosomal-level assemblies. These strains include the bee gut symbiont genera Bartonella, Bifidobacterium, Snodgrassella, Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, and the opportunistic pathogen Serratia marcescens KZ11.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Waldan K. Kwong
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande, Oeiras, Portugal
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Tanger IS, Stefanschitz J, Schwert Y, Roth O. The source of microbial transmission influences niche colonization and microbiome development. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232036. [PMID: 38320611 PMCID: PMC10846951 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Early life microbial colonizers shape and support the immature vertebrate immune system. Microbial colonization relies on the vertical route via parental provisioning and the horizontal route via environmental contribution. Vertical transmission is mostly a maternal trait making it hard to determine the source of microbial colonization in order to gain insight into the establishment of the microbial community during crucial development stages. The evolution of unique male pregnancy in pipefishes and seahorses enables the disentanglement of both horizontal and vertical transmission, but also facilitates the differentiation of maternal versus paternal provisioning ranging from egg development, to male pregnancy and early juvenile development. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and source-tracker analyses, we revealed how the distinct origins of transmission (maternal, paternal and horizontal) shaped the juvenile internal and external microbiome establishment in the broad-nosed pipefish Syngnathus typhle. Our data suggest that transovarial maternal microbial contribution influences the establishment of the juvenile gut microbiome whereas paternal provisioning mainly shapes the juvenile external microbiome. The identification of juvenile key microbes reveals crucial temporal shifts in microbial development and enhances our understanding of microbial transmission routes, colonization dynamics and their impact on lifestyle evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel S. Tanger
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Düsternbrookerweg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
- Zoological Institute, Marine Evolutionary Biology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Julia Stefanschitz
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Düsternbrookerweg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Yannick Schwert
- Zoological Institute, Marine Evolutionary Biology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Olivia Roth
- GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Düsternbrookerweg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
- Zoological Institute, Marine Evolutionary Biology, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
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Quinn A, El Chazli Y, Escrig S, Daraspe J, Neuschwander N, McNally A, Genoud C, Meibom A, Engel P. Host-derived organic acids enable gut colonization of the honey bee symbiont Snodgrassella alvi. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:477-489. [PMID: 38225461 PMCID: PMC11343714 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01572-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Diverse bacteria can colonize the animal gut using dietary nutrients or by engaging in microbial crossfeeding interactions. Less is known about the role of host-derived nutrients in enabling gut bacterial colonization. Here we examined metabolic interactions within the evolutionary ancient symbiosis between the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the core gut microbiota member Snodgrassella alvi. This betaproteobacterium is incapable of metabolizing saccharides, yet colonizes the honey bee gut in the presence of a sugar-only diet. Using comparative metabolomics, 13C-tracers and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we show in vivo that S. alvi grows on host-derived organic acids, including citrate, glycerate and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate, which are actively secreted by the host into the gut lumen. S. alvi also modulates tryptophan metabolism in the gut by converting kynurenine to anthranilate. These results suggest that S. alvi is adapted to a specific metabolic niche in the honey bee gut that depends on host-derived nutritional resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Quinn
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yassine El Chazli
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Escrig
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean Daraspe
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Neuschwander
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aoife McNally
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christel Genoud
- Electron Microscopy Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anders Meibom
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Advanced Surface Analysis, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Gouda MNR, Subramanian S, Kumar A, Ramakrishnan B. Microbial ensemble in the hives: deciphering the intricate gut ecosystem of hive and forager bees of Apis mellifera. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:262. [PMID: 38302671 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09239-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome of honey bees significantly influences vital traits and metabolic processes, including digestion, detoxification, nutrient provision, development, and immunity. However, there is a limited information is available on the gut bacterial diversity of western honey bee populations in India. This study addresses the critical knowledge gap and outcome of which would benefit the beekeepers in India. METHODS AND RESULTS This study investigates the gut bacterial diversity in forager and hive bees of Indian Apis mellifera, employing both culture-based and culture-independent methods. In the culturable study, a distinct difference in gut bacterial alpha and beta diversity between forager and hive bees emerges. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominate, with hive bees exhibiting a Firmicutes-rich gut (65%), while foragers showcase a higher proportion of Proteobacteria (37%). Lactobacillus in the hive bee foregut aligns with the findings by other researchers. Bacterial amplicon sequencing analysisreveals a more intricate bacterial composition with 18 identified phyla, expanding our understanding compared to culturable methods. Hive bees exhibit higher community richness and diversity, likely due to diverse diets and increased social interactions. The core microbiota includes Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, and Bombilactobacillus mellis and Lactobacillus helsingborgensis, crucial for digestion, metabolism, and pathogen resistance. The study emphasises bacteria's role in pollen and nectar digestion, with specific groups like Lactobacillus and Bifidobobacterium spp. associated with carbohydrate metabolism and polysaccharide breakdown. These microbes aid in starch and sucrose digestion, releasing beneficial short-chain fatty acids. CONCLUSION This research highlights the intricate relationship between honey bees and their gut microbiota, showcasing how the diverse and complex microbiome helps bees overcome dietary challenges and enhances overall host health. Understanding these interactions contributes to bee ecology knowledge and has implications for honey bee health management, emphasising the need for further exploration and conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Rudra Gouda
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Sabtharishi Subramanian
- Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
| | - Aundy Kumar
- Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
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35
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Zhang G, Dilday S, Kuesel RW, Hopkins B. Phytochemicals, Probiotics, Recombinant Proteins: Enzymatic Remedies to Pesticide Poisonings in Bees. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:54-62. [PMID: 38127782 PMCID: PMC10785755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing global decline of bees threatens biodiversity and food safety as both wild plants and crops rely on bee pollination to produce viable progeny or high-quality products in high yields. Pesticide exposure is a major driving force for the decline, yet pesticide use remains unreconciled with bee conservation since studies demonstrate that bees continue to be heavily exposed to and threatened by pesticides in crops and natural habitats. Pharmaceutical methods, including the administration of phytochemicals, probiotics (beneficial bacteria), and recombinant proteins (enzymes) with detoxification functions, show promise as potential solutions to mitigate pesticide poisonings. We discuss how these new methods can be appropriately developed and applied in agriculture from bee biology and ecotoxicology perspectives. As countless phytochemicals, probiotics, and recombinant proteins exist, this Perspective will provide suggestive guidance to accelerate the development of new techniques by directing research and resources toward promising candidates. Furthermore, we discuss practical limitations of the new methods mentioned above in realistic field applications and propose recommendations to overcome these limitations. This Perspective builds a framework to allow researchers to use new detoxification techniques more efficiently in order to mitigate the harmful impacts of pesticides on bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Sam Dilday
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Ryan William Kuesel
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
| | - Brandon Hopkins
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, United States
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36
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Christensen SM, Srinivas SN, McFrederick QS, Danforth BN, Buchmann SL, Vannette RL. Symbiotic bacteria and fungi proliferate in diapause and may enhance overwintering survival in a solitary bee. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae089. [PMID: 38767866 PMCID: PMC11177884 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Host-microbe interactions underlie the development and fitness of many macroorganisms, including bees. Whereas many social bees benefit from vertically transmitted gut bacteria, current data suggests that solitary bees, which comprise the vast majority of species diversity within bees, lack a highly specialized gut microbiome. Here, we examine the composition and abundance of bacteria and fungi throughout the complete life cycle of the ground-nesting solitary bee Anthophora bomboides standfordiana. In contrast to expectations, immature bee stages maintain a distinct core microbiome consisting of Actinobacterial genera (Streptomyces, Nocardiodes) and the fungus Moniliella spathulata. Dormant (diapausing) larval bees hosted the most abundant and distinctive bacteria and fungi, attaining 33 and 52 times their initial copy number, respectively. We tested two adaptive hypotheses regarding microbial functions for diapausing bees. First, using isolated bacteria and fungi, we found that Streptomyces from brood cells inhibited the growth of multiple pathogenic filamentous fungi, suggesting a role in pathogen protection during overwintering, when bees face high pathogen pressure. Second, sugar alcohol composition changed in tandem with major changes in fungal abundance, suggesting links with bee cold tolerance or overwintering biology. We find that A. bomboides hosts a conserved core microbiome that may provide key fitness advantages through larval development and diapause, which raises the question of how this microbiome is maintained and faithfully transmitted between generations. Our results suggest that focus on microbiomes of mature or active insect developmental stages may overlook stage-specific symbionts and microbial fitness contributions during host dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn M Christensen
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Sriram N Srinivas
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Bryan N Danforth
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Stephen L Buchmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
| | - Rachel L Vannette
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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37
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Suenami S, Sato M, Miyazaki R. Gustatory Responsiveness of Honey Bees Colonized with a Defined or Conventional Gut Microbiota. Microbes Environ 2024; 39:ME23081. [PMID: 38447985 PMCID: PMC10982108 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me23081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut microbes have many beneficial functions for host animals, such as food digestion and development of the immune system. An increasing number of studies report that gut bacteria also affect host neural function and behavior. The sucrose responsiveness of the western honey bee Apis mellifera, which harbors a characteristic gut microbiota, was recently reported to be increased by the presence of gut microbes. However, this responsiveness may vary depending on the experimental design, as animal behavior may be modulated by physiological states and environmental conditions. To evaluate the robustness of the effects of the gut microbiota on host gustatory responsiveness, we herein examined the sucrose responsiveness of honey bees colonized with a defined bacterial community or a conventional gut microbiota extracted from a field-collected bee. Although colonization was experimentally verified, sucrose responsiveness did not significantly differ among treatments after the 2- or 5-h starvation period. We concluded that the sucrose responsiveness of A. mellifera is not always affected by its gut microbiota. Therefore, host physiological conditions and environmental factors need to be considered when evaluating the impact of the gut microbiota on host neural function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Suenami
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305–8566, Japan
| | - Masato Sato
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305–8566, Japan
| | - Ryo Miyazaki
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305–8566, Japan
- Computational Bio Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), AIST, Tokyo 169–8555, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305–8572, Japan
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38
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Mazel F, Pitteloud C, Guisan A, Pellissier L. Contrasted host specificity of gut and endosymbiont bacterial communities in alpine grasshoppers and crickets. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycad013. [PMID: 38374896 PMCID: PMC10875604 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria colonize the body of macroorganisms to form associations ranging from parasitic to mutualistic. Endosymbiont and gut symbiont communities are distinct microbiomes whose compositions are influenced by host ecology and evolution. Although the composition of horizontally acquired symbiont communities can correlate to host species identity (i.e. harbor host specificity) and host phylogeny (i.e. harbor phylosymbiosis), we hypothesize that the microbiota structure of vertically inherited symbionts (e.g. endosymbionts like Wolbachia) is more strongly associated with the host species identity and phylogeny than horizontally acquired symbionts (e.g. most gut symbionts). Here, using 16S metabarcoding on 336 guts from 24 orthopteran species (grasshoppers and crickets) in the Alps, we observed that microbiota correlated to host species identity, i.e. hosts from the same species had more similar microbiota than hosts from different species. This effect was ~5 times stronger for endosymbionts than for putative gut symbionts. Although elevation correlated with microbiome composition, we did not detect phylosymbiosis for endosymbionts and putative gut symbionts: closely related host species did not harbor more similar microbiota than distantly related species. Our findings indicate that gut microbiota of studied orthopteran species is more correlated to host identity and habitat than to the host phylogeny. The higher host specificity in endosymbionts corroborates the idea that-everything else being equal-vertically transmitted microbes harbor stronger host specificity signal, but the absence of phylosymbiosis suggests that host specificity changes quickly on evolutionary time scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Mazel
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Camille Pitteloud
- Département de la mobilité, du territoire et de l'environnement, Service des forêts, de la nature et du paysage, Sion 1950, Switzerland
- Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Guisan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland
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Villabona N, Moran N, Hammer T, Reyes A. Conserved, yet disruption-prone, gut microbiomes in neotropical bumblebees. mSphere 2023; 8:e0013923. [PMID: 37855643 PMCID: PMC10732019 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00139-23] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Social bees are an important model for the ecology and evolution of gut microbiomes. These bees harbor ancient, specific, and beneficial gut microbiomes and are crucial pollinators. However, most of the research has concentrated on managed honeybees and bumblebees in the temperate zone. Here we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize gut microbiomes in wild neotropical bumblebee communities from Colombia. We also analyzed drivers of microbiome structure across our data and previously published data from temperate bumblebees. Our results show that lineages of neotropical bumblebees not only retained their ancient gut bacterial symbionts during dispersal from North America but also are prone to major disruption, a shift that is strongly associated with parasite infection. Finally, we also found that microbiomes are much more strongly structured by host phylogeny than by geography, despite the very different environmental conditions and plant communities in the two regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickole Villabona
- Research Group on Computational Biology and Microbial Ecology, Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nancy Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Tobin Hammer
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Alejandro Reyes
- Research Group on Computational Biology and Microbial Ecology, Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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40
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Baud GLC, Prasad A, Ellegaard KM, Engel P. Turnover of strain-level diversity modulates functional traits in the honeybee gut microbiome between nurses and foragers. Genome Biol 2023; 24:283. [PMID: 38066630 PMCID: PMC10704631 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strain-level diversity is widespread among bacterial species and can expand the functional potential of natural microbial communities. However, to what extent communities undergo consistent shifts in strain composition in response to environmental/host changes is less well understood. RESULTS Here, we used shotgun metagenomics to compare the gut microbiota of two behavioral states of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), namely nurse and forager bees. While their gut microbiota is composed of the same bacterial species, we detect consistent changes in strain-level composition between nurses and foragers. Single nucleotide variant profiles of predominant bacterial species cluster by behavioral state. Moreover, we identify strain-specific gene content related to nutrient utilization, vitamin biosynthesis, and cell-cell interactions specifically associated with the two behavioral states. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that strain-level diversity in host-associated communities can undergo consistent changes in response to host behavioral changes modulating the functional potential of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles L C Baud
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aiswarya Prasad
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kirsten M Ellegaard
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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41
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Fang P, Lei Q, Lv M, Xu L, Dong K, Zhao W, Yue D, Cao Z, Lin Q. Effects of the combination of Lactobacillus helveticus and isomalto-oligosaccharide on survival, gut microbiota, and immune function in Apis cerana worker bees. Lett Appl Microbiol 2023; 76:ovad134. [PMID: 38049374 DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovad134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The adult worker bees were fed sucrose syrup or sucrose syrup supplemented with Lactobacillus helveticus KM7, prebiotic isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO), or L. helveticus KM7 combined with IMO. Survival rate, gut microbiota, and gene expression of gut antimicrobial peptides in worker honey bees were determined. Administration of L. helveticus KM7 and IMO significantly increased the survival rate in worker bees relative to bees fed sucrose only. Then, higher concentration of both lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium in the gut and lower counts of gut fungi, Enterococcus, and Bacteroides-Porphyromonas-Prevotella were observed in bees fed the combination of KM7 and IMO compared with control bees. The combination of L. helveticus KM7 with IMO showed a greater or comparable modulating effect on those bacteria relative to either KM7 or IMO alone. Furthermore, the combination treatment of L. helveticus KM7 and IMO enhanced mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptide genes, including Abaecin, Defensin, and the gene encoding prophenoloxidase (PPO) in the gut compared with both control bees and those either L. helveticus KM7 or IMO alone. These results suggest that the combination of L. helveticus KM7 and IMO synergistically modifies the gut microbiota and immunity and consequently improves the survival rate of Apis cerana adult workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Fang
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingzhi Lei
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingkui Lv
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Xu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Dong
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenzheng Zhao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Yue
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhui Cao
- Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuye Lin
- College of Food Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Heilongtan, North Suburb, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China
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Young MG, Just J, Lee YJ, McMahon T, Gonzalez J, Noh S, Angelini DR. Seasonally increasing parasite load is associated with microbiome dysbiosis in wild bumblebees. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569473. [PMID: 38077090 PMCID: PMC10705496 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The microbiome is increasingly recognized for its complex relationship with host fitness. Bumblebees are host to a characteristic gut microbiome community that is derived and reinforced through social contact between individuals. The bumblebee microbiome is species-poor, and primarily composed from a small number of core taxa that are associated with the greater tribe of corbiculate bees. Experimental findings support a role for the core bumblebee microbiome in resistance to severe infections by a common trypanosomal parasite, Crithidia bombi. However, most studies have been small in scale, often considering just one or two bumblebee species, or making use of commercially-reared bees. To better understand the microbiome diversity of wild populations, we have deeply sampled field populations of ten sympatric species found throughout central and down east Maine in a three-year microbiome field survey. We have used 16S amplicon sequencing to produce microbiome community profiles, and qPCR to screen samples for infections by Crithidia bombi. The breadth of our dataset has enabled us to test for seasonal and interspecific trends in the microbiome community. Controlling for these external sources of variation, we have identified microbial factors associated with infection and parasite load that support the role of the core microbiome in resistance to severe infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G. Young
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Josefine Just
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Ye Jin Lee
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Thomas McMahon
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - James Gonzalez
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - Suegene Noh
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
| | - David R. Angelini
- Colby College, Department of Biology, 5700 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901, USA
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Gekière A, Vanderplanck M, Hettiarachchi A, Semay I, Gerbaux P, Michez D, Joossens M, Vandamme P. A case study of the diet-microbiota-parasite interplay in bumble bees. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad303. [PMID: 38066692 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad303] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Diets and parasites influence the gut bacterial symbionts of bumble bees, but potential interactive effects remain overlooked. The main objective of this study was to assess the isolated and interactive effects of sunflower pollen, its phenolamides, and the widespread trypanosomatid Crithidia sp. on the gut bacterial symbionts of Bombus terrestris males. METHODS AND RESULTS Bumble bee males emerged in microcolonies fed on either (i) willow pollen (control), (ii) sunflower pollen, or (iii) willow pollen spiked with phenolamide extracts from sunflower pollen. These microcolonies were infected by Crithidia sp. or were pathogen-free. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V3-V4 region), we observed a significant alteration of the beta diversity but not of the alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males fed on sunflower pollen compared to males fed on control pollen. Similarly, infection by the gut parasite Crithidia sp. altered the beta diversity but not the alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males, irrespective of the diet. By contrast, we did not observe any significant alteration of the beta or alpha diversity in the gut microbial communities of males fed on phenolamide-enriched pollen compared to males fed on control pollen. Changes in the beta diversity indicate significant dissimilarities of the bacterial taxa between the treatment groups, while the lack of difference in alpha diversity demonstrates no significant changes within each treatment group. CONCLUSIONS Bumble bees harbour consistent gut microbiota worldwide, but our results suggest that the gut bacterial communities of bumble bees are somewhat shaped by their diets and gut parasites as well as by the interaction of these two factors. This study confirms that bumble bees are suitable biological surrogates to assess the effect of diet and parasite infections on gut microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Gekière
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium, 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Maryse Vanderplanck
- CEFE, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Amanda Hettiarachchi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, 35 K.L. Ledeganckstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Irène Semay
- Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium, 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Pascal Gerbaux
- Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium, 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium, 20 Place du Parc, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Marie Joossens
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, 35 K.L. Ledeganckstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, 35 K.L. Ledeganckstraat, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Low KE, Tingley JP, Klassen L, King ML, Xing X, Watt C, Hoover SER, Gorzelak M, Abbott DW. Carbohydrate flow through agricultural ecosystems: Implications for synthesis and microbial conversion of carbohydrates. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108245. [PMID: 37652144 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Carbohydrates are chemically and structurally diverse biomolecules, serving numerous and varied roles in agricultural ecosystems. Crops and horticulture products are inherent sources of carbohydrates that are consumed by humans and non-human animals alike; however carbohydrates are also present in other agricultural materials, such as soil and compost, human and animal tissues, milk and dairy products, and honey. The biosynthesis, modification, and flow of carbohydrates within and between agricultural ecosystems is intimately related with microbial communities that colonize and thrive within these environments. Recent advances in -omics techniques have ushered in a new era for microbial ecology by illuminating the functional potential for carbohydrate metabolism encoded within microbial genomes, while agricultural glycomics is providing fresh perspective on carbohydrate-microbe interactions and how they influence the flow of functionalized carbon. Indeed, carbohydrates and carbohydrate-active enzymes are interventions with unrealized potential for improving carbon sequestration, soil fertility and stability, developing alternatives to antimicrobials, and circular production systems. In this manner, glycomics represents a new frontier for carbohydrate-based biotechnological solutions for agricultural systems facing escalating challenges, such as the changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin E Low
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Jeffrey P Tingley
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Leeann Klassen
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Marissa L King
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Xing
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Caitlin Watt
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Shelley E R Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Monika Gorzelak
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - D Wade Abbott
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada.
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45
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Thamm M, Reiß F, Sohl L, Gabel M, Noll M, Scheiner R. Solitary Bees Host More Bacteria and Fungi on Their Cuticle than Social Bees. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2780. [PMID: 38004791 PMCID: PMC10673014 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees come into contact with bacteria and fungi from flowering plants during their foraging trips. The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) shows a pronounced hygienic behavior with social interactions, while the solitary red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) lacks a social immune system. Since both visit the same floral resources, it is intriguing to speculate that the body surface of a solitary bee should harbor a more complex microbiome than that of the social honeybee. We compared the cuticular microbiomes of A. mellifera (including three European subspecies) and O. bicornis for the first time by bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS gene-based high-throughput amplicon sequencing. The cuticular microbiome of the solitary O. bicornis was significantly more complex than that of the social A. mellifera. The microbiome composition of A. mellifera subspecies was very similar. However, we counted significantly different numbers of fungi and a higher diversity in the honeybee subspecies adapted to warmer climates. Our results suggest that the cuticular microbiome of bees is strongly affected by visited plants, lifestyle and adaptation to temperature, which have important implications for the maintenance of the health of bees under conditions of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Thamm
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
| | - Fabienne Reiß
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Leon Sohl
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Martin Gabel
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
- Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen, Bee Institute Kirchhain, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, 96450 Coburg, Germany; (F.R.); (L.S.)
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ricarda Scheiner
- Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (M.T.); (M.G.)
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46
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Roy N, Kim C, Lee D, Yang S, Lee KY, Yoon HJ, Lee KS, Choi K. Assessing potential impact of gut microbiome disruptions on the environmental stress resilience of indoor-reared Bombus terrestris. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290848. [PMID: 37963166 PMCID: PMC10645317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees are crucial for both natural ecosystems and agriculture, but their decline in distribution and abundance over the past decade is alarming. The global importance of bumblebees in natural ecosystems and agricultural food production cannot be overstated. However, the reported decline over the past decade has led to a surge of interest in understanding and addressing bumblebee population decline. Hence, we aimed to detect disruptions in the gut microbiome of male and worker bumblebees reared indoor and outdoor to assess potential resilience to environmental stress. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform for 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the gut microbiome of male and worker bees that were raised indoors (designated as the IM and IW group) and those that were raised outdoors (also designated as the OM and OW group). Our results show presence of core bacteria Neisseriaceae, Orbaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae from indoor reared worker bees. However, a higher abundance of Bifidobacterium and absence of Fructobacillus from indoor reared worker bees was also observed. Indoor-reared male bees had lower diversity and fewer observed OTUs compared to outdoor-reared male bees. Additionally, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes was significantly lower in indoor-reared males, while Proteobacteria was significantly increased. Despite this, we did not observe any dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of indoor-reared bumblebees when comparing the role of the gut symbionts among the groups. These results suggest that indoor-reared Bombus terrestris may be resilient to environmental stress when used as outdoor pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazish Roy
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaerin Kim
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongmin Lee
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongeun Yang
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Yong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Joo Yoon
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Sik Lee
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihyuck Choi
- Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea
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47
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Mee L, Barribeau SM. Influence of social lifestyles on host-microbe symbioses in the bees. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10679. [PMID: 37928198 PMCID: PMC10620586 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10679] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes are increasingly recognised as critical for the health of an organism. In eusocial insect societies, frequent social interactions allow for high-fidelity transmission of microbes across generations, leading to closer host-microbe coevolution. The microbial communities of bees with other social lifestyles are less studied, and few comparisons have been made between taxa that vary in social structure. To address this gap, we leveraged a cloud-computing resource and publicly available transcriptomic data to conduct a survey of microbial diversity in bee samples from a variety of social lifestyles and taxa. We consistently recover the core microbes of well-studied corbiculate bees, supporting this method's ability to accurately characterise microbial communities. We find that the bacterial communities of bees are influenced by host location, phylogeny and social lifestyle, although no clear effect was found for fungal or viral microbial communities. Bee genera with more complex societies tend to harbour more diverse microbes, with Wolbachia detected more commonly in solitary tribes. We present a description of the microbiota of Euglossine bees and find that they do not share the "corbiculate core" microbiome. Notably, we find that bacteria with known anti-pathogenic properties are present across social bee genera, suggesting that symbioses that enhance host immunity are important with higher sociality. Our approach provides an inexpensive means of exploring microbiomes of a given taxa and identifying avenues for further research. These findings contribute to our understanding of the relationships between bees and their associated microbial communities, highlighting the importance of considering microbiome dynamics in investigations of bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Mee
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology and BehaviourUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Seth M. Barribeau
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Department of Evolution, Ecology and BehaviourUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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48
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Kolasa M, Kajtoch Ł, Michalik A, Maryańska-Nadachowska A, Łukasik P. Till evolution do us part: The diversity of symbiotic associations across populations of Philaenus spittlebugs. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2431-2446. [PMID: 37525959 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria have played crucial roles in the evolution of sap-feeding insects and can strongly affect host function. However, their diversity and distribution within species are not well understood; we do not know to what extent environmental factors or associations with other species may affect microbial community profiles. We addressed this question in Philaenus spittlebugs by surveying both insect and bacterial marker gene amplicons across multiple host populations. Host mitochondrial sequence data confirmed morphology-based identification of six species and revealed two divergent clades of Philaenus spumarius. All of them hosted the primary symbiont Sulcia that was almost always accompanied by Sodalis. Interestingly, populations and individuals often differed in the presence of Sodalis sequence variants, suggestive of intra-genome 16S rRNA variant polymorphism combined with rapid genome evolution and/or recent additional infections or replacements of the co-primary symbiont. The prevalence of facultative endosymbionts, including Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma, varied among populations. Notably, cytochrome I oxidase (COI) amplicon data also showed that nearly a quarter of P. spumarius were infected by parasitoid flies (Verralia aucta). One of the Wolbachia operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was exclusively present in Verralia-parasitized specimens, suggestive of parasitoids as their source and highlighting the utility of host gene amplicon sequencing in microbiome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Kolasa
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kajtoch
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Michalik
- Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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49
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Palmer-Young EC, Markowitz LM, Huang WF, Evans JD. High temperatures augment inhibition of parasites by a honey bee gut symbiont. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0102323. [PMID: 37791764 PMCID: PMC10617414 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01023-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Temperature affects growth, metabolism, and interspecific interactions in microbial communities. Within animal hosts, gut bacterial symbionts can provide resistance to parasitic infections. Both infection and populations of symbionts can be shaped by the host body temperature. However, the effects of temperature on the antiparasitic activities of gut symbionts have seldom been explored. The Lactobacillus-rich gut microbiota of facultatively endothermic honey bees is subject to seasonal and ontogenetic changes in host temperature that could alter the effects of symbionts against parasites. We used cell cultures of a Lactobacillus symbiont and an important trypanosomatid gut parasite of honey bees to test the potential for temperature to shape parasite-symbiont interactions. We found that symbionts showed greater heat tolerance than parasites and chemically inhibited parasite growth via production of acids. Acceleration of symbiont growth and acid production at high temperatures resulted in progressively stronger antiparasitic effects across a temperature range typical of bee colonies. Consequently, the presence of symbionts reduced both the peak growth rate and heat tolerance of parasites. Substantial changes in parasite-symbiont interactions were evident over a temperature breadth that parallels changes in diverse animals exhibiting infection-related fevers and the amplitude of circadian temperature variation typical of endothermic birds and mammals, implying the frequent potential for temperature to alter symbiont-mediated resistance to parasites in endo- and ectothermic hosts. Results suggest that the endothermic behavior of honey bees could enhance the impacts of gut symbionts on parasites, implicating thermoregulation as a reinforcer of core symbioses and possibly microbiome-mediated antiparasitic defense. IMPORTANCE Two factors that shape the resistance of animals to infection are body temperature and gut microbiota. However, temperature can also alter interactions among microbes, raising the question of whether and how temperature changes the antiparasitic effects of gut microbiota. Honey bees are agriculturally important hosts of diverse parasites and infection-mitigating gut microbes. They can also socially regulate their body temperatures to an extent unusual for an insect. We show that high temperatures found in honey bee colonies augment the ability of a gut bacterial symbiont to inhibit the growth of a common bee parasite, reducing the parasite's ability to grow at high temperatures. This suggests that fluctuations in colony and body temperatures across life stages and seasons could alter the protective value of bees' gut microbiota against parasites, and that temperature-driven changes in gut microbiota could be an underappreciated mechanism by which temperature-including endothermy and fever-alters animal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey M. Markowitz
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
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50
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Qin M, Jiang L, Qiao G, Chen J. Phylosymbiosis: The Eco-Evolutionary Pattern of Insect-Symbiont Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15836. [PMID: 37958817 PMCID: PMC10650905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115836] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects harbor diverse assemblages of bacterial and fungal symbionts, which play crucial roles in host life history. Insects and their various symbionts represent a good model for studying host-microbe interactions. Phylosymbiosis is used to describe an eco-evolutionary pattern, providing a new cross-system trend in the research of host-associated microbiota. The phylosymbiosis pattern is characterized by a significant positive correlation between the host phylogeny and microbial community dissimilarities. Although host-symbiont interactions have been demonstrated in many insect groups, our knowledge of the prevalence and mechanisms of phylosymbiosis in insects is still limited. Here, we provide an order-by-order summary of the phylosymbiosis patterns in insects, including Blattodea, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Then, we highlight the potential contributions of stochastic effects, evolutionary processes, and ecological filtering in shaping phylosymbiotic microbiota. Phylosymbiosis in insects can arise from a combination of stochastic and deterministic mechanisms, such as the dispersal limitations of microbes, codiversification between symbionts and hosts, and the filtering of phylogenetically conserved host traits (incl., host immune system, diet, and physiological characteristics).
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Qin
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
| | - Liyun Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
| | - Gexia Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (M.Q.); (L.J.)
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