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Nguyen PN, Samad-Zada F, Chau KD, Rehan SM. Microbiome and floral associations of a wild bee using biodiversity survey collections. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16657. [PMID: 38817079 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16657] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The health of bees can be assessed through their microbiome, which serves as a biomarker indicating the presence of both beneficial and harmful microorganisms within a bee community. This study presents the characterisation of the bacterial, fungal, and plant composition on the cuticle of adult bicoloured sweat bees (Agapostemon virescens). These bees were collected using various methods such as pan traps, blue vane traps and sweep netting across the northern extent of their habitat range. Non-destructive methods were employed to extract DNA from the whole pinned specimens of these wild bees. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA, ITS and rbcL regions was then performed. The study found that the method of collection influenced the detection of certain microbial and plant taxa. Among the collection methods, sweep net samples showed the lowest fungal alpha diversity. However, minor differences in bacterial or fungal beta diversity suggest that no single method is significantly superior to others. Therefore, a combination of techniques can cater to a broader spectrum of microbial detection. The study also revealed regional variations in bacterial, fungal and plant diversity. The core microbiome of A. virescens comprises two bacteria, three fungi and a plant association, all of which are commonly detected in other wild bees. These core microbes remained consistent across different collection methods and locations. Further extensive studies of wild bee microbiomes across various species and landscapes will help uncover crucial relationships between pollinator health and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong N Nguyen
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Katherine D Chau
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Rebhi S, Basharat Z, Wei CR, Lebbal S, Najjaa H, Sadfi-Zouaoui N, Messaoudi A. Core proteome mediated subtractive approach for the identification of potential therapeutic drug target against the honeybee pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17292. [PMID: 38818453 PMCID: PMC11138523 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17292] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Objectives American foulbrood (AFB), caused by the highly virulent, spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, poses a significant threat to honey bee brood. The widespread use of antibiotics not only fails to effectively combat the disease but also raises concerns regarding honey safety. The current computational study was attempted to identify a novel therapeutic drug target against P. larvae, a causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honey bee. Methods We investigated effective novel drug targets through a comprehensive in silico pan-proteome and hierarchal subtractive sequence analysis. In total, 14 strains of P. larvae genomes were used to identify core genes. Subsequently, the core proteome was systematically narrowed down to a single protein predicted as the potential drug target. Alphafold software was then employed to predict the 3D structure of the potential drug target. Structural docking was carried out between a library of phytochemicals derived from traditional Chinese flora (n > 36,000) and the potential receptor using Autodock tool 1.5.6. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study was conducted using GROMACS to assess the stability of the best-docked ligand. Results Proteome mining led to the identification of Ketoacyl-ACP synthase III as a highly promising therapeutic target, making it a prime candidate for inhibitor screening. The subsequent virtual screening and MD simulation analyses further affirmed the selection of ZINC95910054 as a potent inhibitor, with the lowest binding energy. This finding presents significant promise in the battle against P. larvae. Conclusions Computer aided drug design provides a novel approach for managing American foulbrood in honey bee populations, potentially mitigating its detrimental effects on both bee colonies and the honey industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sawsen Rebhi
- Université de Tunis-El Manar, Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs, Département de Biologie, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Calvin R. Wei
- Department of Research and Development, Shing Huei Group, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Salim Lebbal
- University of Khenchela, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Khenchela, Algeria
| | - Hanen Najjaa
- University of Gabes, Laboratory of Pastoral Ecosystem and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms, Institute of Arid Lands of Medenine, Medenine, Tunisia
| | - Najla Sadfi-Zouaoui
- Université de Tunis-El Manar, Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs, Département de Biologie, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Abdelmonaem Messaoudi
- Université de Tunis-El Manar, Laboratoire de Mycologie, Pathologies et Biomarqueurs, Département de Biologie, Tunis, Tunisia
- Jendouba University, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja, Beja, Tunisia
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Li T, Liu R, Wang Q, Rao J, Liu Y, Dai Z, Gooneratne R, Wang J, Xie Q, Zhang X. A review of the influence of environmental pollutants (microplastics, pesticides, antibiotics, air pollutants, viruses, bacteria) on animal viruses. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133831. [PMID: 38402684 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms, especially viruses, cause disease in both humans and animals. Environmental chemical pollutants including microplastics, pesticides, antibiotics sand air pollutants arisen from human activities affect both animal and human health. This review assesses the impact of chemical and biological contaminants (virus and bacteria) on viruses including its life cycle, survival, mutations, loads and titers, shedding, transmission, infection, re-assortment, interference, abundance, viral transfer between cells, and the susceptibility of the host to viruses. It summarizes the sources of environmental contaminants, interactions between contaminants and viruses, and methods used to mitigate such interactions. Overall, this review provides a perspective of environmentally co-occurring contaminants on animal viruses that would be useful for future research on virus-animal-human-ecosystem harmony studies to safeguard human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ruiheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaqian Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuanjia Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Zhenkai Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ravi Gooneratne
- Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Qingmei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xinheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry & Heyuan Branch, Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510642, China; South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Poultry Disease Control and Product Safety, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of AgroAnimal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Vector Vaccine of Animal Virus, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Smriti, Rana A, Singh G, Gupta G. Prospects of probiotics in beekeeping: a review for sustainable approach to boost honeybee health. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:205. [PMID: 38573383 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03926-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Honeybees are vital for global crop pollination, making indispensable contributions to agricultural productivity. However, these vital insects are currently facing escalating colony losses on a global scale, primarily attributed to parasitic and pathogenic attacks. The prevalent response to combat these infections may involve the use of antibiotics. Nevertheless, the application of antibiotics raises concerns regarding potential adverse effects such as antibiotic resistance and imbalances in the gut microbiota of bees. In response to these challenges, this study reviews the utilization of a probiotic-supplemented pollen substitute diet to promote honeybee gut health, enhance immunity, and overall well-being. We systematically explore various probiotic strains and their impacts on critical parameters, including survival rate, colony strength, honey and royal jelly production, and the immune response of bees. By doing so, we emphasize the significance of maintaining a balanced gut microbial community in honeybees. The review also scrutinizes the factors influencing the gut microbial communities of bees, elucidates the consequences of dysbiosis, and evaluates the potential of probiotics to mitigate these challenges. Additionally, it delineates different delivery mechanisms for probiotic supplementation and elucidates their positive effects on diverse health parameters of honeybees. Given the alarming decline in honeybee populations and the consequential threat to global food security, this study provides valuable insights into sustainable practices aimed at supporting honeybee populations and enhancing agricultural productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smriti
- Department of Biosciences (UIBT), Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India
| | - Anita Rana
- Department of Biosciences (UIBT), Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India.
| | - Gagandeep Singh
- Department of Biosciences (UIBT), Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India
| | - Garima Gupta
- Department of Agriculture (UIAS), Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India
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5
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Kim H, Frunze O, Maigoro AY, Lee ML, Lee JH, Kwon HW. Comparative Study of the Effect of Pollen Substitute Diets on Honey Bees during Early Spring. INSECTS 2024; 15:101. [PMID: 38392520 PMCID: PMC10889207 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The nutritional quality of a colony significantly affects its health and strength, particularly because it is required for population growth in the early spring. We investigated the impact of various artificial pollen substitute diets on colony performance in the Republic of Korea during early spring, a critical period for colony health and growth. The colonies were provided with different diets, including the commercial product Megabee (positive control), our developed diet Test A, and four upgraded versions (Diet 1, Diet 2, Diet 3, and Diet 4) of Test A. The negative control group received no supplementary feed. Over 63 days, we observed 24 experimental colonies and assessed various parameters at the colony and individual levels. The results revealed that Diet 2 had the highest consumption and had the most positive impact on population growth, the capped brood area, colony weight, honey bees' weight, and vitellogenin levels. These findings suggested that Diet 2 is most attractive to honey bees and thus holds great promise for improving colony maintenance and development during the crucial early spring period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjee Kim
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Olga Frunze
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Lyeol Lee
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Wook Kwon
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
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6
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Nguyen PN, Rehan SM. Wild bee and pollen microbiomes across an urban-rural divide. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad158. [PMID: 38037395 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild pollinators and their microbiota are sensitive to land use changes from anthropogenic activities that disrupt landscape and environmental features. As urbanization and agriculture affect bee habitats, human-led disturbances are driving changes in bee microbiomes, potentially leading to dysbiosis detrimental to bee fitness. This study examines the bacterial, fungal, and plant compositions of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina calcarata, and its pollen provisions across an urban-rural divide. We performed metabarcoding of C. calcarata and provisions in Toronto by targeting the 16S rRNA, ITS, and rbcL regions. Despite similar plant composition and diversity across bees and their provisions, there was a greater microbial diversity in pollen provisions than in bees. By characterizing the differences in land use, climate, and pesticide residues that differentiate urban and rural landscapes, we find that urban areas support elevated levels of microbial diversity and more complex networks between microbes and plants than rural areas. However, urban areas may lead to lower relative abundances of known beneficial symbionts and increased levels of pathogens, such as Ascosphaera and Alternaria fungi. Further, rural pollen provisions indicate elevated pesticide residues that may dysregulate symbiosis. As anthropogenic activities continue to alter land use, ever changing environments threaten microbiota crucial in maintaining bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong N Nguyen
- Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Sandra M Rehan
- Department of Biology, York University, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
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Daisley BA, Pitek AP, Torres C, Lowery R, Adair BA, Al KF, Niño B, Burton JP, Allen-Vercoe E, Thompson GJ, Reid G, Niño E. Delivery mechanism can enhance probiotic activity against honey bee pathogens. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1382-1395. [PMID: 37311937 PMCID: PMC10432525 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01422-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations play a crucial role in supporting pollination of food crops but are facing unsustainable colony losses, largely due to rampant disease spread within agricultural environments. While mounting evidence suggests that select lactobacilli strains (some being natural symbionts of honey bees) can protect against multiple infections, there has been limited validation at the field-level and few methods exist for applying viable microorganisms to the hive. Here, we compare how two different delivery systems-standard pollen patty infusion and a novel spray-based formulation-affect supplementation of a three-strain lactobacilli consortium (LX3). Hives in a pathogen-dense region of California are supplemented for 4 weeks and then monitored over a 20-week period for health outcomes. Results show both delivery methods facilitate viable uptake of LX3 in adult bees, although the strains do not colonize long-term. Despite this, LX3 treatments induce transcriptional immune responses leading to sustained decreases in many opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as selective enrichment of core symbionts including Bombilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bartonella spp. These changes are ultimately associated with greater brood production and colony growth relative to vehicle controls, and with no apparent trade-offs in ectoparasitic Varroa mite burdens. Furthermore, spray-LX3 exerts potent activities against Ascosphaera apis (a deadly brood pathogen) likely stemming from in-hive dispersal differences, whereas patty-LX3 promotes synergistic brood development via unique nutritional benefits. These findings provide a foundational basis for spray-based probiotic application in apiculture and collectively highlight the importance of considering delivery method in disease management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan A Daisley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Andrew P Pitek
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Christina Torres
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Robin Lowery
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Bethany A Adair
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Kait F Al
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Bernardo Niño
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jeremy P Burton
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Emma Allen-Vercoe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Graham J Thompson
- Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Elina Niño
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA, 95618, USA.
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Powell JE, Lau P, Rangel J, Arnott R, De Jong T, Moran NA. The microbiome and gene expression of honey bee workers are affected by a diet containing pollen substitutes. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286070. [PMID: 37205696 PMCID: PMC10198554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollen is the primary source of dietary protein for honey bees. It also includes complex polysaccharides in its outer coat, which are largely indigestible by bees but can be metabolized by bacterial species within the gut microbiota. During periods of reduced availability of floral pollen, supplemental protein sources are frequently provided to managed honey bee colonies. The crude proteins in these supplemental feeds are typically byproducts from food manufacturing processes and are rarely derived from pollen. Our experiments on the impact of different diets showed that a simplified pollen-free diet formulated to resemble the macronutrient profile of a monofloral pollen source resulted in larger microbial communities with reduced diversity, reduced evenness, and reduced levels of potentially beneficial hive-associated bacteria. Furthermore, the pollen-free diet sharply reduced the expression of genes central to honey bee development. In subsequent experiments, we showed that these shifts in gene expression may be linked to colonization by the gut microbiome. Lastly, we demonstrated that for bees inoculated with a defined gut microbiota, those raised on an artificial diet were less able to suppress infection from a bacterial pathogen than those that were fed natural pollen. Our findings demonstrate that a pollen-free diet significantly impacts the gut microbiota and gene expression of honey bees, indicating the importance of natural pollen as a primary protein source.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Elijah Powell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Pierre Lau
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
- USDA-ARS, Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystem Research Unit, Stoneville, MS, United States of America
| | - Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States of America
| | - Ryan Arnott
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Tyler De Jong
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States of America
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Yazlovytska LS, Karavan VV, Domaciuk M, Panchuk II, Borsuk G, Volkov RA. Increased survival of honey bees consuming pollen and beebread is associated with elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1098350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionSignificant losses of honey bee colonies have been observed worldwide in recent decades. Inadequate nutrition is considered to be one of the factors that can reduce honey bee resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental stresses. Accordingly, we assessed the impact of food composition on worker bee survival.MethodsBees in cages were fed six different diets, and then their survival, levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and protein carbonyl groups, catalase and lysozyme activities were evaluated.Results and DiscussionAfter 17 days of feeding, the lowest mortality was observed in the group of bees that received sucrose solution with the addition of willow pollen or artificial rapeseed beebread or artificial willow beebread (diets 4–6). The highest mortality was found in bees that consumed only sucrose solution (diet 1) or the sucrose solution supplemented with a mixture of amino acids (diet 2), which can be explained by the lack of vitamins and microelements in these diets. In the group of bees that received the sucrose solution with rapeseed pollen (diet 3), mortality was intermediate. To check whether the decrease in insect survival could be related to oxidative damage, we evaluated biomarkers of oxidative stress. Consumption of pollen (diets 3 and 5) and artificial beebread (diets 4 and 6) enhances protein carbonylation in worker bees. Feeding bees artificial beebread also resulted in increase in lipid peroxidation and catalase activity, which is probably due to the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the honey contained in beebread. Remarkably, the increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress was not accompanied by adverse but positive effects on insect survival. A lack of amino acids and proteins in the diet 1 did not cause oxidative stress, but led to an increase in lysozyme activity in hemolymph, a biomarker of immune system status. In conclusion, we believe that the increase in oxidative stress biomarkers we found do not indicate oxidative damage, but rather reflect the changes in redox balance due to consumption of certain dietary options.
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Hasan A, Iqbal Qazi J, Tabssum F, Hussain A. Development, gut health, and longevity of European bee on the provision of biosugar syrup. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2022.102532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Topal E, Mărgăoan R, Bay V, Takma Ç, Yücel B, Oskay D, Düz G, Acar S, Kösoğlu M. The Effect of Supplementary Feeding with Different Pollens in Autumn on Colony Development under Natural Environment and In Vitro Lifespan of Honey Bees. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13070588. [PMID: 35886764 PMCID: PMC9325255 DOI: 10.3390/insects13070588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees need pollen and nectar sources to survive in nature. Particularly, having young bees in colonies is vital before wintering, and proper feeding is necessary to achieve this. In the present study, the effect of feeding with pollen sources of different protein content on colony performance, wintering ability and in-vitro longevity of colonies that weakened after feeding with pine honey in autumn, or that needed to enter the winter period, was investigated. The experiment was carried out in 48 colonies divided into six groups as follows: control, syrup, mixed pollen, Cistus creticus pollen (Pink rock-rose), Papaver somniferum pollen (Opium poppy), and commercial bee cake groups. In particular, the P. somniferum pollen group was different (p < 0.01) from the other experiment groups with the number of bee frames (3.44), the area with brood (1184.14 cm2) and the wintering ability of 92.19%. The effect of nutritional differences on survival was found to be statistically significant in vitro and this supports the colony results in the natural environment (p < 0.001). The P. somniferum group has the longest longevity with 23 days. Pollen preferences of honey bees were P. somniferum, C. creticus, and mixed pollen, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkan Topal
- Izmir Food Control Laboratory Directorate, Bornova, Izmir 35030, Turkey
- Correspondence: (E.T.); (R.M.)
| | - Rodica Mărgăoan
- Advanced Horticultural Research Institute of Transylvania, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence: (E.T.); (R.M.)
| | - Veysel Bay
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Turkey; (V.B.); (Ç.T.); (B.Y.)
| | - Çiğdem Takma
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Turkey; (V.B.); (Ç.T.); (B.Y.)
| | - Banu Yücel
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir 35040, Turkey; (V.B.); (Ç.T.); (B.Y.)
| | - Devrim Oskay
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Namık Kemal University, Tekirdağ 59030, Turkey;
| | - Gamze Düz
- Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Istanbul 34782, Turkey; (G.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Sezer Acar
- Altıparmak Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Istanbul 34782, Turkey; (G.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Mustafa Kösoğlu
- Apiculture Research Center, Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, Izmir 35661, Turkey;
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12
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Brown AF, Rodriguez V, Brzoska C, Pfister J, Neumann P, Retschnig G. Dream Team for Honey Bee Health: Pollen and Unmanipulated Gut Microbiota Promote Worker Longevity and Body Weight. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.864741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota are known to foster pollen digestion in honey bee workers, Apis mellifera, thereby enhancing longevity and body weight gain. However, it is currently not known how longevity and body weight gain are effected when gut microbiota are reduced in bees with or without access to pollen. Here, using a hoarding cage set-up with freshly emerged summer workers, we manipulated the gut microbiota of half the bees with the antibiotic tetracycline (ABX), and left the other half untreated on a sucrose solution diet. Afterwards, all bees were assigned to either sucrose diets or sucrose plus ad libitum access to pollen (N = 4 treatments, N = 26 bees/treatment, N = 10 replicates/treatment, N = 1,040 total workers). The data confirm that pollen has a positive effect on longevity and body weight in workers with an unmanipulated gut microbiota. Surprisingly, the antibiotics alone also improved the longevity and body weight of the workers fed a strictly sucrose diet, potentially explained by the reduction of harmful bacteria. However, this positive effect was reversed from an observed antagonistic interaction between pollen and antibiotics, underscoring the innate value of natural microbiota on pollen digestion. In conclusion, a combination of adequate pollen supply and an unmanipulated gut microbiota appears crucial to honey bee worker health, calling for respective efforts to ensure both in managed colonies.
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13
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El-Seedi HR, Ahmed HR, El-Wahed AAA, Saeed A, Algethami AF, Attia NF, Guo Z, Musharraf SG, Khatib A, Alsharif SM, Naggar YA, Khalifa SAM, Wang K. Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050199. [PMID: 35622727 PMCID: PMC9146872 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines, the deep understanding of the observed losses of these important insects is still missing. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies. This review summarizes and discusses the composition of the honeybee immune system and the consequences of exposure to stressors, individually or in combinations, on honeybee immune competence. In addition, we discuss the relationship between bee nutrition and immunity. Nutrition and phytochemicals were highlighted as the factors with a high impact on honeybee immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham R. El-Seedi
- Pharmacognosy Group, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Biomedical Centre, P.O. Box 591, SE 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory of Intelligent Agriculture and Agri-Products Processing (Jiangsu University), Jiangsu Education Department, Nanjing 210024, China
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32512, Egypt;
- Correspondence: (H.R.E.-S.); (K.W.); Tel.: +46-700-43-43-43 (H.R.E.-S.); +86-10-62596625 (K.W.)
| | - Hanan R. Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32512, Egypt;
| | - Aida A. Abd El-Wahed
- Department of Bee Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza 12627, Egypt;
| | - Aamer Saeed
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
| | - Ahmed F. Algethami
- Al nahal al jwal Foundation Saudi Arabia, P.O. Box 617, Al Jumum, Makkah 21926, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nour F. Attia
- Chemistry Division, National Institute of Standards, 136, Giza 12211, Egypt;
| | - Zhiming Guo
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China;
| | - Syed G. Musharraf
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan;
| | - Alfi Khatib
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic Univetsity Malaysia, Kuantan 25200, Malaysia;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60155, Indonesia
| | - Sultan M. Alsharif
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Al Madinah 887, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt;
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Shaden A. M. Khalifa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, SE 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
- Correspondence: (H.R.E.-S.); (K.W.); Tel.: +46-700-43-43-43 (H.R.E.-S.); +86-10-62596625 (K.W.)
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14
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Barraud A, Barascou L, Lefebvre V, Sene D, Le Conte Y, Alaux C, Grillenzoni FV, Corvucci F, Serra G, Costa C, Vanderplanck M, Michez D. Variations in Nutritional Requirements Across Bee Species. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.824750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
With 2,000 species currently recorded in Europe, bees are a highly diversified and efficient group of pollinating insects. They obtain their nutrients from nectar and pollen of flowers. However, the chemical composition of these resources, especially of pollen (e.g., protein, lipid, amino acids, fatty acids, or sterol content), is highly variable among plant species. While it is well-known that bees show interspecific variation in their floral choices, there is a lack of information on the nutritional requirements of different bee species. We therefore developed original experiments in laboratory conditions to evaluate the interspecific variations in bee nutritional requirements. We analyzed the chemical content of eight pollen blends, different in terms of protein, lipid, amino acids, and sterols total concentration and profiles. Each pollen blend was provided to four different bee model species: honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), mason bees (Osmia bicornis and Osmia cornuta). For each species, specific protocols were used to monitor their development (e.g., weight, timing, survival) and resource collection. Overall, we found that the nutritional requirements across those species are different, and that a low-quality diet for one species is not necessarily low-quality for another one. While honey bees are negatively impacted by diets with a high protein content (~40%), bumblebees and mason bees develop normally on these diets but struggle on diets with a low total amino acid and sterol content, specifically with low concentrations of 24-methylenecholesterol and β-sitosterol. Overall, our study supports the need of conserving and/or introducing plant diversity into managed ecosystems to meet the natural nutritional preferences of bees at species and community level.
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15
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Abstract
Optimal nutrition is crucial for honey bee colony growth and robust immune systems. Honey bee nutrition is complex and depends on the floral composition of the landscape. Foraging behavior of honey bees depends on both colony environment and external environment. There are significant gaps in knowledge regarding honey bee nutrition, and hence no optimal diet is available for honey bees, as there is for other livestock. In this review, we discuss (1) foraging behavior of honey bees, (2) nutritional needs, (3) nutritional supplements used by beekeepers, (4) probiotics, and (5) supplemental forage and efforts integrating floral diversity into cropping systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Tsuruda
- University of Tennessee - Knoxville, 2505 E J Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Priyadarshini Chakrabarti
- Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 5307, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA; Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Ramesh R Sagili
- Oregon State University, 4017 Agriculture and Life Science Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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16
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Pollen Diet-Properties and Impact on a Bee Colony. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090798. [PMID: 34564238 PMCID: PMC8465107 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary In order to study the effects of malnutrition in bees, attention should be drawn to the dietary composition. A pollen diet plays an important role in the life of bees. A well-balanced diet influences the development of the larvae as well as the physiology, biochemistry, immunity and histology of the workers. Abstract Diet is an important factor in the proper development of the individual and the entire colony. A pollen diet affects honey bees in a number of ways. It can stimulate the number and type of hemocytes, the total number of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, affect the histology of the middle intestine, and ensure the correct ontogenesis of the larvae. Moreover, selected single-flower diets can stimulate the development of the pharyngeal glands that produce royal jelly, thus conditioning the development of secretory immunity. Selected single-species pollen may also increase the phenol oxidase concentration, which contributes to the humoral response. A honey bee diet based on multi-flower pollen is more desirable than a mono-flower diet, but must be properly balanced.
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17
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Powell JE, Carver Z, Leonard SP, Moran NA. Field-Realistic Tylosin Exposure Impacts Honey Bee Microbiota and Pathogen Susceptibility, Which Is Ameliorated by Native Gut Probiotics. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0010321. [PMID: 34160267 PMCID: PMC8552731 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00103-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics have been applied to honey bee (Apis mellifera) hives for decades to treat Paenibacillus larvae, which causes American foulbrood disease and kills honey bee larvae. One of the few antibiotics approved in apiculture is tylosin tartrate. This study examined how a realistic hive treatment regimen of tylosin affected the gut microbiota of bees and susceptibility to a bacterial pathogen. Tylosin treatment reduced bacterial species richness and phylogenetic diversity and reduced the absolute abundances and strain diversity of the beneficial core gut bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Bifidobacterium spp. Bees from hives treated with tylosin died more quickly after being fed a bacterial pathogen (Serratia marcescens) in the laboratory. We then tested whether a probiotic cocktail of core bee gut species could bolster pathogen resistance. Probiotic exposure increased survival of bees from both control and tylosin-treated hives. Finally, we measured tylosin tolerance of core bee gut bacteria by plating cultured isolates on media with different tylosin concentrations. We observed highly variable responses, including large differences among strains of both S. alvi and Gilliamella spp. Thus, probiotic treatments using cultured bee gut bacteria may ameliorate harmful perturbations of the gut microbiota caused by antibiotics or other factors. IMPORTANCE The antibiotic tylosin tartrate is used to treat honey bee hives to control Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium that causes American foulbrood. We found that bees from tylosin-treated hives had gut microbiomes with depleted overall diversity as well as reduced absolute abundances and strain diversity of the beneficial bee gut bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Bifidobacterium spp. Furthermore, bees from treated hives suffered higher mortality when challenged with an opportunistic pathogen. Bees receiving a probiotic treatment, consisting of a cocktail of cultured isolates of native bee gut bacteria, had increased survival following pathogen challenge. Thus, probiotic treatment with native gut bacteria may ameliorate negative effects of antibiotic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Elijah Powell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Zac Carver
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sean P. Leonard
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Nancy A. Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
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18
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Glavinic U, Stevanovic J, Ristanic M, Rajkovic M, Davitkov D, Lakic N, Stanimirovic Z. Potential of Fumagillin and Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract to Reduce Nosema ceranae in Honey Bees. INSECTS 2021; 12:282. [PMID: 33806001 PMCID: PMC8064457 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Depending on the infection level and colony strength, Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian endoparasite of the honey bee may have significant consequences on the health, reproduction and productivity of bee colonies. Despite exerting some side effects, fumagillin is most often used for Nosema control. In this study, in a cage experiment, N. ceranae infected bees were treated with fumagillin or the extract of Agaricus blazei mushroom, a possible alternative for Nosema control. Bee survival, Nosema spore loads, the expression levels of immune-related genes and parameters of oxidative stress were observed. Fumagillin treatment showed a negative effect on monitored parameters when applied preventively to non-infected bees, while a noticeable anti-Nosema effect and protection from Nosema-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress were proven in Nosema-infected bees. However, a protective effect of the natural A. blazei extract was detected, without any side effects but with immunostimulatory activity in the preventive application. The results of this research suggest the potential of A. blazei extract for Nosema control, which needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uros Glavinic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Jevrosima Stevanovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Marko Ristanic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Milan Rajkovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Dajana Davitkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Nada Lakic
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Statistics, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Zoran Stanimirovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
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19
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Westfall S, Carracci F, Estill M, Zhao D, Wu QL, Shen L, Simon J, Pasinetti GM. Optimization of probiotic therapeutics using machine learning in an artificial human gastrointestinal tract. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1067. [PMID: 33441743 PMCID: PMC7806704 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79947-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota's metabolome is composed of bioactive metabolites that confer disease resilience. Probiotics' therapeutic potential hinges on their metabolome altering ability; however, characterizing probiotics' metabolic activity remains a formidable task. In order to solve this problem, an artificial model of the human gastrointestinal tract is introduced coined the ABIOME (A Bioreactor Imitation of the Microbiota Environment) and used to predict probiotic formulations' metabolic activity and hence therapeutic potential with machine learning tools. The ABIOME is a modular yet dynamic system with real-time monitoring of gastrointestinal conditions that support complex cultures representative of the human microbiota and its metabolome. The fecal-inoculated ABIOME was supplemented with a polyphenol-rich prebiotic and combinations of novel probiotics that altered the output of bioactive metabolites previously shown to invoke anti-inflammatory effects. To dissect the synergistic interactions between exogenous probiotics and the autochthonous microbiota a multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model was implemented towards the development of optimized probiotic combinations with therapeutic benefits. Using this algorithm, several probiotic combinations were identified that stimulated synergistic production of bioavailable metabolites, each with a different therapeutic capacity. Based on these results, the ABIOME in combination with the MARS algorithm could be used to create probiotic formulations with specific therapeutic applications based on their signature metabolic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Westfall
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francesca Carracci
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Molly Estill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danyue Zhao
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Qing-Li Wu
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - James Simon
- Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
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20
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Wu Y, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Wang S, Chen Y, Hu F, Zheng H. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiota promotes host endogenous detoxification capability via regulation of P450 gene expression in the digestive tract. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:1201-1212. [PMID: 32338446 PMCID: PMC7264748 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing number of studies demonstrating a close relationship between insect gut microbiota and insecticide resistance. However, the contribution of the honey bee gut microbiota to host detoxification ability has yet to be investigated. In order to address this question, we compared the expression of cytochrome P450s (P450s) genes between gut microbiota deficient (GD) workers and conventional gut community (CV) workers and compared the mortality rates and the pesticide residue levels of GD and CV workers treated with thiacloprid or tau-fluvalinate. Our results showed that gut microbiota promotes the expression of P450 enzymes in the midgut, and the mortality rate and pesticide residue levels of GD workers are significantly higher than those of CV workers. Further comparisons between tetracycline-treated workers and untreated workers demonstrated that antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis leads to attenuated expression of P450s in the midgut. The co-treatment of antibiotics and pesticides leads to reduced survival rate and a significantly higher amount of pesticide residues in honey bees. Taken together, our results demonstrated that honey bee gut symbiont could contribute to bee health through the modification of the host xenobiotics detoxification pathways and revealed a potential negative impact of antibiotics to honey bee detoxification ability and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Wu
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yufei Zheng
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yanan Chen
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Shuai Wang
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | | | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Huoqing Zheng
- College of Animal SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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21
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Wu Y, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Chen G, Zheng H, Hu F. Apis cerana gut microbiota contribute to host health though stimulating host immune system and strengthening host resistance to Nosema ceranae. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:192100. [PMID: 32537206 PMCID: PMC7277281 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.192100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbial communities play vital roles in the modulation of many insects' immunity, including Apis mellifera. However, little is known about the interaction of Apis cerana gut bacteria and A. cerana immune system. Here in this study, we conducted a comparison between germ-free gut microbiota deficient (GD) workers and conventional gut community (CV) workers, to reveal the possible impact of gut microbiota on the expression of A. cerana antimicrobial peptides and immune regulate pathways. We also test whether A. cerana gut microbiota can strengthen host resistance to Nosema ceranae. We find that the expression of apidaecin, abaecin and hymenoptaecin were significantly upregulated with the presence of gut bacteria, and JNK pathway was activated; in the meanwhile, the existence of gut bacteria inhibited the proliferation of Nosema ceranae. These demonstrated the essential role of A. cerana gut microbiota to host health and provided critical insight into the honeybee host-microbiome interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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22
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Knight K. Pollen is essential for health of honey bee gut bugs. J Exp Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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