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Hesketh-Best PJ, Fowler PD, Odogwu NM, Milbrath MO, Schroeder DC. Sacbrood viruses and select Lake Sinai virus variants dominated Apis mellifera colonies symptomatic for European foulbrood. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0065624. [PMID: 38980019 PMCID: PMC11302354 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00656-24] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
European foulbrood (EFB) is a prevalent disease in the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) in the United States, which can lead to colony decline and collapse. The bacterial components of EFB are well-studied, but the diversity of viral infections within infected colonies has not been explored. In this study, we use meta-transcriptomics sequencing of 12 honey bee hives, symptomatic (+, n = 6) and asymptomatic (-, n = 6) for EFB, to investigate viral infection associated with the disease. We assembled 41 viral genomes, belonging to three families (Iflaviridae, Dicistroviridae, and Sinhaliviridae), all previously reported in honey bees, including Lake Sinai virus, deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus, Black queen cell virus, and Israeli acute paralysis virus. In colonies with severe EFB, we observed a higher occurrence of viral genomes (34 genomes) in contrast to fewer recovered from healthy colonies (seven genomes) and a complete absence of Dicistroviridae genomes.We observed specific Lake Sinai virus clades associated exclusively with EFB + or EFB - colonies, in addition to EFB-afflicted colonies that exhibited an increase in relative abundance of sacbrood viruses. Multivariate analyses highlighted that a combination of site and EFB disease status influenced RNA virome composition, while EFB status alone did not significantly impact it, presenting a challenge for comparisons between colonies kept in different yards. These findings contribute to the understanding of viral dynamics in honey bee colonies compromised by EFB and underscore the need for future investigations to consider viral composition when investigating EFB.IMPORTANCEThis study on the viromes of honey bee colonies affected by European foulbrood (EFB) sheds light on the dynamics of viral populations in bee colonies in the context of a prevalent bacterial brood disease. The identification of distinct Lake Sinai virus and sacbrood virus clades associated with colonies affected by severe EFB suggests a potential connection between viral composition and disease status, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the role of viruses during EFB infection. The observed increase in sacbrood viruses during EFB infection suggests a potential viral dysbiosis, with potential implications for honey bee brood health. These findings contribute valuable insights related to beekeeping practices, offering a foundation for future research aimed at understanding and mitigating the impact of bacterial and viral infection in commercial honey bee operations and the management of EFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poppy J. Hesketh-Best
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter D. Fowler
- Department of Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Nkechi M. Odogwu
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Meghan O. Milbrath
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, Pollinator Performance Center, Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Declan C. Schroeder
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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Sun Y, Li T, Zhou G, Zhou Y, Wu Y, Xu J, Chen J, Zhong S, Zhong D, Liu R, Lu G, Li Y. Relationship between deltamethrin resistance and gut symbiotic bacteria of Aedes albopictus by 16S rDNA sequencing. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:330. [PMID: 39103931 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06421-3] [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: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aedes albopictus is an important vector for pathogens such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. While insecticides is the mainstay for mosquito control, their widespread and excessive use has led to the increased resistance in Ae. albopictus globally. Gut symbiotic bacteria are believed to play a potential role in insect physiology, potentially linking to mosquitoes' metabolic resistance against insecticides. METHODS We investigated the role of symbiotic bacteria in the development of resistance in Ae. albopictus by comparing gut symbiotic bacteria between deltamethrin-sensitive and deltamethrin-resistant populations. Adults were reared from field-collected larvae. Sensitive and resistant mosquitoes were screened using 0.03% and 0.09% deltamethrin, respectively, on the basis of the World Health Organization (WHO) tube bioassay. Sensitive and resistant field-collected larvae were screened using 5 × LC50 (lethal concentration at 50% mortality) and 20 × LC50 concentration of deltamethrin, respectively. Laboratory strain deltamethrin-sensitive adults and larvae were used as controls. The DNA of gut samples from these mosquitoes were extracted using the magnetic bead method. Bacterial 16S rDNA was sequenced using BGISEQ method. We isolated and cultured gut microorganisms from adult and larvae mosquitoes using four different media: Luria Bertani (LB), brain heart infusion (BHI), nutrient agar (NA), and salmonella shigella (SS). RESULTS Sequencing revealed significantly higher gut microbial diversity in field-resistant larvae compared with field-sensitive and laboratory-sensitive larvae (P < 0.01). Conversely, gut microorganism diversity in field-resistant and field-sensitive adults was significantly lower compared with laboratory-sensitive adults (P < 0.01). At the species level, 25 and 12 bacterial species were isolated from the gut of field resistant larvae and adults, respectively. The abundance of Flavobacterium spp., Gemmobacter spp., and Dysgonomonas spp. was significantly higher in the gut of field-resistant larvae compared with sensitive larvae (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the abundance of Flavobacterium spp., Pantoea spp., and Aeromonas spp. was significantly higher in the gut of field-resistant adults compared with sensitive adults (all P < 0.05). The dominant and differentially occurring microorganisms were also different between resistant larval and adult mosquitoes. These findings suggest that the gut commensal bacteria of Ae. albopictus adults and larvae may play distinct roles in their deltamethrin resistance. CONCLUSIONS This study provides an empirical basis for further exploration of the mechanisms underlying the role of gut microbial in insecticide resistance, potentially opening a new prospect for mosquito control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingbo Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Guofa Zhou
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Yunfei Zhou
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Yuhong Wu
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Jiabao Xu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiarong Chen
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Saifeng Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 570311, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yiji Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Tropical Diseases Research Center, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine and Life Sciences, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Hainan Medical University-The University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
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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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Urcan AC, Criste AD, Bobiș O, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Giurgiu AI, Dezmirean DS. Evaluation of Functional Properties of Some Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains for Probiotic Applications in Apiculture. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1249. [PMID: 38930631 PMCID: PMC11205645 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061249] [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: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This study evaluates the suitability of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains-Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Apilactobacillus kunkeei-for use as probiotics in apiculture. Given the decline in bee populations due to pathogens and environmental stressors, sustainable alternatives to conventional treatments are necessary. This study aimed to assess the potential of these LAB strains in a probiotic formulation for bees through various in vitro tests, including co-culture interactions, biofilm formation, auto-aggregation, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance to high osmotic concentrations. This study aimed to assess both the individual effects of the strains and their combined effects, referred to as the LAB mix. Results indicated no mutual antagonistic activity among the LAB strains, demonstrating their compatibility with multi-strain probiotic formulations. The LAB strains showed significant survival rates under high osmotic stress and simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The LAB mix displayed enhanced biofilm formation, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial efficacy against different bacterial strains. These findings suggest that a probiotic formulation containing these LAB strains could be used for a probiotic formulation, offering a promising approach to mitigating the negative effects of pathogens. Future research should focus on in vivo studies to validate the efficacy of these probiotic bacteria in improving bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Cristina Urcan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.C.U.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Adriana Dalila Criste
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.C.U.); (A.D.C.)
| | - Otilia Bobiș
- Department of Apiculture and Sericulture, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan
- Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Alexandru-Ioan Giurgiu
- Department of Apiculture and Sericulture, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Department of Apiculture and Sericulture, Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnologies, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
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Narciso L, Topini M, Ferraiuolo S, Ianiro G, Marianelli C. Effects of natural treatments on the varroa mite infestation levels and overall health of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302846. [PMID: 38713668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302846] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The survival of the honey bee (Apis mellifera), which has a crucial role in pollination and ecosystem maintenance, is threatened by many pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, fungi and viruses. The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is considered the major cause of the worldwide decline in honey bee colony health. Although several synthetic acaricides are available to control Varroa infestations, resistant mites and side effects on bees have been documented. The development of natural alternatives for mite control is therefore encouraged. The study aims at exploring the effects of cinnamon and oregano essential oils (EOs) and of a mixed fruit cocktail juice on mite infestation levels and bee colony health. A multi-method study including hive inspection, mite count, molecular detection of fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens, analysis of defensin-1, hymenoptaecin and vitellogenin immune gene expression, colony density and honey production data, was conducted in a 20-hive experimental apiary. The colonies were divided into five groups: four treatment groups and one control group. The treatment groups were fed on a sugar syrup supplemented with cinnamon EO, oregano EO, a 1:1 mixture of both EOs, or a juice cocktail. An unsupplemented syrup was, instead, used to feed the control group. While V. destructor affected all the colonies throughout the study, no differences in mite infestation levels, population density and honey yield were observed between treatment and control groups. An overexpression of vitellogenin was instead found in all EO-treated groups, even though a significant difference was only found in the group treated with the 1:1 EO mixture. Viral (DWV, CBPV and BQCV), fungal (Nosema ceranae) and bacterial (Melissococcus plutonius) pathogens from both symptomatic and asymptomatic colonies were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Narciso
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Topini
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Ferraiuolo
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ianiro
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marianelli
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Copeland DC, Ricigliano VA, Mott BM, Kortenkamp OL, Erickson RJ, Gorrochategui-Ortega J, Anderson KE. A longitudinal study of queen health in honey bees reveals tissue specific response to seasonal changes and pathogen pressure. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8963. [PMID: 38637564 PMCID: PMC11026438 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58883-1] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The health of honey bee queens is crucial for colony success, particularly during stressful periods like overwintering. To accompany a previous longitudinal study of colony and worker health, we explored niche-specific gut microbiota, host gene expression, and pathogen prevalence in honey bee queens overwintering in a warm southern climate. We found differential gene expression and bacterial abundance with respect to various pathogens throughout the season. Biologically older queens had larger microbiotas, particularly enriched in Bombella and Bifidobacterium. Both Deformed Wing Virus A and B subtypes were highest in the fat body tissue in January, correlating with colony Varroa levels, and Deformed Wing Virus titers in workers. High viral titers in queens were associated with decreased vitellogenin expression, suggesting a potential trade-off between immune function and reproductive capacity. Additionally, we found a complex and dynamic relationship between these viral loads and immune gene expression, indicating a possible breakdown in the coordinated immune response as the season progressed. Our study also revealed a potential link between Nosema and Melissococcus plutonius infections in queens, demonstrating that seasonal opportunism is not confined to just workers. Overall, our findings highlight the intricate interplay between pathogens, metabolic state, and immune response in honey bee queens. Combined with worker and colony-level metrics from the same colonies, our findings illustrate the social aspect of queen health and resilience over the winter dearth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duan C Copeland
- USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA.
| | - Vincent A Ricigliano
- USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory, Baton Rouge, LA, 70820, USA
| | - Brendon M Mott
- USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Oliver L Kortenkamp
- USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
- Department of Entomology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Robert J Erickson
- USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - June Gorrochategui-Ortega
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940, Leioa, Spain
| | - Kirk E Anderson
- USDA-ARS Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA.
- Department of Entomology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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Zhang W, Sun C, Lang H, Wang J, Li X, Guo J, Zhang Z, Zheng H. Toll receptor ligand Spätzle 4 responses to the highly pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis from Varroa mites in honeybees. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011897. [PMID: 38150483 PMCID: PMC10775982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011897] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees play a major role in crop pollination, which supports the agricultural economy and international food supply. The colony health of honeybees is threatened by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, which inflicts physical injury on the hosts and serves as the vector for variable viruses. Recently, it shows that V. destructor may also transmit bacteria through the feeding wound, yet it remains unclear whether the invading bacteria can exhibit pathogenicity to the honeybees. Here, we incidentally isolate Enterococcus faecalis, one of the most abundant bacteria in Varroa mites, from dead bees during our routine generation of microbiota-free bees in the lab. In vivo tests show that E. faecalis is only pathogenic in Apis mellifera but not in Apis cerana. The expression of antimicrobial peptide genes is elevated following infection in A. cerana. The gene-based molecular evolution analysis identifies positive selection of genes encoding Späetzle 4 (Spz4) in A. cerana, a signaling protein in the Toll pathway. The amino acid sites under positive selection are related to structural changes in Spz4 protein, suggesting improvement of immunity in A. cerana. The knock-down of Spz4 in A. cerana significantly reduces the survival rates under E. faecalis challenge and the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes. Our results indicate that bacteria associated with Varroa mites are pathogenic to adult bees, and the positively selected gene Spz4 in A. cerana is crucial in response to this mite-related pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Zhang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Cheng Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyu Lang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jieni Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zijing Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Lang H, Liu Y, Duan H, Zhang W, Hu X, Zheng H. Identification of peptides from honeybee gut symbionts as potential antimicrobial agents against Melissococcus plutonius. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7650. [PMID: 38001079 PMCID: PMC10673953 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43352-6] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Eusocial pollinators are crucial elements in global agriculture. The honeybees and bumblebees are associated with a simple yet host-restricted gut community, which protect the hosts against pathogen infections. Recent genome mining has led to the discovery of biosynthesis pathways of bioactive natural products mediating microbe-microbe interactions from the gut microbiota. Here, we investigate the diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters in the bee gut microbiota by analyzing 477 genomes from cultivated bacteria and metagenome-assembled genomes. We identify 744 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) covering multiple chemical classes. While gene clusters for the post-translationally modified peptides are widely distributed in the bee guts, the distribution of the BGC classes varies significantly in different bee species among geographic locations, which is attributed to the strain-level variation of bee gut members in the chemical repertoire. Interestingly, we find that Gilliamella strains possessing a thiopeptide-like BGC show potent activity against the pathogenic Melissococcus plutonius. The spectrometry-guided genome mining reveals a RiPP-encoding BGC from Gilliamella with a 10 amino acid-long core peptide exhibiting antibacterial potentials. This study illustrates the widespread small-molecule-encoding BGCs in the bee gut symbionts and provides insights into the bacteria-derived natural products as potential antimicrobial agents against pathogenic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Lang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwen Liu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Huijuan Duan
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosong Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China.
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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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Lazarova S, Lozanova L, Neov B, Shumkova R, Balkanska R, Palova N, Salkova D, Radoslavov G, Hristov P. Composition and diversity of bacterial communities associated with honey bee foragers from two contrasting environments. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 113:693-702. [PMID: 37545319 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485323000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The honey bee is associated with a diverse community of microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists), commonly known as the microbiome. Here, we present data on honey bee microbiota from two localities having different surrounding landscapes - mountain (the Rhodope Mountains) and lowland (the Danube plain). The bacterial communities of abdomen of adult bees were studied using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition and dominance structure and their variability within and between localities, alpha and beta diversity, and core and differential taxa were compared at different hierarchical levels (operational taxonomic units to phylum). Seven genera (Lactobacillus, Gilliamella, Bifidobacterium, Commensalibacter, Bartonella, Snodgrassella, and Frischella), known to include core gut-associated phylotypes or species clusters, dominated (92-100%) the bacterial assemblages. Significant variations were found in taxa distribution across both geographical regions and within each apiary. Lactobacillus (Firmicutes) prevailed significantly in the mountain locality followed by Gilliamella and Bartonella (Proteobacteria). Bacteria of four genera, core (Bartonella and Lactobacillus) and non-core (Pseudomonas and Morganella), dominated the bee-associated assemblages of the Danube plain locality. Several ubiquitous bacterial genera (e.g., Klebsiella, Serratia, and Providencia), some species known also as potential and opportunistic bee pathogens, had been found in the lowland locality. Beta diversity analyses confirmed the observed differences in the bacterial communities from both localities. The occurrence of non-core taxa contributes substantially to higher microbial richness and diversity in bees from the Danube plain locality. We assume that the observed differences in the microbiota of honey bees from both apiaries are due to a combination of factors specific for each region. The surrounding landscape features of both localities and related vegetation, anthropogenic impact and land use intensity, the beekeeping management practices, and bee health status might all contribute to observed differences in bee microbiota traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stela Lazarova
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Lyudmila Lozanova
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Boyko Neov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Rositsa Shumkova
- Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria
| | - Ralitsa Balkanska
- Department 'Special Branches', Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Academy, 2230 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria
| | - Nadezhda Palova
- Scientific Center of Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, Sredets 8300, Bulgaria
| | - Delka Salkova
- Department of Experimental Parasitology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi Radoslavov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Hristov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Tang Q, Li W, Wang Z, Dong Z, Li X, Li J, Huang Q, Cao Z, Gong W, Zhao Y, Wang M, Guo J. Gut microbiome helps honeybee (Apis mellifera) resist the stress of toxic nectar plant (Bidens pilosa) exposure: Evidence for survival and immunity. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2020-2031. [PMID: 37291689 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Honeybee (Apis mellifera) ingestion of toxic nectar plants can threaten their health and survival. However, little is known about how to help honeybees mitigate the effects of toxic nectar plant poisoning. We exposed honeybees to different concentrations of Bidens pilosa flower extracts and found that B. pilosa exposure significantly reduced honeybee survival in a dose-dependent manner. By measuring changes in detoxification and antioxidant enzymes and the gut microbiome, we found that superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and carboxylesterase activities were significantly activated with increasing concentrations of B. pilosa and that different concentrations of B. pilosa exposure changed the structure of the honeybee gut microbiome, causing a significant reduction in the abundance of Bartonella (p < 0.001) and an increase in Lactobacillus. Importantly, by using Germ-Free bees, we found that colonization by the gut microbes Bartonella apis and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (original classification as Lactobacillus kunkeei) significantly increased the resistance of honeybees to B. pilosa and significantly upregulated bee-associated immune genes. These results suggest that honeybee detoxification systems possess a level of resistance to the toxic nectar plant B. pilosa and that the gut microbes B. apis and A. kunkeei may augment resistance to B. pilosa stress by improving host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihe Tang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wanli Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhengwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jinghong, China
| | - Zhixiang Dong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xijie Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jiali Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Qi Huang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhe Cao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Gong
- Yunnan Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture, Kunming, China
| | - Yazhou Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Minzeng Wang
- Beijing Xishan Experimental Forest Farm, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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12
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Meradji M, Bachtarzi N, Mora D, Kharroub K. Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Algerian Honeybee and Honey and Exploration of Their Potential Probiotic and Functional Features for Human Use. Foods 2023; 12:2312. [PMID: 37372522 DOI: 10.3390/foods12122312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Using culture enrichment methods, 100 strains of bacilli of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from honeybee Apis mellifera intermissa and fresh honey, collected from apiaries located in the north-east of Algeria. Amongst all of the isolated LAB, 19 selected strains were closely affiliated to four species-Fructobacillus fructosus (10), Apilactobacillus kunkeei (5), Lactobacillus kimbladii and/or Lactobacillus kullabergensis (4)-using phylogenetic and phenotypic approaches. The in vitro probiotic characteristics (simulated gastrointestinal fluids tolerance, autoaggregation and hydrophobicity abilities, antimicrobial activity and cholesterol reduction) and safety properties (hemolytic activity, antibiotic resistance and absence of biogenic amines) were evaluated. The results indicated that some strains showed promising potential probiotic properties. In addition, neither hemolytic activity nor biogenic amines were produced. The carbohydrate fermentation test (API 50 CHL) revealed that the strains could efficiently use a broad range of carbohydrates; additionally, four strains belonging to Apilactobacillus kunkeei and Fructobacillus fructosus were found to be exopolysaccharides (EPS) producers. This study demonstrates the honeybee Apis mellifera intermissa and one of her products as a reservoir for novel LAB with potential probiotic features, suggesting suitability for promoting host health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Meradji
- Laboratoire de Recherche Biotechnologie et Qualité des Aliments (BIOQUAL), Institut de la Nutrition, de l'Alimentation et des Technologies Agro-Alimentaires (INATAA), Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (UFMC1), Route de Ain El Bey, Constantine 25000, Algeria
| | - Nadia Bachtarzi
- Laboratoire de Recherche Biotechnologie et Qualité des Aliments (BIOQUAL), Institut de la Nutrition, de l'Alimentation et des Technologies Agro-Alimentaires (INATAA), Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (UFMC1), Route de Ain El Bey, Constantine 25000, Algeria
| | - Diego Mora
- Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Karima Kharroub
- Laboratoire de Recherche Biotechnologie et Qualité des Aliments (BIOQUAL), Institut de la Nutrition, de l'Alimentation et des Technologies Agro-Alimentaires (INATAA), Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (UFMC1), Route de Ain El Bey, Constantine 25000, Algeria
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13
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Truong AT, Kang JE, Yoo MS, Nguyen TT, Youn SY, Yoon SS, Cho YS. Probiotic candidates for controlling Paenibacillus larvae, a causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honey bee. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:150. [PMID: 37226109 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02902-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND American foulbrood (AFB) disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae is dangerous, and threatens beekeeping. The eco-friendly treatment method using probiotics is expected to be the prospective method for controlling this pathogen in honey bees. Therefore, this study investigated the bacterial species that have antimicrobial activity against P. larvae. RESULTS Overall, 67 strains of the gut microbiome were isolated and identified in three phyla; the isolates had the following prevalence rates: Firmicutes 41/67 (61.19%), Actinobacteria 24/67 (35.82%), and Proteobacteria 2/67 (2.99%). Antimicrobial properties against P. larvae on agar plates were seen in 20 isolates of the genus Lactobacillus, Firmicutes phylum. Six representative strains from each species (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, L. melliventris HSY3_B5, L. kimbladii AHS3_B36, L. kullabergensis OMG2_B25, and L. mellis OMG2_B33) with the largest inhibition zones on agar plates were selected for in vitro larvae rearing challenges. The results showed that three isolates (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, and L. melliventris HSY3_B5) had the potential to be probiotic candidates with the properties of safety to larvae, inhibition against P. larvae in infected larvae, and high adhesion ability. CONCLUSIONS Overall, 20 strains of the genus Lactobacillus with antimicrobial properties against P. larvae were identified in this study. Three representative strains from different species (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, and L. melliventris HSY3_B5) were evaluated to be potential probiotic candidates and were selected for probiotic development for the prevention of AFB. Importantly, the species L. panisapium isolated from larvae was identified with antimicrobial activity for the first time in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Tai Truong
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen, 250000, Vietnam
| | - Jeong Eun Kang
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yoo
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Thi Thu Nguyen
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Youn Youn
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Seek Yoon
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Parasitic and InParasitic and Honey Bee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Almeida EL, Ribiere C, Frei W, Kenny D, Coffey MF, O'Toole PW. Geographical and Seasonal Analysis of the Honeybee Microbiome. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:765-778. [PMID: 35284961 PMCID: PMC9957864 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01986-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously showed that colonies of thriving and non-thriving honeybees co-located in a single geographically isolated apiary harboured strikingly different microbiomes when sampled at a single time point in the honey season. Here, we profiled the microbiome in returning forager bees from 10 to 12 hives in each of 6 apiaries across the southern half of Ireland, at early, middle, and late time points in the 2019 honey production season. Despite the wide range of geographical locations and forage available, apiary site was not the strongest determinant of the honeybee microbiome. However, there was clear clustering of the honeybee microbiome by time point across all apiaries, independent of which apiary was sampled. The clustering of microbiome by time was weaker although still significant in three of the apiaries, which may be connected to their geographic location and other external factors. The potential forage effect was strongest at the second timepoint (June-July) when the apiaries also displayed greatest difference in microbiome diversity. We identified bacteria in the forager bee microbiome that correlated with hive health as measured by counts of larvae, bees, and honey production. These findings support the hypothesis that the global honeybee microbiome and its constituent species support thriving hives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo L Almeida
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Celine Ribiere
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Werner Frei
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Denis Kenny
- Keeling's Farm, Food Central, St. Margaret's, Co. Dublin, K67 YC83, Ireland
| | - Mary F Coffey
- Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine, Backweston Campus, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, W23 X3PH, Ireland
| | - Paul W O'Toole
- School of Microbiology and APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 K8AF, Ireland.
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15
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Erban T, Sopko B, Bodrinova M, Talacko P, Chalupnikova J, Markovic M, Kamler M. Proteomic insight into the interaction of Paenibacillus larvae with honey bee larvae before capping collected from an American foulbrood outbreak: Pathogen proteins within the host, lysis signatures and interaction markers. Proteomics 2023; 23:e2200146. [PMID: 35946602 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202200146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
American foulbrood (AFB) is a devastating disease of honey bees. There remains a gap in the understanding of the interactions between the causative agent and host, so we used shotgun proteomics to gain new insights. Nano-LC-MS/MS analysis preceded visual description and Paenibacillus larvae identification in the same individual sample. A further critical part of our methodology was that larvae before capping were used as the model stage. The identification of the virulence factors SplA, PlCBP49, enolase, and DnaK in all P. larvae-positive samples was consistent with previous studies. Furthermore, the results were consistent with the array of virulence factors identified in an in vitro study of P. larvae exoprotein fractions. Although an S-layer protein and a putative bacteriocin were highlighted as important, the microbial collagenase ColA and InhA were not found in our samples. The most important virulence factor identified was isoform of neutral metalloproteinase (UniProt: V9WB82), a major protein marker responsible for the shift in the PCA biplot. This protein is associated with larval decay and together with other virulence factors (bacteriocin) can play a key role in protection against secondary invaders. Overall, this study provides new knowledge on host-pathogen interactions and a new methodical approach to study the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Erban
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bruno Sopko
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Miroslava Bodrinova
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pavel Talacko
- Proteomics Core Facility, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Julie Chalupnikova
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Markovic
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Laboratory, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Kamler
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Libcice nad Vltavou, Czechia
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16
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Gorrochategui-Ortega J, Muñoz-Colmenero M, Kovačić M, Filipi J, Puškadija Z, Kezić N, Parejo M, Büchler R, Estonba A, Zarraonaindia I. A short exposure to a semi-natural habitat alleviates the honey bee hive microbial imbalance caused by agricultural stress. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18832. [PMID: 36336704 PMCID: PMC9637708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23287-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee health and the species' gut microbiota are interconnected. Also noteworthy are the multiple niches present within hives, each with distinct microbiotas and all coexisting, which we termed "apibiome". External stressors (e.g. anthropization) can compromise microbial balance and bee resilience. We hypothesised that (1) the bacterial communities of hives located in areas with different degrees of anthropization differ in composition, and (2) due to interactions between the multiple microbiomes within the apibiome, changes in the community of a niche would impact the bacteria present in other hive sections. We characterised the bacterial consortia of different niches (bee gut, bee bread, hive entrance and internal hive air) of 43 hives from 3 different environments (agricultural, semi-natural and natural) through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Agricultural samples presented lower community evenness, depletion of beneficial bacteria, and increased recruitment of stress related pathways (predicted via PICRUSt2). The taxonomic and functional composition of gut and hive entrance followed an environmental gradient. Arsenophonus emerged as a possible indicator of anthropization, gradually decreasing in abundance from agriculture to the natural environment in multiple niches. Importantly, after 16 days of exposure to a semi-natural landscape hives showed intermediate profiles, suggesting alleviation of microbial dysbiosis through reduction of anthropization.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Gorrochategui-Ortega
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Marta Muñoz-Colmenero
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain ,grid.419099.c0000 0001 1945 7711Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC)/Institute of Marine Research, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Pontevedra Spain
| | - Marin Kovačić
- grid.412680.90000 0001 1015 399XFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, V.Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Janja Filipi
- grid.424739.f0000 0001 2159 1688Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture, University of Zadar, Trg Kneza Višeslava 9, 23000 Zadar, Croatia
| | - Zlatko Puškadija
- grid.412680.90000 0001 1015 399XFaculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, V.Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Nikola Kezić
- grid.4808.40000 0001 0657 4636Department of Fisheries, Apiculture and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Melanie Parejo
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Ralph Büchler
- grid.506460.10000 0004 4679 6788Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen (LLH), Bieneninstitut, Erlenstraße 9, 35274 Kirchhain, Germany
| | - Andone Estonba
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Iratxe Zarraonaindia
- grid.11480.3c0000000121671098Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain ,grid.424810.b0000 0004 0467 2314IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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17
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Lanh PT, Duong BTT, Thu HT, Hoa NT, Yoo MS, Cho YS, Quyen DV. The Gut Microbiota at Different Developmental Stages of Apis cerana Reveals Potential Probiotic Bacteria for Improving Honeybee Health. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1938. [PMID: 36296213 PMCID: PMC9607016 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Honeybees play a vital role in the ecological environment and agricultural economy. Increasing evidence shows that the gut microbiome greatly influences the host's health. Therefore, a thorough understanding of gut bacteria composition can lead to the development of probiotics specific for each development stage of honeybees. In this study, the gut microbiota at different developmental stages (larvae, pupae, and adults) of the honeybees Apis cerana in Hanoi, Vietnam, was assessed by sequencing the V3-V4 region in the 16S rRNA gene using the Illumina Miseq platform. The results indicated that the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota varied over the investigated stages of A. cenara. All three bee groups showed relative abundance at both phylum and family levels. In larvae, Firmicutes were the most predominant (81.55%); however, they decreased significantly along with the bee development (33.7% in pupae and 10.3% in adults) in favor of Proteobacteria. In the gut of adult bees, four of five core bacteria were found, including Gilliamella apicola group (34.01%) Bifidobacterium asteroides group (10.3%), Lactobacillus Firm-4 (2%), and Lactobacillus Firm-5 (1%). In contrast, pupae and larvae lacked almost all core bacteria except G. apicola (4.13%) in pupae and Lactobacillus Firm-5 (4.04%) in larvae. This is the first report on the gut microbiota community at different developmental stages of A. cerana in Vietnam and provides potential probiotic species for beekeeping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pham Thi Lanh
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
- University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
| | - Bui Thi Thuy Duong
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
| | - Ha Thi Thu
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thi Hoa
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
| | - Mi Sun Yoo
- Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeksin 8-ro, Gimcheon-si 39660, Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 177 Hyeksin 8-ro, Gimcheon-si 39660, Korea
| | - Dong Van Quyen
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
- University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi 11307, Vietnam
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18
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Su Q, Tang M, Hu J, Tang J, Zhang X, Li X, Niu Q, Zhou X, Luo S, Zhou X. Significant compositional and functional variation reveals the patterns of gut microbiota evolution among the widespread Asian honeybee populations. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:934459. [PMID: 36118209 PMCID: PMC9478171 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.934459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is a crucial element that facilitates a host’s adaptation to a changing environment. Compared to the western honeybee Apis mellifera, the Asian honeybee, Apis cerana populations across its natural range remain mostly semi-feral and are less affected by bee management, which provides a good system to investigate how gut microbiota evolve under environmental heterogeneity on large geographic scales. We compared and analyzed the gut microbiomes of 99 Asian honeybees, from genetically diverged populations covering 13 provinces across China. Bacterial composition varied significantly across populations at phylotype, sequence-discrete population (SDP), and strain levels, but with extensive overlaps, indicating that the diversity of microbial community among A. cerana populations is driven by nestedness. Pollen diets were significantly correlated with both the composition and function of the gut microbiome. Core bacteria, Gilliamella and Lactobacillus Firm-5, showed antagonistic turnovers and contributed to the enrichment in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. By feeding and inoculation bioassays, we confirmed that the variations in pollen polysaccharide composition contributed to the trade-off of these core bacteria. Progressive change, i.e., nestedness, is the foundation of gut microbiome evolution among the Asian honeybee. Such a transition during the co-diversification of gut microbiomes is affected by environmental factors, diets in general, and pollen polysaccharides in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinzhi Su
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Tang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Hu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - 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
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xingan Li
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin, China
| | - Qingsheng Niu
- Key Laboratory for Bee Genetics and Breeding, Jilin Provincial Institute of Apicultural Sciences, Jilin, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Shiqi Luo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shiqi Luo,
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Xin Zhou,
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19
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Yun BR, Truong AT, Choi YS, Lee MY, Kim BY, Seo M, Yoon SS, Yoo MS, Van Quyen D, Cho YS. Comparison of the gut microbiome of sacbrood virus-resistant and -susceptible Apis cerana from South Korea. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10010. [PMID: 35705585 PMCID: PMC9200864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13535-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are important pollinators for the conservation of the ecosystem and agricultural products and provide a variety of products important for human use, such as honey, pollen, and royal jelly. Sacbrood disease (SD) is a devastating viral disease in Apis cerana; an effective preventive measure for SD is urgently needed. In this study, the relationship between the gut microbiome of honey bees and SD was investigated by pyrosequencing. Results revealed that sacbrood virus (SBV)-resistant A. cerana strains harbour a unique acetic acid bacterium, Bombella intestini, and the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus (unclassified)_uc, Bifidobacterium longum, B. catenulatum, Lactococcus lactis, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides in larvae and Hafnia alvei, B. indicum, and the LAB L. mellifer and Lactobacillus HM215046_s in adult bees. Changes in the gut microbiome due to SBV infection resulted in loss of bacteria that could affect host nutrients and inhibit honey bee pathogens, such as Gilliamella JFON_s, Gilliamella_uc, Pseudomonas putida, and L. kunkeei in A. cerana larvae and Frischella_uc, Pantoea agglomerans, Snodgrassella_uc, and B. asteroides in adult bees. These findings provide important information for the selection of probiotics for A. cerana larvae and adults to prevent pathogenic infections and keep honey bees healthy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Ram Yun
- Parasitic and Insect Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.,Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, 28159, Republic of Korea.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Tai Truong
- Parasitic and Insect Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.,Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen, 250000, Vietnam
| | - Yong Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Man Young Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Wanju, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Minjung Seo
- ChunLab Inc., Seoul, 06194, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Seek Yoon
- Parasitic and Insect Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yoo
- Parasitic and Insect Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong Van Quyen
- University of Science and Technology of Ha Noi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Parasitic and Insect Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, 39660, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Yordanova M, Evison SEF, Gill RJ, Graystock P. The threat of pesticide and disease co-exposure to managed and wild bee larvae. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 17:319-326. [PMID: 35342713 PMCID: PMC8943340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Brood diseases and pesticides can reduce the survival of bee larvae, reduce bee populations, and negatively influence ecosystem biodiversity. However, major gaps persist in our knowledge regarding the routes and implications of co-exposure to these stressors in managed and wild bee brood. In this review, we evaluate the likelihood for co-exposure to brood pathogen and pesticide stressors by examining the routes of potential co-exposure and the possibility for pollen and nectar contaminated with pathogens and pesticides to become integrated into brood food. Furthermore, we highlight ways in which pesticides may increase brood disease morbidity directly, through manipulating host immunity, and indirectly through disrupting microbial communities in the guts of larvae, or compromising brood care provided by adult bees. Lastly, we quantify the brood research bias towards Apis species and discuss the implications the bias has on brood disease and pesticide risk assessment in wild bee communities. We advise that future studies should place a higher emphasis on evaluating bee brood afflictions and their interactions with commonly encountered stressors, especially in wild bee species. Brood exposure to pathogens and pesticides may occur frequently and in combination during the consumption of pollen and nectar. Brood pathogen virulence can be directly increased due to pesticide-mediated manipulation of larvae immune responses. Pesticides may indirectly increase brood disease morbidity by affecting larval gut microbial compositionand adult bee health. Research bias towards Apis species skews our understanding and management of brood disease and pesticide risks in wild bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Yordanova
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Sophie E F Evison
- School of Life Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Gill
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Peter Graystock
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
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21
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Mráz P, Hýbl M, Kopecký M, Bohatá A, Hoštičková I, Šipoš J, Vočadlová K, Čurn V. Screening of Honey Bee Pathogens in the Czech Republic and Their Prevalence in Various Habitats. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121051. [PMID: 34940139 PMCID: PMC8706798 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is one of the most important pollinators in the world. Thus, a recent honey bee health decline and frequent honey bee mass losses have drawn attention and concern. Honey bee fitness is primarily reduced by pathogens, parasites, and viral load, exposure to pesticides and their residues, and inadequate nutrition from both the quality and amount of food resources. This study evaluated the prevalence of the most common honey bee pathogens and viruses in different habitats across the Czech Republic. The agroecosystems, urban ecosystems, and national park were chosen for sampling from 250 colonies in 50 apiaries. Surprisingly, the most prevalent honey bee pathogens belong to the family Trypanosomatidae including Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae. As expected, the most prevalent viruses were DWV, followed by ABPV. Additionally, the occurrence of DWV-B and DWV-C were correlated with honey bee colony mortality. From the habitat point of view, most pathogens occurred in the town habitat, less in the agroecosystem and least in the national park. The opposite trend was observed in the occurrence of viruses. However, the prevalence of viruses was not affected by habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Mráz
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marian Hýbl
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
| | - Marek Kopecký
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
| | - Andrea Bohatá
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
| | - Irena Hoštičková
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
| | - Jan Šipoš
- Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic;
| | - Kateřina Vočadlová
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
| | - Vladislav Čurn
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Studentska 1668, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; (M.H.); (M.K.); (A.B.); (I.H.); (K.V.); (V.Č.)
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22
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Milbrath MO, Fowler PD, Abban SK, Lopez D, Evans JD. Validation of Diagnostic Methods for European Foulbrood on Commercial Honey Bee Colonies in the United States. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2021; 21:6414648. [PMID: 34723329 PMCID: PMC8559156 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieab075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the most serious bacterial pathogens of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) is Melissococcus plutonius, the cause of the disease European foulbrood. Because European foulbrood is highly variable, with diverse outcomes at both the individual and colony levels, it is difficult to diagnose through visual inspection alone. Common lab diagnostic techniques include microscopic examination and molecular detection through PCR. In 2009, a lateral flow device was developed and validated for field diagnosis of European foulbrood. At the time, M. plutonius was thought to be genetically homogenous, but we have subsequently learned that this bacterium exists as multiple strains, including some strains that are classified as 'atypical' for which the lateral flow device is potentially less effective. These devices are increasingly used in the United States, though they have never been validated using strains from North America. It is essential to validate this device in multiple locations as different strains of M. plutonius circulate in different geographical regions. In this study, we validate the field use of the lateral flow device compared to microscopic examination and qPCR on larval samples from 78 commercial honey bee colonies in the United States with visual signs of infection. In this study, microscopic diagnosis was more sensitive than the lateral flow device (sensitivity = 97.40% and 89.47%, respectively), and we found no false positive results with the lateral flow device. We find high concurrence between the three diagnostic techniques, and all three methods are highly sensitive for diagnosing European foulbrood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan O’Grady Milbrath
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 4090 N. College Road, Pollinator Performance Center, RM 100, Lansing, MI 48910, USA
| | - Peter Daniel Fowler
- Department of Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology, Veterinary Medical Center, Michigan State University, 784 Wilson Road, Room G100, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Samuel K Abban
- Bee Research Laboratory, USDA–Agricultural Research Service, B306 BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Dawn Lopez
- Bee Research Laboratory, USDA–Agricultural Research Service, B306 BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, USDA–Agricultural Research Service, B306 BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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23
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Leska A, Nowak A, Nowak I, Górczyńska A. Effects of Insecticides and Microbiological Contaminants on Apis mellifera Health. Molecules 2021; 26:5080. [PMID: 34443668 PMCID: PMC8398688 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, there has been an alarming decline in the number of honey bee colonies. This phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Bee products play a significant role in human life and have a huge impact on agriculture, therefore bees are an economically important species. Honey has found its healing application in various sectors of human life, as well as other bee products such as royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen. There are many putative factors of CCD, such as air pollution, GMO, viruses, or predators (such as wasps and hornets). It is, however, believed that pesticides and microorganisms play a huge role in the mass extinction of bee colonies. Insecticides are chemicals that are dangerous to both humans and the environment. They can cause enormous damage to bees' nervous system and permanently weaken their immune system, making them vulnerable to other factors. Some of the insecticides that negatively affect bees are, for example, neonicotinoids, coumaphos, and chlorpyrifos. Microorganisms can cause various diseases in bees, weakening the health of the colony and often resulting in its extinction. Infection with microorganisms may result in the need to dispose of the entire hive to prevent the spread of pathogens to other hives. Many aspects of the impact of pesticides and microorganisms on bees are still unclear. The need to deepen knowledge in this matter is crucial, bearing in mind how important these animals are for human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Leska
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Adriana Nowak
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Nowak
- Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 8/12, 90-232 Lodz, Poland; (I.N.); (A.G.)
| | - Anna Górczyńska
- Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego 8/12, 90-232 Lodz, Poland; (I.N.); (A.G.)
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24
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Abstract
Fungal pathogens, among other stressors, negatively impact the productivity and population size of honey bees, one of our most important pollinators (1, 2), in particular their brood (larvae and pupae) (3, 4). Understanding the factors that influence disease incidence and prevalence in brood may help us improve colony health and productivity. Here, we examined the capacity of a honey bee-associated bacterium, Bombella apis, to suppress the growth of fungal pathogens and ultimately protect bee brood from infection. Our results showed that strains of B. apis inhibit the growth of two insect fungal pathogens, Beauveria bassiana and Aspergillus flavus, in vitro. This phenotype was recapitulated in vivo; bee broods supplemented with B. apis were significantly less likely to be infected by A. flavus. Additionally, the presence of B. apis reduced sporulation of A. flavus in the few bees that were infected. Analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters across B. apis strains suggest antifungal candidates, including a type 1 polyketide, terpene, and aryl polyene. Secreted metabolites from B. apis alone were sufficient to suppress fungal growth, supporting the hypothesis that fungal inhibition is mediated by an antifungal metabolite. Together, these data suggest that B. apis can suppress fungal infections in bee brood via secretion of an antifungal metabolite.
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25
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Mogren CL, Shikano I. Microbiota, pathogens, and parasites as mediators of tritrophic interactions between insect herbivores, plants, and pollinators. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107589. [PMID: 33865846 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Insect-associated microbes, including pathogens, parasites, and symbionts, influence the interactions of herbivorous insects and pollinators with their host plants. Moreover, herbivory-induced changes in plant resource allocation and defensive chemistry can influence pollinator behavior. This suggests that the outcomes of interactions between herbivores, their microbes and host plants could have implications for pollinators. As epizootic diseases occur at high population densities, pathogen and parasite-mediated effects on plants could have landscape-level impacts on foraging pollinators. The goal of this minireview is to highlight the potential for an herbivore's multitrophic interactions to trigger plant-mediated effects on the immunity and health of pollinators. We highlight the importance of plant quality and gut microbiomes in bee health, and how caterpillars as model herbivores interact with pathogens, parasites, and symbionts to affect plant quality, which forms the centerpiece of multitrophic interactions between herbivores and pollinators. We also discuss the impacts of other herbivore-associated factors, such as agricultural inputs aimed at decreasing herbivorous pests, on pollinator microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Mogren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore Hall 310, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Ikkei Shikano
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore Hall 310, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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26
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Biová J, Charrière JD, Dostálková S, Škrabišová M, Petřivalský M, Bzdil J, Danihlík J. Melissococcus plutonius Can Be Effectively and Economically Detected Using Hive Debris and Conventional PCR. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020150. [PMID: 33572468 PMCID: PMC7916248 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
European foulbrood (EFB) is an infectious disease of honey bees caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. A method for DNA isolation and conventional PCR diagnosis was developed using hive debris, which was non-invasively collected on paper sheets placed on the bottom boards of hives. Field trials utilized 23 honey bee colonies with clinically positive symptoms and 21 colonies without symptoms. Bayes statistics were applied to calculate the comparable parameters for EFB diagnostics when using honey, hive debris, or samples of adult bees. The reliability of the conventional PCR was 100% at 6.7 × 103 Colony Forming Unit of M. plutonius in 1 g of debris. The sensitivity of the method for the sampled honey, hive debris, and adult bees was 0.867, 0.714, and 1.000, respectively. The specificity for the tested matrices was 0.842, 0.800, and 0.833. The predictive values for the positive tests from selected populations with 52% prevalence were 0.813, 0.833, and 0.842, and the real accuracies were 0.853, 0.750, and 0.912, for the honey, hive debris, and adult bees, respectively. It was concluded that hive debris can effectively be utilized to non-invasively monitor EFB in honey bee colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Biová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.B.); (S.D.); (M.Š.); (M.P.)
| | - Jean-Daniel Charrière
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, Schwarzenburgstraße 161, 3003 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Silvie Dostálková
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.B.); (S.D.); (M.Š.); (M.P.)
| | - Mária Škrabišová
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.B.); (S.D.); (M.Š.); (M.P.)
| | - Marek Petřivalský
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.B.); (S.D.); (M.Š.); (M.P.)
| | - Jaroslav Bzdil
- State Veterinary Institute, Jakoubka ze Stříbra 1, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiří Danihlík
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (J.B.); (S.D.); (M.Š.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +42-05-8563-4928
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27
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Grossar D, Kilchenmann V, Forsgren E, Charrière JD, Gauthier L, Chapuisat M, Dietemann V. Putative determinants of virulence in Melissococcus plutonius, the bacterial agent causing European foulbrood in honey bees. Virulence 2021; 11:554-567. [PMID: 32456539 PMCID: PMC7567439 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1768338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Melissococcus plutonius is a bacterial pathogen that causes epidemic outbreaks of European foulbrood (EFB) in honey bee populations. The pathogenicity of a bacterium depends on its virulence, and understanding the mechanisms influencing virulence may allow for improved disease control and containment. Using a standardized in vitro assay, we demonstrate that virulence varies greatly among sixteen M. plutonius isolates from five European countries. Additionally, we explore the causes of this variation. In this study, virulence was independent of the multilocus sequence type of the tested pathogen, and was not affected by experimental co-infection with Paenibacillus alvei, a bacterium often associated with EFB outbreaks. Virulence in vitro was correlated with the growth dynamics of M. plutonius isolates in artificial medium, and with the presence of a plasmid carrying a gene coding for the putative toxin melissotoxin A. Our results suggest that some M. plutonius strains showed an increased virulence due to the acquisition of a toxin-carrying mobile genetic element. We discuss whether strains with increased virulence play a role in recent EFB outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Grossar
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne , Lausanne, Switzerland.,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre , Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Eva Forsgren
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU , Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | - Michel Chapuisat
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne , Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Dietemann
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, University of Lausanne , Lausanne, Switzerland.,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre , Bern, Switzerland
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28
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Tejerina MR, Cabana MJ, Benitez-Ahrendts MR. Strains of Lactobacillus spp. reduce chalkbrood in Apis mellifera. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 178:107521. [PMID: 33347864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Beekeeping activities have increased recently in Argentina, a country that is a major consumer of honey and other products from hives. With the advancement of monoculture areas in Argentina and worldwide, beekeepers move from one area to another in search of floral resources, thus spreading diseases such as chalkbrood, caused by the fungus Ascosphaera apis. Although there are few effective antifungals for the control of chalkbrood, different natural products have been investigated in recent years. Current research is focusing on the intestinal microbiota for the prevention of different pathogens and parasites. In this work, we analyzed the in vivo probiotic effect of three lactic acid bacteria (genus Lactobacillus spp.) isolated from pollen bread from apiaries of Jujuy province on A. apis strains from Spanish and Argentine provinces. Special hives were made for the assays, and a protective effect was observed in larvae of bees fed lactic acid bacteria added to sugar syrup at 105 CFU/mL concentrations, administered from May to September in two consecutive years. The results showed that the three lactic acid bacteria reduced larval mummification by percentages greater than 80%. Therefore, this work brings a first approximation of the in vivo probiotic effect of lactic bacteria against A. apis.
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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
| | - Marcelo Rafael Benitez-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
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29
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Bridges CM, Gage DJ. Development and application of aerobic, chemically defined media for Dysgonomonas. Anaerobe 2020; 67:102302. [PMID: 33271360 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Members of Dysgonomonas are Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic coccobacilli originally described in relation to their isolation from stool and wounds of human patients (CDC group DF-3). More recently, Dysgonomonas have been found to be widely distributed in terrestrial environments and are particularly enriched in insect systems. Their prevalence in xylophagous insects such as termites and wood-feeding cockroaches, as well as in soil-fed microbial fuel cells, elicit interest in lignocellulose degradation and biofuel production, respectively. Their occurrence in mosquito and fruit fly have implications relating to symbiosis, host immunology and developmental biology. Additionally, their presence in termite, mosquito and nematode present novel opportunities for pest and vector control. Currently, the absolute growth requirements of Dysgonomonas are unknown, and they are commonly cultured under anaerobic conditions on complex media containing blood, peptones, tryptones, and yeast, plant or meat extracts. Restrictive and undefined culturing conditions preclude physiological and genetic studies, and thus further understanding of their metabolic potential. Here we describe the requirements for growth of termite-derived Dysgonomonas isolates and create parallel complex, defined and minimal media that permit vigorous and reliable aerobic growth. Furthermore, we show that these media can be used to easily enrich for Dysgonomonas isolates from densely-colonized and microbially-diverse environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles M Bridges
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Daniel J Gage
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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Microbial Ecology of European Foul Brood Disease in the Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera): Towards a Microbiome Understanding of Disease Susceptibility. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11090555. [PMID: 32825355 PMCID: PMC7565670 DOI: 10.3390/insects11090555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Honey bees are vital to the agriculture of the world, but like all managed organisms, disease control has become challenging due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Alternate solutions with potential to control disease include natural compounds and probiotic supplements. Probiotic supplements in honey bees have been praised by industry, but studies applying probiotics to honey bee larval disease are lacking and technically challenging. In this study we tested the effectiveness of a demonstrated probiotic (Parasacharribacter apium strain C6) to mitigate a damaging larval disease called European Foul Brood (EFB). Based on a controlled laboratory study and two separate trials, the probiotic had no effect on EFB disease. The control groups performed as expected, validating the very sensitive lab procedure used to artificially rear honey bee larvae. Surprisingly, the probiotic provided no survival benefit to larvae in the absence of disease, contradicting past results. We discuss the difficult technique of larval rearing in the laboratory with reference to an improved experimental design introducing disease agents and potential remedies. In summary, our findings indicate that the representation of honey bee health and disease in the laboratory setting requires repeatable validation with reference to rigorous control and natural colony context. Abstract European honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) are beneficial insects that provide essential pollination services for agriculture and ecosystems worldwide. Modern commercial beekeeping is plagued by a variety of pathogenic and environmental stressors often confounding attempts to understand colony loss. European foulbrood (EFB) is considered a larval-specific disease whose causative agent, Melissococcus plutonius, has received limited attention due to methodological challenges in the field and laboratory. Here, we improve the experimental and informational context of larval disease with the end goal of developing an EFB management strategy. We sequenced the bacterial microbiota associated with larval disease transmission, isolated a variety of M.plutonius strains, determined their virulence against larvae in vitro, and explored the potential for probiotic treatment of EFB disease. The larval microbiota was a low diversity environment similar to honey, while worker mouthparts and stored pollen contained significantly greater bacterial diversity. Virulence of M. plutonius against larvae varied markedly by strain and inoculant concentration. Our chosen probiotic, Parasaccharibacter apium strain C6, did not improve larval survival when introduced alone, or in combination with a virulent EFB strain. We discuss the importance of positive and negative controls for in vitro studies of the larval microbiome and disease.
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Huang Q, Evans JD. Targeting the honey bee gut parasite Nosema ceranae with siRNA positively affects gut bacteria. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:258. [PMID: 32807095 PMCID: PMC7433167 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01939-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gut microbial communities can contribute positively and negatively to host health. So far, eight core bacterial taxonomic clusters have been reported in honey bees. These bacteria are involved in host metabolism and defenses. Nosema ceranae is a gut intracellular parasite of honey bees which destroys epithelial cells and gut tissue integrity. Studies have shown protective impacts of honey bee gut microbiota towards N. ceranae infection. However, the impacts of N. ceranae on the relative abundance of honey bee gut microbiota remains unclear, and has been confounded during prior infection assays which resulted in the co-inoculation of bacteria during Nosema challenges. We used a novel method, the suppression of N. ceranae with specific siRNAs, to measure the impacts of Nosema on the gut microbiome. RESULTS Suppressing N. ceranae led to significant positive effects on microbial abundance. Nevertheless, 15 bacterial taxa, including three core taxa, were negatively correlated with N. ceranae levels. In particular, one co-regulated group of 7 bacteria was significantly negatively correlated with N. ceranae levels. CONCLUSIONS N. ceranae are negatively correlated with the abundance of 15 identified bacteria. Our results provide insights into interactions between gut microbes and N. ceranae during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue 1101, Nanchang, 330045, China.
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, BARC-East Building 306, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
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Lamei S, Stephan JG, Nilson B, Sieuwerts S, Riesbeck K, de Miranda JR, Forsgren E. Feeding Honeybee Colonies with Honeybee-Specific Lactic Acid Bacteria (Hbs-LAB) Does Not Affect Colony-Level Hbs-LAB Composition or Paenibacillus larvae Spore Levels, Although American Foulbrood Affected Colonies Harbor a More Diverse Hbs-LAB Community. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2020; 79:743-755. [PMID: 31506760 PMCID: PMC7176604 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01434-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The main current methods for controlling American Foulbrood (AFB) in honeybees, caused by the bacterial pathogen Paenibacillus larvae, are enforced incineration or prophylactic antibiotic treatment, neither of which is fully satisfactory. This has led to an increased interest in the natural relationships between the pathogenic and mutualistic microorganisms of the honeybee microbiome, in particular, the antagonistic effects of Honeybee-Specific Lactic Acid Bacteria (hbs-LAB) against P. larvae. We investigated whether supplemental administration of these bacteria affected P. larvae infection at colony level over an entire flowering season. Over the season, the supplements affected neither colony-level hbs-LAB composition nor naturally subclinical or clinical P. larvae spore levels. The composition of hbs-LAB in colonies was, however, more diverse in apiaries with a history of clinical AFB, although this was also unrelated to P. larvae spore levels. During the experiments, we also showed that qPCR could detect a wider range of hbs-LAB, with higher specificity and sensitivity than mass spectrometry. Honeybee colonies are complex super-organisms where social immune defenses, natural homeostatic mechanisms, and microbiome diversity and function play a major role in disease resistance. This means that observations made at the individual bee level cannot be simply extrapolated to infer similar effects at colony level. Although individual laboratory larval assays have clearly demonstrated the antagonistic effects of hbs-LAB on P. larvae infection, the results from the experiments presented here indicate that direct conversion of such practice to colony-level administration of live hbs-LAB is not effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Lamei
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Jörg G Stephan
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bo Nilson
- Clinical Microbiology, Labmedicine, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Kristian Riesbeck
- Clinical Microbiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva Forsgren
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Rouzé R, Moné A, Delbac F, Belzunces L, Blot N. The Honeybee Gut Microbiota Is Altered after Chronic Exposure to Different Families of Insecticides and Infection by Nosema ceranae. Microbes Environ 2019; 34:226-233. [PMID: 31378758 PMCID: PMC6759349 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me18169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut of the European honeybee Apis mellifera is the site of exposure to multiple stressors, such as pathogens and ingested chemicals. Therefore, the gut microbiota, which contributes to host homeostasis, may be altered by these stressors. The abundance of major bacterial taxa in the gut was evaluated in response to infection with the intestinal parasite Nosema ceranae or chronic exposure to low doses of the neurotoxic insecticides coumaphos, fipronil, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid. Experiments were performed under laboratory conditions on adult workers collected from hives in February (winter bees) and July (summer bees) and revealed season-dependent changes in the bacterial community composition. N. ceranae and a lethal fipronil treatment increased the relative abundance of both Gilliamella apicola and Snodgrassella alvi in surviving winter honeybees. The parasite and a sublethal exposure to all insecticides decreased the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. regardless of the season. The similar effects induced by insecticides belonging to distinct molecular families suggested a shared and indirect mode of action on the gut microbiota, possibly through aspecific alterations in gut homeostasis. These results demonstrate that infection and chronic exposure to low concentrations of insecticides may affect the honeybee holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Régis Rouzé
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement"
| | - Anne Moné
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement"
| | - Frédéric Delbac
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement"
| | | | - Nicolas Blot
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire "Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement"
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Poláchová V, Pastucha M, Mikušová Z, Mickert MJ, Hlaváček A, Gorris HH, Skládal P, Farka Z. Click-conjugated photon-upconversion nanoparticles in an immunoassay for honeybee pathogen Melissococcus plutonius. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:8343-8351. [PMID: 30984949 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr01246j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
European foulbrood (EFB) is an infectious disease affecting honeybee larvae caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the gold standard for antibody-based bacteria detection, however, its sensitivity is not high enough to reveal early-stage EFB infection. Photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are lanthanide-doped nanomaterials that emit light of shorter wavelength under near-infrared (NIR) excitation and thus avoid optical background interference. After conjugation with specific biorecognition molecules, UCNPs can be used as ultrasensitive labels in immunoassays. Here, we introduce a method for conjugation of UCNPs with streptavidin based on copper-free click chemistry, which involves surface modification of UCNPs with alkyne-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) that prevents the non-specific binding and provides reactive groups for conjugation with streptavidin-azide. To develop a sandwich upconversion-linked immunosorbent assay (ULISA) for M. plutonius detection, we have prepared a rabbit polyclonal anti-Melissococcus antibody. The specific capture of the bacteria was followed by binding of biotinylated antibody and UCNP-BSA-streptavidin conjugate for a highly sensitive upconversion readout. The assay yielded an LOD of 340 CFU mL-1 with a wide working range up to 109 CFU mL-1, which is 400 times better than the LOD of the conventional ELISA. The practical applicability of the ULISA was successfully demonstrated by detecting M. plutonius in spiked real samples of bees, larvae and bottom hive debris. These results show a great potential of the assay for early diagnosis of EFB, which can prevent uncontrolled spreading of the infection and losses of honeybee colonies.
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Filannino P, Di Cagno R, Tlais AZA, Cantatore V, Gobbetti M. Fructose-rich niches traced the evolution of lactic acid bacteria toward fructophilic species. Crit Rev Microbiol 2019; 45:65-81. [PMID: 30663917 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2018.1543649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are found in fructose-rich habitats associated with flowers, fruits, fermented foods, and the gastrointestinal tract of several insects having a fructose-based diet. FLAB are heterofermentative lactobacilli that prefer fructose instead of glucose as carbon source, although additional electron acceptor substrates (e.g. oxygen) remarkably enhance their growth on glucose. As a newly discovered bacterial group, FLAB are gaining increasing interest. In this review, the ecological context in which these bacteria exist and evolve was resumed. The wide frequency of isolation of FLAB from fructose feeding insects has been deepened to reveal their ecological significance. Genomic, metabolic data, reductive evolution, and niche specialization of the main FLAB species have been discussed. Findings to date acquired are consistent with a metabolic model in which FLAB display a reliance on environmental niches and the degree of host specificity. In light of FLAB proximity to lactic acid bacteria generally considered to be safe, and due to their peculiar metabolic traits, FLAB may be successfully exploited in food and pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Filannino
- a Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Cagno
- b Faculty of Science and Technology , Libera Università di Bolzano , Bolzano , Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Cantatore
- a Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science , University of Bari Aldo Moro , Bari , Italy
| | - Marco Gobbetti
- b Faculty of Science and Technology , Libera Università di Bolzano , Bolzano , Italy
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Raymann K, Moran NA. The role of the gut microbiome in health and disease of adult honey bee workers. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 26:97-104. [PMID: 29764668 PMCID: PMC6010230 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The role of the gut microbiome in animal health has become increasingly evident. Unlike most other insects, honey bees possess a highly conserved and specialized core gut microbiome, which consists of nine bacterial species and is acquired mostly through social transmission. Five of these species are ubiquitous in honey bees and are also present in bumble bees. Recent studies have shown that the bee gut microbiome plays a role in metabolism, immune function, growth and development, and protection against pathogens. Disruption of the gut microbiome has also been shown to have detrimental effects on bee health. Overall, evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays an important role in bee health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasie Raymann
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway. NMS 4.216, Stop C0930, Austin, TX 78712, United States
| | - Nancy A Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway. NMS 4.216, Stop C0930, Austin, TX 78712, United States.
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Forsgren E, Locke B, Sircoulomb F, Schäfer MO. Bacterial Diseases in Honeybees. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-018-0083-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Mereghetti V, Chouaia B, Montagna M. New Insights into the Microbiota of Moth Pests. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18112450. [PMID: 29156569 PMCID: PMC5713417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18112450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have helped to improve our understanding of the bacterial communities associated with insects, shedding light on their wide taxonomic and functional diversity. To date, little is known about the microbiota of lepidopterans, which includes some of the most damaging agricultural and forest pests worldwide. Studying their microbiota could help us better understand their ecology and offer insights into developing new pest control strategies. In this paper, we review the literature pertaining to the microbiota of lepidopterans with a focus on pests, and highlight potential recurrent patterns regarding microbiota structure and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Mereghetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Bessem Chouaia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Matteo Montagna
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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Erban T, Ledvinka O, Kamler M, Nesvorna M, Hortova B, Tyl J, Titera D, Markovic M, Hubert J. Honeybee (Apis mellifera)-associated bacterial community affected by American foulbrood: detection of Paenibacillus larvae via microbiome analysis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5084. [PMID: 28698604 PMCID: PMC5506040 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) workers act as passive vectors of Paenibacillus larvae spores, which cause the quarantine disease American foulbrood (AFB). We assessed the relative proportions of P. larvae within the honeybee microbiome using metabarcoding analysis of the 16 S rRNA gene. The microbiome was analyzed in workers outside of the AFB zone (control - AFB0), in workers from asymptomatic colonies in an AFB apiary (AFB1), and in workers from colonies exhibiting clinical AFB symptoms (AFB2). The microbiome was processed for the entire community and for a cut-off microbiome comprising pathogenic/environmental bacteria following the removal of core bacterial sequences; varroosis levels were considered in the statistical analysis. No correlation was observed between AFB status and varroosis level, but AFB influenced the worker bee bacterial community, primarily the pathogenic/environmental bacteria. There was no significant difference in the relative abundance of P. larvae between the AFB1 and AFB0 colonies, but we did observe a 9-fold increase in P. larvae abundance in AFB2 relative to the abundance in AFB1. The relative sequence numbers of Citrobacter freundii and Hafnia alvei were higher in AFB2 and AFB1 than in AFB0, whereas Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Spiroplasma melliferum and Morganella morganii were more abundant in AFB0 and AFB1 than in AFB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Erban
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia.
| | - Ondrej Ledvinka
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia
- Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Na Sabatce 2050/17, Prague 412, CZ-143 06, Czechia
| | - Martin Kamler
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Maslovice-Dol 94, Libcice nad Vltavou, CZ-252 66, Czechia
| | - Marta Nesvorna
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia
| | - Bronislava Hortova
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia
| | - Jan Tyl
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Maslovice-Dol 94, Libcice nad Vltavou, CZ-252 66, Czechia
| | - Dalibor Titera
- Bee Research Institute at Dol, Maslovice-Dol 94, Libcice nad Vltavou, CZ-252 66, Czechia
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague 6-Suchdol, Czechia
| | - Martin Markovic
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia
| | - Jan Hubert
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, CZ-161 06, Czechia
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