Interactions between Cooccurring Lactic Acid Bacteria in Honey Bee Hives

Rokop, Z. P.; Horton, Melissa A.; Newton, Irene L. G.

doi:10.1128/aem.01259-15

Cited by 67 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…To form a complete picture of microbial communication between community members, additional quorum sensing molecules need be examined as well as their effects on gene regulation. We know that the honey bee bacterial community is specific and consistent (in terms of the presence of members), however the proportion of different bacteria within individual bees can vary (16, 19). If these bacterial members are participating in intra-species communication and mediating important behaviors, their relative proportions may impact other community members and potentially host health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, honey bees are more susceptible to pathogens after their microbiome is disrupted by antibiotics, supporting a protective role of the microbiota (5). Although we are just starting to understand the functions of these microbial species, we do know that they interact with each other in vivo (18) and in vitro (19). For example, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella , and Lactobacillus strains together form a biofilm on host tissue in the ileum of honey bees (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella , and Lactobacillus strains together form a biofilm on host tissue in the ileum of honey bees (18). When grown in co-culture, lactic acid bacteria found in the honey bee promote each other’s growth, suggesting a mutualistic or syntrophic interaction (19). However, little is currently known about how the honey bee associated microbes interact with each other and how these interactions impact the host.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Social communication between microbes colonizing the social honey bee Apis mellifera

Miller

Franklin

et al. 2018

Preprint

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5The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a charismatic species that plays a critical role in the 6 pollination of agriculturally important crops and native flora. One emerging field of research is 7 that of the host-associated honey bee microbiome: a group of bacterial phylotypes consistently expression, controlling a number of factors including virulence, biofilm formation, and cell 13 motility. Here, we have investigated the production of a specific quorum sensing molecule by 14 honey bee microbes in vivo and in vitro. We specifically focused on the inter-species signaling 15 molecule, autoinducer-2 (AI-2). We identified the production of AI-2 by both the entire 16 community (using honey bee gut homogenates) and by cultured isolates, using a Vibrio harveyi 17 biosensor. By comparing newly emerged and adult bees, we showed this signal is likely coming 18 from the core microbial community. Finally, using honey bee specific bacterial isolates, we 19 identified changes in biofilm production when isolates are exposed to increased levels of 20 exogenous AI-2. Altogether, these data provide multiple lines of evidence for the presence of 21 quorum sensing inside the honey bee host. The effect of AI-2 on biofilm formation by honey bee 22 specific bacteria identifies one potential avenue for quorum sensing to affect host health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social communication between microbes colonizing the social honey bee Apis mellifera

Miller

Franklin

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…mellifera diet (Lee et al ., ; Wang et al ., ; Zheng et al ., ). The nutritional benefits conferred by the microbiota to their bee host include the degradation of pectin (Engel et al ., ) and lignin (Rokop et al ., ). The breakdown of these two major components of pollen cell walls allows the protein in pollen to be accessed.…”

Section: Functional Contributions To the Honey Bee Hostmentioning

confidence: 97%

The honey bee gut microbiota: strategies for study and characterization

Romero

Nastasa

Chapman

et al. 2019

Insect Molecular Biology

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Gut microbiota research is an emerging field that improves our understanding of the ecological and functional dynamics of gut environments. The honey bee gut microbiota is a highly rewarding community to study, as honey bees are critical pollinators of many crops for human consumption and produce valuable commodities such as honey and wax. Most significantly, unique characteristics of the Apis mellifera gut habitat make it a valuable model system. This review discusses methods and pipelines used in the study of the gut microbiota of Ap. mellifera and closely related species for four main purposes: identifying microbiota taxonomy, characterizing microbiota genomes (microbiome), characterizing microbiota–microbiota interactions and identifying functions of the microbial community in the gut. The purpose of this contribution is to increase understanding of honey bee gut microbiota, to facilitate bee microbiota and microbiome research in general and to aid design of future experiments in this growing field.

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“…However, brood fungal infections in other insects are sometimes inhibited by the presence of bacterial symbionts 14,15,8 . Given that honey bee brood are reared in the presence of a handful of bacterial taxa 16,17 , it is possible these microbes play similar defensive roles. Indeed, worker honey bee pathogen susceptibility correlates with changes in their microbiome composition and abundance 18,19,20,21 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A bacterial symbiont protects honey bees from fungal disease

Miller

Smith

Newton

2020

Preprint

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Fungi are the leading cause of insect disease, contributing to the decline of wild and 25 managed populations 1,2 . For ecologically and economically critical species, such as the 26 European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the presence and prevalence of fungal pathogens can 27 have far reaching consequences, endangering other species and threatening food 28 security 3,4,5 . Our ability to address fungal epidemics and opportunistic infections is 29 currently hampered by the limited number of antifungal therapies 6,7 . Novel antifungal 30 treatments are frequently of bacterial origin and produced by defensive symbionts 31 (bacteria that associate with an animal/plant host and protect against natural enemies 89 . 32 Here we examined the capacity of a honey bee-associated bacterium, Bombella apis, to 33 suppress the growth of fungal pathogens and ultimately protect bee brood (larvae and 34 pupae) from infection. Our results showed that strains of B. apis inhibit the growth of two 35 insect fungal pathogens, Beauveria bassiana and Aspergillus flavus, in vitro. This phenotype 36 was recapitulated in vivo; bee brood supplemented with B. apis were significantly less likely 37 to be infected by A. flavus. Additionally, the presence of B. apis reduced sporulation of A. 38 flavus in the few bees that were infected. Analyses of biosynthetic gene clusters across B. 39 apis strains suggest antifungal production via a Type I polyketide synthase. Secreted 40 metabolites from B. apis alone were sufficient to suppress fungal growth, supporting this 41 hypothesis. Together, these data suggest that B. apis protects bee brood from fungal 42 infection by the secretion of an antifungal metabolite. On the basis of this discovery, new 43 antifungal treatments could be developed to mitigate honey bee colony losses, and, in the 44 future, could address fungal epidemics in other species. 45 Emerging fungal pathogens pose major threats to animal and plant populations 2 . Among 46 insects, fungal pathogens are currently the most common causal agents of disease, and 47 historically have plagued insect hosts for over 300 million years 1,10 . In recent years, fungal 48 pathogens have contributed to the unprecedented population decline of honey bees, causing 49 opportunistic infections in already stressed colonies 3,4 . Within the colony, the most susceptible 50individuals are arguably the bee brood (larvae and pupae), which are exposed to fungal 51 pathogens, notably chalkbrood (Ascophaera apis) and stonebrood (Aspergillus flavus) 11,12 . 52 Although the spread of fungal disease among the brood can be limited by the hygienic behavior 53 of honey bee nurses 13 , this behavior does not prevent infection. However, brood fungal infections 54 in other insects are sometimes inhibited by the presence of bacterial symbionts 14,15,8 . Given that 55 honey bee brood are reared in the presence of a handful of bacterial taxa 16,17 , it is possible these 56 microbes play similar defensive roles. Indeed, worker honey bee pathogen susceptibility 57 correlate...

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Interactions between Cooccurring Lactic Acid Bacteria in Honey Bee Hives

Cited by 67 publications

References 46 publications

Social communication between microbes colonizing the social honey bee Apis mellifera

Social communication between microbes colonizing the social honey bee Apis mellifera

The honey bee gut microbiota: strategies for study and characterization

A bacterial symbiont protects honey bees from fungal disease

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