Single-step genome engineering in the bee gut symbiont<i>Snodgrassella alvi</i>

Lariviere, Patrick J.; Ashraf, A. H. M. Zuberi; Leonard, Sean P.; Miller, Laurel G.; Moran, Nancy A.; Barrick, Jeffrey E.

doi:10.1101/2023.09.19.558440

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 59 publications

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“…The first report of a functional molecular tool kit for these bacterial species was just published 5 years ago, and it was later remarkably used to reprogram a bee gut symbiont to promote health of its host, as well as to regulate bee gene expression by symbiont-mediated RNAi [28][29][30][31]. More recently, a new method based on homologous recombination allowed for one-step genomic knock-out and knock-in in a honey bee gut bacterium [32]. These studies brought to light the potential of microbial engineering for the field of honey bee gut microbiota, but the ensemble of genetic parts available to date is still limited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An engineered bacterial symbiont allows noninvasive biosensing of the honey bee gut environment

Chhun,

Moriano-Gutierrez,

Zoppi

et al. 2024

PLoS Biol

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The honey bee is a powerful model system to probe host–gut microbiota interactions, and an important pollinator species for natural ecosystems and for agriculture. While bacterial biosensors can provide critical insight into the complex interplay occurring between a host and its associated microbiota, the lack of methods to noninvasively sample the gut content, and the limited genetic tools to engineer symbionts, have so far hindered their development in honey bees. Here, we built a versatile molecular tool kit to genetically modify symbionts and reported for the first time in the honey bee a technique to sample their feces. We reprogrammed the native bee gut bacterium Snodgrassella alvi as a biosensor for IPTG, with engineered cells that stably colonize the gut of honey bees and report exposure to the molecules in a dose-dependent manner through the expression of a fluorescent protein. We showed that fluorescence readout can be measured in the gut tissues or noninvasively in the feces. These tools and techniques will enable rapid building of engineered bacteria to answer fundamental questions in host–gut microbiota research.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An engineered bacterial symbiont allows noninvasive biosensing of the honey bee gut environment

Chhun,

Moriano-Gutierrez,

Zoppi

et al. 2024

PLoS Biol

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Glyphosate Effects on Growth and Biofilm Formation in Bee Gut Symbionts and Diverse Associated Bacteria

Motta,

de Jong,

Gage

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Biofilm formation is a common adaptation enabling bacteria to thrive in various environments and to withstand external pressures. In the context of host-microbe interactions, biofilms play vital roles in establishing microbiomes associated with animals and plants and are used by opportunistic microbes to facilitate proliferation within hosts. Investigating biofilm dynamics, composition, and responses to environmental stressors is crucial for understanding microbial community assembly and biofilm regulation in health and disease. In this study, we explore the independent gut colonization and in vitro biofilm formation abilities of core members of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) gut microbiota. Additionally, we assess the impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide with antimicrobial properties, and a glyphosate-based formulation on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts as well as in other biofilm-forming bacteria associated with diverse animals and plants. Our results demonstrate that several strains of core bee gut bacterial species can independently colonize the bee gut, which probably depends on their ability to form biofilms. Furthermore, glyphosate exposure has varying effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. These findings imply specific impacts of environmental stressors on microbial biofilms with both ecological and host health-related implications.

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Glyphosate effects on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts and diverse associated bacteria

Motta,

de Jong,

Gage

et al. 2024

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Biofilm formation is a common adaptation enabling bacteria to thrive in various environments and withstand external pressures. In the context of host–microbe interactions, biofilms play vital roles in establishing microbiomes associated with animals and plants and are used by opportunistic microbes to facilitate survival within hosts. Investigating biofilm dynamics, composition, and responses to environmental stressors is crucial for understanding microbial community assembly and biofilm regulation in health and disease. In this study, we explore in vivo colonization and in vitro biofilm formation abilities of core members of the honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) gut microbiota. Additionally, we assess the impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide with antimicrobial properties, and a glyphosate-based herbicide formulation on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts as well as in other biofilm-forming bacteria associated with diverse animals and plants. Our results demonstrate that several strains of core bee gut bacterial species can colonize the bee gut, which probably depends on their ability to form biofilms. Furthermore, glyphosate exposure elicits variable effects on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. In some instances, the effects correlate with the bacteria’s ability to encode a susceptible or tolerant version of the enzyme inhibited by glyphosate in the shikimate pathway. However, in other instances, no such correlation is observed. Testing the herbicide formulation further complicates comparisons, as results often diverge from glyphosate exposure alone, suggesting that co-formulants influence bacterial growth and biofilm formation. These findings highlight the nuanced impacts of environmental stressors on microbial biofilms, with both ecological and host health-related implications. IMPORTANCE Biofilms are essential for microbial communities to establish and thrive in diverse environments. In the honey bee gut, the core microbiota member Snodgrassella alvi forms biofilms, potentially aiding the establishment of other members and promoting interactions with the host. In this study, we show that specific strains of other core members, including Bifidobacterium , Bombilactobacillus , Gilliamella , and Lactobacillus , also form biofilms in vitro . We then examine the impact of glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that can disrupt the bee microbiota, on bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Our findings demonstrate the diverse effects of glyphosate on biofilm formation, ranging from inhibition to enhancement, reflecting observations in other beneficial or pathogenic bacteria associated with animals and plants. Thus, glyphosate exposure may influence bacterial growth and biofilm formation, potentially shaping microbial establishment on host surfaces and impacting health outcomes.

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Single-step genome engineering in the bee gut symbiontSnodgrassella alvi

Cited by 3 publications

References 59 publications

An engineered bacterial symbiont allows noninvasive biosensing of the honey bee gut environment

An engineered bacterial symbiont allows noninvasive biosensing of the honey bee gut environment

Glyphosate Effects on Growth and Biofilm Formation in Bee Gut Symbionts and Diverse Associated Bacteria

Glyphosate effects on growth and biofilm formation in bee gut symbionts and diverse associated bacteria

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