The gut microbiome defines social group membership in honey bee colonies

Vernier, Cassondra; Chin, Iris M.; Adu-Oppong, Boahemaa; Krupp, Joshua J.; Levine, Joel D.; Dantas, Gautam; Ben‐Shahar, Yehuda

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd3431

Cited by 86 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Levels of these compounds vary seasonally in the worker’s brains, increasing in summer when foraging activity is the highest, and at different life stages, being lower in brains of newly emerged, germ-free bees [ 94 ]. Furthermore, the gut microbiome plays a key role in the regulation of social behavioral features in honeybees [ 95 ].…”

Section: Honeybee Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection—A Review

Nowak

Szczuka

Górczyńska

et al. 2021

Cells

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Numerous honeybee (Apis mellifera) products, such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, are used in traditional medicine to prevent illness and promote healing. Therefore, this insect has a huge impact on humans’ way of life and the environment. While the population of A. mellifera is large, there is concern that widespread commercialization of beekeeping, combined with environmental pollution and the action of bee pathogens, has caused significant problems for the health of honeybee populations. One of the strategies to preserve the welfare of honeybees is to better understand and protect their natural microbiota. This paper provides a unique overview of the latest research on the features and functioning of A. mellifera. Honeybee microbiome analysis focuses on both the function and numerous factors affecting it. In addition, we present the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an important part of the gut community and their special beneficial activities for honeybee health. The idea of probiotics for honeybees as a promising tool to improve their health is widely discussed. Knowledge of the natural gut microbiota provides an opportunity to create a broad strategy for honeybee vitality, including the development of modern probiotic preparations to use instead of conventional antibiotics, environmentally friendly biocides, and biological control agents.

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Section: Honeybee Microbiotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection—A Review

Nowak

Szczuka

Górczyńska

et al. 2021

Cells

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“…Communities of bacterial symbionts play an important role in animal biology, but the factors that shape the composition and acquisition of the microbiome are known for relatively few species. Rapid advancement in microbiome research has demonstrated that bacterial symbionts can influence host nutrition 1 – 3 , immunity 3 – 5 , and behavior 6 – 8 . Thus, understanding the health, physiology, or evolutionary ecology 9 of any given animal species is incomplete without knowledge of their associated microbes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition and acquisition of the microbiome in solitary, ground-nesting alkali bees

Kapheim

Johnson

Jolley

2021

Sci Rep

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Increasing evidence suggests the microbiome plays an important role in bee ecology and health. However, the relationship between bees and their bacterial symbionts has only been explored in a handful of species. We characterized the microbiome across the life cycle of solitary, ground-nesting alkali bees (Nomia melanderi). We find that feeding status is a major determinant of microbiome composition. The microbiome of feeding larvae was similar to that of pollen provisions, but the microbiome of post-feeding larvae (pre-pupae) was similar to that of the brood cell walls and newly-emerged females. Feeding larvae and pollen provisions had the lowest beta diversity, suggesting the composition of larval diet is highly uniform. Comparisons between lab-reared, newly-emerged, and nesting adult females suggest that the hindgut bacterial community is largely shaped by the external environment. However, we also identified taxa that are likely acquired in the nest or which increase or decrease in relative abundance with age. Although Lactobacillus micheneri was highly prevalent in pollen provisions, it was only detected in one lab-reared female, suggesting it is primarily acquired from environmental sources. These results provide the foundation for future research on metagenomic function and development of probiotics for these native pollinators.

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“…Concentrations of most identified neurotransmitters were regulated by different gut members, corroborating with the roles of gut microbiota in the altered behaviors in the lab and hive experiments. Alternatively, it recently shows that nestmate recognition cues are defined by gut bacteria, possibly by modulating the host metabolism or by the direct generation of the colony-specific blends of cuticular hydrocarbon 67 . In leaf-cutting ants and termites, gut microbiota suppression by antibiotics also influences the recognition behavior toward nestmates, which may be directed by the bacterial metabolites as recognition cues in the feces 68,69 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Honeybee gut microbiota modulates host behaviors and neurological processes

Zhang

Cao

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Honeybee is a highly social insect with a reach behavioral repertoire and is a versatile model for neurobiological research. The honeybee gut microbiota is composed of a limited number of bacterial phylotypes that play an important role in host health. However, it remains unclear whether the microbiota can shape brain profiles and behaviors. Here, we revealed that the gut microbiota is requisite for the olfactory learning and memory ability of honeybees and alters the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis showed distinctive gene expression and protein signatures for gnotobiotic bees associated with different gut bacteria. Specifically, genes related to olfactory functions and labor division are most upregulated. Moreover, differentially spliced genes in the brains of colonized bees largely overlapped with the datasets for human autism. The circulating metabolome profiles identified that different gut species regulated specific module of metabolites in the host hemolymph. Most altered metabolites are involved in the amino acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways for the production of neuroactive compounds. Finally, antibiotic treatment disturbed the gut community and the nursing behavior of worker bees under field conditions. The brain transcripts and gut metabolism was also greatly interfered in treated bees. Collectively, we demonstrate that the gut microbiota regulates honeybee behaviors, brain gene transcription, and the circulating metabolism. Our findings highlight the contributions of honeybee gut microbes in the neurological processes with striking parallels to those found in other animals, thus providing a promising model to understand the host-microbe interactions via the gut-brain axis.

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The gut microbiome defines social group membership in honey bee colonies

Cited by 86 publications

References 49 publications

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection—A Review

Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Honeybee Protection—A Review

Composition and acquisition of the microbiome in solitary, ground-nesting alkali bees

Honeybee gut microbiota modulates host behaviors and neurological processes

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