Honeybees and tetracycline resistance

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Science
• Genetics

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are found in animals, humans, and insects.
• Honeybee gut ecosystems can harbor diverse ARGs, reflecting environmental selective pressures.
• Commensal gut flora can act as reservoirs for ARGs, facilitating transfer to pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in honeybee gut flora.
• To explore the link between antibiotic use in beekeeping and the emergence of ARGs.
• To understand the potential for gene transfer between insect gut microbes and pathogenic bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of antibiotic resistance genes within the honeybee gut microbiome.
• Comparison of gene profiles between bees exposed to selective pressures and those not.
• Investigating the homology of honeybee ARGs with those found in human and animal-associated bacteria.

Main Results:

• Honeybee gut harbors a diverse array of tetracycline resistance genes, linked to industry use.
• ARGs are established in native, nonpathogenic honeybee gut flora.
• Linked co-resistances (ampicillin and tetracycline) emerge after single-antibiotic therapy.
• Wild/domestic bees without selective pressure show absence of diverse ARGs.

Conclusions:

• Honeybee gut flora serves as a reservoir for ARGs, influenced by environmental antibiotic use.
• ARGs in honeybees share homology with those in human and animal-associated bacteria, suggesting ecosystem-wide dissemination.
• Long-term, single-agent antibiotic therapy drives multi-drug resistance, mirroring findings in other host systems.