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Interactions between Cooccurring Lactic Acid Bacteria in Honey Bee Hives
Z P Rokop1, M A Horton1, I L G Newton2
1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|August 9, 2015
Summary
Environmental microbes like Fructobacillus and Lactobacillaceae may prime honey bee hives for beneficial bacteria. These noncore bacteria promote growth of core honey bee microbes, suggesting limited tetracycline use by beekeepers.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Insect Science
Background:
- Honey bee gut microbiome is dominated by a few bacterial clades.
- Honey bee hives harbor a diverse microbial community, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB).
- Understanding the role of environmental microbes in the honey bee microbiome is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To sample and analyze LAB communities within honey bee hive environments.
- To identify microbial hubs and interactions between core and noncore bacterial members.
- To investigate the role of noncore bacteria in facilitating the establishment of core honey bee microbes.
Main Methods:
- Culture-based methods combined with sequencing to characterize LAB communities.
- Network analysis to identify co-occurring bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs).
- Coculture assays and metabolic characterization (carbohydrate utilization, antibiotic sensitivity) to assess bacterial interactions and functions.
Main Results:
- Identified interactions between noncore bacteria (Fructobacillus, Lactobacillaceae) and core honey bee bacteria.
- Fructobacillus and Lactobacillaceae were found in brood cells, bee bread, and nectar, potentially acting as pioneering species.
- Fructobacillus by-products promoted the growth of the honey bee-specific Firm-5 clade in vitro.
- Fructobacillus can utilize simple sugars (fructose, glucose) and lignin.
- Fructobacillus is sensitive to tetracycline.
Conclusions:
- Environmental noncore microbes play a significant role in modulating honey bee microbiome dynamics.
- Fructobacillus and Lactobacillaceae may facilitate the colonization of core honey bee bacteria.
- Tetracycline sensitivity of Fructobacillus suggests limiting its use by beekeepers to preserve beneficial environmental microbes.
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