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Antibiotic Treatment Decrease the Fitness of Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Larvae.

Xinle Duan1,2, Bi'an Zhao1,2, Xin Jin1,2

  • 1College of Animal Science (Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.

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|April 3, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Antibiotics harm honeybee larvae by reducing their weight, disrupting development, and weakening immunity. Gut bacteria are crucial for honeybee larvae health, so avoid antibiotics for disease control.

Keywords:
developmenthoneybee larvaeimmunitynutrient metabolismsymbiotic bacteria

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Area of Science:

  • Insect microbiology
  • Apiculture science
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Symbiotic gut bacteria are essential for insect health, influencing nutrient provision, physiology, and immunity.
  • The specific roles of gut bacteria in honeybee larvae remain understudied.
  • Understanding these roles is critical for honeybee health and colony management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of gut symbiotic bacteria on the development, nutrient metabolism, and immunity of honeybee larvae.
  • To determine the effects of antibiotic treatment on honeybee larvae fitness and gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Honeybee larvae were artificially reared and treated with antibiotics (penicillin-streptomycin) to eliminate gut bacteria.
  • Body weight, developmental periods (pupation, eclosion), and gene expression (developmental, metabolic, immune) were analyzed using qRT-PCR.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic treatment led to significantly lower body weights in larvae and emerged bees.
  • Key genes involved in nutrient metabolism (e.g., ilp2, hex70c) and development (usp) showed altered expression patterns.
  • Immune gene expression (apidaecin, abaecin, defensin-1, hymenoptaecin) was significantly decreased, indicating reduced immune competence.

Conclusions:

  • Gut bacteria play a vital role in honeybee larvae's nutrient metabolism, normal development, and immune defense.
  • Antibiotic use negatively impacts honeybee larvae fitness and should be avoided for microbial disease control in apiaries.