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Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Taste Preference Assay for Adult Drosophila
Published on: September 8, 2016
Dietary B vitamins influence the Drosophila melanogaster preference for dietary yeast
Dean B Peterson1, John Chaston1, Andrew T Call1
1Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States.
Abstract:
The microbiota influences the Drosophila melanogaster dietary preference for yeast (DPY). We previously identified four transposon insertion mutants in Acetobacter fabarum that significantly influence fly DPY, and three of these insertions were in genes that are associated with thiamine metabolism. Here, we tested if thiamine influences fly DPY in monoassociated flies. We show that thiamine and other B vitamins influence fly DPY and that the different mutants have distinct DPY responses to thiamine supplementation. Together, these experiments identify specific nutritional effectors of D. melanogaster DPY.
Insights
The gut bacteria Acetobacter fabarum affects fruit fly yeast preference. Thiamine and other B vitamins, influenced by bacterial metabolism, play a key role in this dietary choice.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Nutritional Science
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The gut microbiota significantly impacts host dietary preferences.
- Microbial influence on *Drosophila melanogaster* dietary preference for yeast (DPY) is known.
- Previous work identified *Acetobacter fabarum* mutants affecting fly DPY, with some linked to thiamine metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct role of thiamine in modulating *Drosophila melanogaster* DPY.
- To determine if thiamine supplementation affects DPY in flies monoassociated with specific *Acetobacter fabarum* mutants.
Main Methods:
- Monoassociation of *Drosophila melanogaster* with wild-type and mutant *Acetobacter fabarum* strains.
- Dietary supplementation experiments with thiamine and other B vitamins.
- Quantification of fly DPY in response to microbial and nutritional manipulations.
Main Results:
- Thiamine and other B vitamins were shown to directly influence *D. melanogaster* DPY.
- Different *Acetobacter fabarum* mutants exhibited distinct DPY responses to thiamine supplementation.
- Specific nutritional factors mediated by the gut bacterium were identified as key effectors of fly DPY.
Conclusions:
- Thiamine is a critical nutritional effector influencing *D. melanogaster* dietary preference for yeast.
- The interplay between gut microbiota metabolism and host nutrition shapes host feeding behavior.
- This study elucidates specific mechanisms by which microbial metabolites regulate host dietary choices.
