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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
Empirical, Metagenomic, and Computational Techniques Illuminate the Mechanisms by which Fungicides Compromise Bee Health
Published on: October 9, 2017
Field-realistic cyfluthrin exposure alters multi-omics profiles in Bombus terrestris: Implications for wild
Wenjun Cao1, Sa Yang2, Jiasen Wang2
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China; Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China.
Abstract:
Cyfluthrin is effective in mitigating crop damage caused by pests. However, its residues in bee colonies pose potential threats to the health and fitness of bumblebees. While previous studies have shown significant physiological effects of cyfluthrin on honeybees, its effects on bumblebees remain poorly understood. In this study, bumblebees were exposed to 30 and 120 μg/kg cyfluthrin (two field-level concentrations) for 10 days. We assessed the effects of chronic cyfluthrin exposure on bumblebee survival, sucrose solution consumption, body weight and midgut pathology. Multi-omics analyses were performed, encompassing the gut microbiome and metabolome, as well as the head transcriptome and proteome. The results demonstrated that exposure to cyfluthrin at a concentration of 120 μg/kg significantly reduced the survival probability of bumblebees. Hematoxylin-Eosin staining revealed damage to the midgut microvilli. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated a significant decrease in the relative abundance of the core gut microbiota, Bifidobacterium. Metabolomic analysis of the gut further revealed a significant reduction in multiple beneficial metabolites (crustecdysone, creatine and retinol palmitate). Head transcriptomics showed significant downregulation of genes associated with the tyrosine metabolism pathway and fatty acid β-oxidation. Furthermore, proteomic analysis of the head revealed a significant upregulation of apoptosis-related proteins, alongside a significant downregulation of proteins involved in immune responses and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. These findings highlight the need for cautious pesticide application in agricultural systems and emphasize the importance of considering sublethal effects on pollinators - particularly through disruptions to the gut and head.
