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Brain Transcriptomic Reprogramming and Comb-Associated Microbiome Variation During the Larva-To-Pupa Transition in
Amir Taldaev1,2,3,4, Daniil Smutin1,4,5, Lavrentii Danilov5
1Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.
Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
|July 26, 2026
Summary
Honey bee metamorphosis involves significant brain gene expression changes. The external honeycomb microbiome correlates with these neural shifts, suggesting a link between microbes and brain development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
Background:
- Honey bee (Apis mellifera) metamorphosis includes extensive neural remodeling.
- Molecular mechanisms of brain development and microbial interactions during this stage are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize stage-specific molecular signatures during honey bee metamorphosis.
- To investigate the relationship between brain development and the comb microbiome.
Main Methods:
- Integrated brain transcriptomic profiling (RNA sequencing) with comb-associated metagenomic analysis.
- Analyzed gene expression in larval and pupal brains and microbial communities in honeycomb.
Main Results:
- Brain transcriptomes showed significant stage-specific divergence, with pupae downregulating growth pathways and upregulating cuticular proteins and odorant-binding proteins.
- Comb microbiome remained stable, but specific taxa correlated with brain transcripts related to translation, stress, and metabolism.
- Identified numerous poorly annotated, lineage-specific loci with extreme stage-specific regulation.
Conclusions:
- Honey bee neural maturation is primarily driven by intrinsic transcriptional reprogramming.
- External microbial variations correlate with host neural gene expression, suggesting a role for the microbiome in brain development.
- Future research should explore brood immune system-comb microbiome interactions.
