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Symbionts as major modulators of insect health: lactic Acid bacteria and honeybees.

På svenska

Author

  • Alejandra Vasquez
  • Eva Forsgren
  • Ingemar Fries
  • Robert J Paxton
  • Emilie Flaberg
  • Laszlo Szekely
  • Tobias Olofsson

Summary, in English

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well recognized beneficial host-associated members of the microbiota of humans and animals. Yet LAB-associations of invertebrates have been poorly characterized and their functions remain obscure. Here we show that honeybees possess an abundant, diverse and ancient LAB microbiota in their honey crop with beneficial effects for bee health, defending them against microbial threats. Our studies of LAB in all extant honeybee species plus related apid bees reveal one of the largest collections of novel species from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium ever discovered within a single insect and suggest a long (>80 mya) history of association. Bee associated microbiotas highlight Lactobacillus kunkeei as the dominant LAB member. Those showing potent antimicrobial properties are acquired by callow honey bee workers from nestmates and maintained within the crop in biofilms, though beekeeping management practices can negatively impact this microbiota. Prophylactic practices that enhance LAB, or supplementary feeding of LAB, may serve in integrated approaches to sustainable pollinator service provision. We anticipate this microbiota will become central to studies on honeybee health, including colony collapse disorder, and act as an exemplar case of insect-microbe symbiosis.

Department/s

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Publication/Series

PLoS ONE

Volume

7

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Topic

  • Microbiology in the medical area

Status

Published

Research group

  • Honey group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1932-6203