Results
Title

The Bee Gut Microbiota: Bridging Infective Agents Potential in the One Health Context.

Authors

Tilocca, Bruno; Greco, Viviana; Piras, Cristian; Ceniti, Carlotta; Paonessa, Mariachiara; Musella, Vincenzo; Bava, Roberto; Palma, Ernesto; Morittu, Valeria Maria; Spina, Anna Antonella; Castagna, Fabio; Urbani, Andrea; Britti, Domenico; Roncada, Paola

Abstract

The bee gut microbiota plays an important role in the services the bees pay to the environment, humans and animals. Alongside, gut-associated microorganisms are vehiculated between apparently remote habitats, promoting microbial heterogeneity of the visited microcosms and the transfer of the microbial genetic elements. To date, no metaproteomics studies dealing with the functional bee microbiota are available. Here, we employ a metaproteomics approach to explore a fraction of the bacterial, fungal, and unicellular parasites inhabiting the bee gut. The bacterial community portrays a dynamic composition, accounting for specimens of human and animal concern. Their functional features highlight the vehiculation of virulence and antimicrobial resistance traits. The fungal and unicellular parasite fractions include environment- and animal-related specimens, whose metabolic activities support the spatial spreading of functional features. Host proteome depicts the major bee physiological activities, supporting the metaproteomics strategy for the simultaneous study of multiple microbial specimens and their host-crosstalks. Altogether, the present study provides a better definition of the structure and function of the bee gut microbiota, highlighting its impact in a variety of strategies aimed at improving/overcoming several current hot topic issues such as antimicrobial resistance, environmental pollution and the promotion of environmental health.

Subjects

GUT microbiome; HONEYBEES; BEES; POLLUTION; DRUG resistance in microorganisms; ZOOLOGICAL specimens; HEALTH promotion; BEE colonies

Publication

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024, Vol 25, Issue 7, p3739

ISSN

1661-6596

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.3390/ijms25073739