Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Analyzing Gut Microbial Community in Varroa destructor-Infested Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera)

  • Minji Kim (Department of Biology, Jeju National University) ;
  • Woo Jae Kim (Center for Life Science (HCLS), Harbin Institute of Technology) ;
  • Soo-Je Park (Department of Biology, Jeju National University)
  • Received : 2023.06.22
  • Accepted : 2023.07.17
  • Published : 2023.11.28
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Abstract

The western honeybee Apis mellifera L., a vital crop pollinator and producer of honey and royal jelly, faces numerous threats including diseases, chemicals, and mite infestations, causing widespread concern. While extensive research has explored the link between gut microbiota and their hosts. However, the impact of Varroa destructor infestation remains understudied. In this study, we employed massive parallel amplicon sequencing assays to examine the diversity and structure of gut microbial communities in adult bee groups, comparing healthy (NG) and Varroa-infested (VG) samples. Additionally, we analyzed Varroa-infested hives to assess the whole body of larvae. Our results indicated a notable prevalence of the genus Bombella in larvae and the genera Gillamella, unidentified Lactobacillaceae, and Snodgrassella in adult bees. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between NG and VG. Furthermore, our PICRUSt analysis demonstrated distinct KEGG classification patterns between larval and adult bee groups, with larvae displaying a higher abundance of genes involved in cofactor and vitamin production. Notably, despite the complex nature of the honeybee bacterial community, methanogens were found to be present in low abundance in the honeybee microbiota.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to Greenbees Co. (http://greenbees.kr/), located on Jeju Island, for providing us with honeybee samples and for engaging us in fruitful conversations about the effects of Varroa infection.

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