Titre
Functional diversity within the simple gut microbiota of the honey bee.
Type
article
Institution
Externe
Auteur(s)
Engel, P.
Auteure/Auteur
Martinson, V.G.
Auteure/Auteur
Moran, N.A.
Auteure/Auteur
Liens vers les personnes
ISSN
1091-6490
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2012
Volume
109
Numéro
27
Première page
11002
Dernière page/numéro d’article
11007
Langue
anglais
Résumé
Animals living in social communities typically harbor a characteristic gut microbiota important for nutrition and pathogen defense. Accordingly, in the gut of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, a distinctive microbial community, composed of a taxonomically restricted set of species specific to social bees, has been identified. Despite the ecological and economical importance of honey bees and the increasing concern about population declines, the role of their gut symbionts for colony health and nutrition is unknown. Here, we sequenced the metagenome of the gut microbiota of honey bees. Unexpectedly, we found a remarkable degree of genetic diversity within the few bacterial species colonizing the bee gut. Comparative analysis of gene contents suggests that different species harbor distinct functional capabilities linked to host interaction, biofilm formation, and carbohydrate breakdown. Whereas the former two functions could be critical for pathogen defense and immunity, the latter one might assist nutrient utilization. In a γ-proteobacterial species, we identified genes encoding pectin-degrading enzymes likely involved in the breakdown of pollen walls. Experimental investigation showed that this activity is restricted to a subset of strains of this species providing evidence for niche specialization. Long-standing association of these gut symbionts with their hosts, favored by the eusocial lifestyle of honey bees, might have promoted the genetic and functional diversification of these bee-specific bacteria. Besides revealing insights into mutualistic functions governed by the microbiota of this important pollinator, our findings indicate that the honey bee can serve as a model for understanding more complex gut-associated microbial communities.
Sujets
PID Serval
serval:BIB_5706ED91147A
PMID
Open Access
Oui
Date de création
2014-01-16T15:48:11.674Z
Date de création dans IRIS
2025-05-20T18:58:33Z