Different Diets Modulate the Gut Microbiome Compositions and Promote the Health ofApis mellifera

Abstract

AbstractHoney bee (Apis mellifera) health is crucial for honey bee products, and effective pollination and is closely associated with gut bacteria. Various factors such as reduced habitat, temperature, disease, and diet affect the health of honey bees, by disturbing the homeostasis of the gut microbiota. In this study, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota ofApis melliferasubjected to seven different diets. The identified microbiota in theApis melliferagut from all the diets consisted ofLactobacillus(62%), followed byRhizobiaceae(21%),Snodgrassella(4%), andErwiniaceae(4%) among other 33 genera. Based on diet types,Lactobacillusa lactic acid bacteria (LAB), dominates the microbiota with the highest relative abundance in AIGT+SAC (91%), AIGT+Soytide (88%), and AIGT+Apple juice (69%) diet groups.BifidobacteriumandCommensalibacterappeared as the second most abundant genera in AIGT+SAC and AIGT+Soytide diet groups, respectively. These bacteria are important markers for honey bee health. Considering the importance of these diets in shaping their host microbiome into a healthy status. Individual honey bee health (IHH) was observed to validate the quality and correlation between the microbiota and honey bee health. The results were consistent, indicating thatApis melliferafed on AIGT+Soytide and AIGT+SAC diet showed the highest health expression level of vitellogenin. The group with 60%Syrup possessingRhizobiaceaeas the dominant taxa showed poor health status. This finding paved the way for establishing a link between gut microbiota and IHH under different diets.