当前位置： SCI文献检索 > APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY期刊下所有文献 > Microbiome Structure Influences Infection by the Parasite Crithidia bombi in Bumble Bees.

Microbiome Structure Influences Infection by the Parasite Crithidia bombi in Bumble Bees.

Abstract：

:Recent declines in bumble bee populations are of great concern and have prompted critical evaluations of the role of pathogen introductions and host resistance in bee health. One factor that may influence host resilience when facing infection is the gut microbiota. Previous experiments with Bombus terrestris, a European bumble bee, showed that the gut microbiota can protect against Crithidia bombi, a widespread trypanosomatid parasite of bumble bees. However, the particular characteristics of the microbiome responsible for this protective effect have thus far eluded identification. Using wild and commercially sourced Bombus impatiens, an important North American pollinator, we conducted cross-wise microbiota transplants to naive hosts of both backgrounds and challenged them with a Crithidia parasite. As with B. terrestris, we find that microbiota-dependent protection against Crithidia operates in B. impatiens Lower Crithidia infection loads were experimentally associated with high microbiome diversity, large gut bacterial populations, and the presence of Apibacter, Lactobacillus Firm-5, and Gilliamella spp. in the gut community. These results indicate that even subtle differences between gut community structures can have a significant impact on a microbiome's ability to defend against parasite infections.IMPORTANCE Many wild bumble bee populations are under threat due to human activity, including through the introduction of pathogens via commercially raised bees. Recently, it was found that the bumble bee gut microbiota can help defend against a common parasite, Crithidia bombi, but the particular factors contributing to this protection are unknown. Using both wild and commercially raised bees, we conducted microbiota transplants to show that microbiome diversity, total gut bacterial load, and the presence of certain core members of the microbiota may all impact bee susceptibility to Crithidia infection. Bee origin (genetic background) was also a factor. Finally, by examining this phenomenon in a previously uninvestigated bee species, our study demonstrates that microbiome-mediated resistance to Crithidia is conserved across multiple bumble bee species. These findings highlight how intricate interactions between hosts, microbiomes, and parasites can have wide-ranging consequences for the health of ecologically important species.

journal_name

Appl Environ Microbiol

journal_title

Applied and environmental microbiology

authors

Mockler BK,Kwong WK,Moran NA,Koch H

doi

10.1128/AEM.02335-17

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2018-03-19 00:00:00

issue

eissn

0099-2240

issn

1098-5336

pii

AEM.02335-17

journal_volume

pub_type

杂志文章

在线工具

Microbiome Structure Influences Infection by the Parasite Crithidia bombi in Bumble Bees.