A review on recent taxonomic updates of gut bacteria associated with social bees, with a curated genomic reference database

Social corbiculate bees harbor relatively simple microbial communities at the phylotypes level, however, genetic diversification is prevalent below phylotypes, i.e. at the species or strain level. Additionally, the genetic diversity and gene repertoires of bacterial isolates vary substantial between host species. This diverse gut microbiota exerts multifaceted effects on the host, such as diet digestion, nutrient provision, pathogen resistance, immune modulation, endocrine signaling, among others. In particular, the gut microbiota is primarily responsible for the digestion and fermentation of dietary carbohydrates, including sugars toxic to the bee host, as well as defense against various bee pathogens. To deeply understand the diversity and functions of bee gut microbiota, an accurate species-level taxonomy is fundamental and necessary. For each phylotype, the species-level taxonomy is refined by constructing a maximum-likelihood core genome phylogeny and by calculating genome-wide pairwise average nucleotide identity. The curated genomic taxonomy will greatly facilitate research on the gut community structure of social bees. AbstractHoneybees and bumblebees play a crucial role as essential pollinators. The special gut microbiome of social bees is a key factor in determining the overall fitness and health of the host. Although bees harbor relatively simple microbial communities at the genus level, recent studies have unveiled significant genetic divergence and variations in ...
Source: Insect Science - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research