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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.01.28.428626

Amplicon sequencing of variable 16S rRNA and ITS2 regions reveal honeybee susceptibility to diseases resulted of their dietary preferences under anthropogenic landforms

Ptaszynska, A. A.·Latoch, P.·Hurd, P.·Polaszek, A.·Michalska-Madej, J.·Grochowalski, L.·Strapagiel, D.·Gnat, S.·Zaluski, D.·Gancarz, M.·Rusinek, R.·Krutmuang, P.·Martin Hernandez, R.·Higes Pascual, M.·Starosta, A. L.
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Abstract

European Apis mellifera and Asian Apis cerana honeybees, are essential crop pollinators. Microbiome studies can provide complex information on health and fitness of these insects in relation to environmental changes, and plant availability. Amplicon sequencing of variable regions of 16S rRNA and internally transcribed spacers (ITSs) allow identification of the metabiome. These methods provide a tool for monitoring otherwise uncultured microbes isolated from the gut of the honeybees. They also help monitor the composition of the gut fungi and, intriguingly, pollens collected by the insect. Here, we present data from amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA and ITS2 regions from honeybees collected at various time points from anthropogenic landforms as urban areas in Poland, UK, Spain, Greece, and Thailand. We have analysed microbial composition of honeybee intestine as well as fungi and pollens. We conclude that differences between samples were mainly influenced by the bacteria, plant pollens and fungi, respectively. Moreover, honeybees feeding on a honeydew diet, mainly based on sugars, were more prone to fungal pathogens (Nosema ceranae) and neogregarines. Finally, the period when honeybees switch to the winter generation (longer-lived forager honeybees) is the most sensitive to diet perturbations and hence pathogens attack, for the whole beekeeping season. It is possible that evolutionary adaptation of bees fails to benefit them in the modern anthropomorphised environment.

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Ptaszynska, A. A., Latoch, P., Hurd, P., Polaszek, A., Michalska-Madej, J., Grochowalski, L., Strapagiel, D., Gnat, S., Zaluski, D., Gancarz, M., Rusinek, R., Krutmuang, P., Martin Hernandez, R., Higes Pascual, M., Starosta, A. L.. 2021-01-28. Amplicon sequencing of variable 16S rRNA and ITS2 regions reveal honeybee susceptibility to diseases resulted of their dietary preferences under anthropogenic landforms. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.28.428626

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