Tailed bacteriophages (Caudoviricetes) dominate the microbiome of a diseased stingless bee.

ABSTRACT: Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial hosts, are known to rule the dynamics and diversity of bacterial populations in a number of ecosystems. Bacterial communities residing in the gut of animals, known as the gut microbiome, have revolutionized our understanding of many diseases. However, the gut phageome, while of apparent importance in this context, remains an underexplored area of research. Here we identify for the first time genomic sequences from tailed viruses (Caudoviricetes) that are associated with the microbiome of stingless bees (Melipona quadrifasciata). Both DNA and RNA were extracted from virus particles isolated from healthy and diseased forager bees, the latter showing symptoms from an annual syndrome that only affects M. quadrifasciata. Viral contigs from previousl

SUBMITTER: Caesar L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10802228 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature