Variation in honey bee gut microbial diversity affected by ontogenetic stage, age and geographic location.

ABSTRACT: Social honey bees, Apis mellifera, host a set of distinct microbiota, which is similar across the continents and various honey bee species. Some of these bacteria, such as lactobacilli, have been linked to immunity and defence against pathogens. Pathogen defence is crucial, particularly in larval stages, as many pathogens affect the brood. However, information on larval microbiota is conflicting. Seven developmental stages and drones were sampled from 3 colonies at each of the 4 geographic locations of A. mellifera carnica, and the samples were maintained separately for analysis. We analysed the variation and abundance of important bacterial groups and taxa in the collected bees. Major bacterial groups were evaluated over the entire life of honey bee individuals, where digestive tracts of

SUBMITTER: Hroncova Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4358834 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature