Low Levels of Hive Stress Are Associated with Decreased Honey Activity and Changes to the Gut Microbiome of Resident Honey Bees

Kenya E Fernandes; Bridie Stanfield; Elizabeth A Frost; Erin R Shanahan; Daniel Susantio; Andrew Z Dong; Trong D Tran; Nural N Cokcetin; Dee A Carter

doi:10.1128/spectrum.00742-23

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Low Levels of Hive Stress Are Associated with Decreased Honey Activity and Changes to the Gut Microbiome of Resident Honey Bees

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Low Levels of Hive Stress Are Associated with Decreased Honey Activity and Changes to the Gut Microbiome of Resident Honey Bees

Kenya E Fernandes, Bridie Stanfield, Elizabeth A Frost, Erin R Shanahan, Daniel Susantio, Andrew Z Dong, Trong D Tran, Nural N Cokcetin and Dee A Carter

Microbiology Spectrum, Vol.11(4), pp.1-14

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00742-23

PMCID: PMC10434159

PMID: 37289060

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Abstract

antimicrobial honey

hive health

hive stress

honey bee

ecology

honey bee gut microbiome

medicinal honey

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) face increasing threats to their health, particularly from the degradation of floral resources and chronic pesticide exposure. The properties of honey and the bee gut microbiome are known to both affect and be affected by bee health. Using samples from healthy hives and hives showing signs of stress from a single apiary with access to the same floral resources, we profiled the antimicrobial activity and chemical properties of honey and determined the bacterial and fungal microbiome of the bee gut and the hive environment. We found honey from healthy hives was significantly more active than honey from stressed hives, with increased phenolics and antioxidant content linked to higher antimicrobial activity. The bacterial microbiome was more diverse in stressed hives, suggesting they may have less capacity to exclude potential pathogens. Finally, bees from healthy and stressed hives had significant differences in core and opportunistically pathogenic taxa in gut samples. Our results emphasize the need for understanding and proactively managing bee health.

Details

Title: Low Levels of Hive Stress Are Associated with Decreased Honey Activity and Changes to the Gut Microbiome of Resident Honey Bees
Authors: Kenya E Fernandes (Author) - The University of Sydney
Bridie Stanfield (Author) - The University of Sydney
Elizabeth A Frost (Author) - University of New England
Erin R Shanahan (Author) - The University of Sydney
Daniel Susantio (Author) - The University of Sydney
Andrew Z Dong (Author) - The University of Sydney
Trong D Tran (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Nural N Cokcetin (Author) - The University of Sydney
Dee A Carter (Author)
Publication details: Microbiology Spectrum, Vol.11(4), pp.1-14
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00742-23
ISSN: 2165-0497
PMID: 37289060; PMC10434159
Grant note: BIP-SDG-135/ NSW Bushfire Industry Recovery Package Sector Development Grant
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99735297902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Microbiology

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