Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)

Honeybee gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining their health and digestive function. Studies have confirmed that quercetin improves honeybee health by enhancing their pesticide tolerance and survival rates. This study aimed to examine the effects of quercetin on the bee gut microbiome by...

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Main Authors: Haodong Wu, Conghui Ji, Ruisheng Wang, Lijiao Gao, Wenhua Luo, Jialin Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/20
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author Haodong Wu
Conghui Ji
Ruisheng Wang
Lijiao Gao
Wenhua Luo
Jialin Liu
author_facet Haodong Wu
Conghui Ji
Ruisheng Wang
Lijiao Gao
Wenhua Luo
Jialin Liu
author_sort Haodong Wu
collection DOAJ
description Honeybee gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining their health and digestive function. Studies have confirmed that quercetin improves honeybee health by enhancing their pesticide tolerance and survival rates. This study aimed to examine the effects of quercetin on the bee gut microbiome by absolute quantification sequencing. We included 1800 bees from the experimental apiary and exposed them to 151.2, 75.6, and 37.8 mg/L of quercetin. Gut samples were collected on the 5th and 9th days, subjected to a polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA sequencing, and analyzed. After 5 days of quercetin treatment, the diversity of the honeybee gut microbiota was altered, and total bacterial copies and <i>Lactobacillus</i> abundance significantly decreased at high quercetin concentrations (151.2 and 75.6 mg/L). On day 9, the gut microbial community had recovered from the adverse effects, and <i>Gilliamella</i> abundance increased in response to 37.8 mg/L quercetin treatment. However, quercetin had no noticeable effects on survival rate, food consumption, and gut structure. Our study confirmed the effect of short-term quercetin intake on the gut microbiota of <i>A. cerana</i>, providing valuable insights into how phytochemicals alter the bee gut microbiome, and their repercussions on host physiology.
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series Insects
spelling doaj-art-a8ba55a5939f47bcb5933217f0982ffc2025-01-24T13:35:36ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-12-011612010.3390/insects16010020Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)Haodong Wu0Conghui Ji1Ruisheng Wang2Lijiao Gao3Wenhua Luo4Jialin Liu5Institute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaInstitute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaInstitute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaInstitute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaInstitute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaInstitute of Economic Animal, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Chongqing 402460, ChinaHoneybee gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining their health and digestive function. Studies have confirmed that quercetin improves honeybee health by enhancing their pesticide tolerance and survival rates. This study aimed to examine the effects of quercetin on the bee gut microbiome by absolute quantification sequencing. We included 1800 bees from the experimental apiary and exposed them to 151.2, 75.6, and 37.8 mg/L of quercetin. Gut samples were collected on the 5th and 9th days, subjected to a polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA sequencing, and analyzed. After 5 days of quercetin treatment, the diversity of the honeybee gut microbiota was altered, and total bacterial copies and <i>Lactobacillus</i> abundance significantly decreased at high quercetin concentrations (151.2 and 75.6 mg/L). On day 9, the gut microbial community had recovered from the adverse effects, and <i>Gilliamella</i> abundance increased in response to 37.8 mg/L quercetin treatment. However, quercetin had no noticeable effects on survival rate, food consumption, and gut structure. Our study confirmed the effect of short-term quercetin intake on the gut microbiota of <i>A. cerana</i>, providing valuable insights into how phytochemicals alter the bee gut microbiome, and their repercussions on host physiology.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/20phytochemicalEastern honeybeegut microbiomeabsolute quantification sequencinghealth
spellingShingle Haodong Wu
Conghui Ji
Ruisheng Wang
Lijiao Gao
Wenhua Luo
Jialin Liu
Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
Insects
phytochemical
Eastern honeybee
gut microbiome
absolute quantification sequencing
health
title Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
title_full Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
title_fullStr Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
title_full_unstemmed Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
title_short Dietary Quercetin Regulates Gut Microbiome Diversity and Abundance in <i>Apis cerana</i> (Hymenoptera Apidae)
title_sort dietary quercetin regulates gut microbiome diversity and abundance in i apis cerana i hymenoptera apidae
topic phytochemical
Eastern honeybee
gut microbiome
absolute quantification sequencing
health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/20
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