Microbes in Bees: Differences Across Species

Bees and their tiny gut bacteria hold a fascinating story. Social bees, like honeybees and bumblebees, rely heavily on their gut microbes, which they share among their colony. Recent research has dug deeper into one such bacterium, Gilliamella, found in the guts of different bee species. Scientists peeked into the DNA of 17 Gilliamella strains from three bee types: Apis mellifera (European honeybee), Apis cerana (Asian honeybee), and Bombus terrestris (buff-tailed bumblebee). The results? Gilliamella in European honeybees seemed to have a wider range of genes and jobs compared to those in Asian honeybees and bumblebees. Looking at their family tree, Gilliamella strains from different hosts were quite distinct. Also, the carbohydrate factories in the guts of European honeybees were more complex, and their bacteria were tougher against antibiotics. When these bacteria moved into new hosts, those from European honeybees triggered a stronger response in the bee's cells. This suggests that different bee species might have adapted to their own local microbes in unique ways. So, even though all these bees share similar gut homes, the microbes living there can do different things and affect their hosts differently. It's like having different housemates who cook different meals and need different care!