Interactions between Cooccurring Lactic Acid Bacteria in Honey Bee Hives.

ABSTRACT: In contrast to the honey bee gut, which is colonized by a few characteristic bacterial clades, the hive of the honey bee is home to a diverse array of microbes, including many lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In this study, we used culture, combined with sequencing, to sample the LAB communities found across hive environments. Specifically, we sought to use network analysis to identify microbial hubs sharing nearly identical operational taxonomic units, evidence which may indicate cooccurrence of bacteria between environments. In the process, we identified interactions between noncore bacterial members (Fructobacillus and Lactobacillaceae) and honey bee-specific "core" members. Both Fructobacillus and Lactobacillaceae colonize brood cells, bee bread, and nectar and may serve the role of pioneer

SUBMITTER: Rokop ZP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4579437 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature