Novel multiplex PCR reveals multiple trypanosomatid species infecting North American bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus)

Tripodi, Amber D.; Szalanski, Allen L.; Strange, James P.

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2018.03.009

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Whether these were due to spillover from local A. mellifera (no Bombus spp. were present in the region of collection) or a Halictid-specific trypanosomatid warrants further investigation, with the possibility to reveal host-specific parasite strains or novel trypanosomatid species (Tripodi et al ., 2018 ). We did not evaluate differences in infectivity among the individual parasite strains used for our inoculations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

et al. 2020

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Abstract Recent declines of wild pollinators and infections in honey, bumble and other bee species have raised concerns about pathogen spillover from managed honey and bumble bees to other pollinators. Parasites of honey and bumble bees include trypanosomatids and microsporidia that often exhibit low host specificity, suggesting potential for spillover to co-occurring bees via shared floral resources. However, experimental tests of trypanosomatid and microsporidial cross-infectivity outside of managed honey and bumble bees are scarce. To characterize potential cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites, we inoculated three trypanosomatids and one microsporidian into five potential hosts – including four managed species – from the apid, halictid and megachilid bee families. We found evidence of cross-infection by the trypanosomatids Crithidia bombi and C. mellificae, with evidence for replication in 3/5 and 3/4 host species, respectively. These include the first reports of experimental C. bombi infection in Megachile rotundata and Osmia lignaria, and C. mellificae infection in O. lignaria and Halictus ligatus. Although inability to control amounts inoculated in O. lignaria and H. ligatus hindered estimates of parasite replication, our findings suggest a broad host range in these trypanosomatids, and underscore the need to quantify disease-mediated threats of managed social bees to sympatric pollinators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

et al. 2020

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“…Because lactobacilli and other acid-producing bacteria are dominant members of the bumble bee gut microbiota, our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of bumble bee gut microbiota on C. bombi infection intensity can be largely attributed to microbial acidification of the gut. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis to understand how microbiota may affect trypanosomatid infection in corbiculate bees that share a core microbiome (Kwong et al ., 2017 b ) and can be infected with identical and related parasites, including trypanosomatids (McMahon et al ., 2015; Schwarz et al ., 2015; Tripodi et al ., 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

pH-mediated inhibition of a bumble bee parasite by an intestinal symbiont

2018

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Gut symbionts can augment resistance to pathogens by stimulating host immune responses, competing for space and nutrients, or producing antimicrobial metabolites. Gut microbiota of social bees, which pollinate many crops and wildflowers, protects hosts against diverse infections and might counteract pathogen-related bee declines. Bumble bee gut microbiota, and specifically abundance of Lactobacillus “Firm-5” bacteria, can enhance resistance to the trypanosomatid parasite Crithidia bombi. However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown. We hypothesized that the Firm-5 bacterium Lactobacillus bombicola, which produces lactic acid, inhibits C. bombi via pH-mediated effects. Consistent with our hypothesis, Lactobacillus bombicola spent medium inhibited C. bombi growth via reduction in pH that was both necessary and sufficient for inhibition. Inhibition of all parasite strains occurred within the pH range documented in honey bees, though sensitivity to acidity varied among strains. Spent medium was slightly more potent than HCl, D-, and L-lactic acids for a given pH, suggesting that other metabolites also contribute to inhibition. Results implicate symbiont-mediated reduction in gut pH as a key determinant of trypanosomatid infection in bees. Future investigation into in vivo effects of gut microbiota on pH and infection intensity would test the relevance of these findings for bees threatened by trypanosomatids.

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“…Because Lactobacilli and other acid-producing bacteria are dominant members of the bumble bee gut microbiota, our results suggest that the inhibitory effects of bumble bee gut microbiota on C. bombi infection intensity can be largely attributed to microbial acidification of the gut. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis to understand how microbiota may affect trypanosomatid infection in corbiculate bees that share a core microbiome (10) and can be infected with identical and related parasites, including trypanosomatids (55–57).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

pH-mediated inhibition of a bumble bee parasite by an intestinal symbiont

Palmer‐Young

Raffel

McFrederick

2018

Preprint

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Palmer-Young et al. pH mediates inhibition of a bee parasite by symbionts 1 pH-mediated inhibition of a bumble 1 bee parasite by an intestinal symbiont 2 3 Running title: pH mediates inhibition of a bee parasite by symbionts 4 5 ABSTRACT 13Non-pathogenic microbes can provide multiple benefits to their hosts, including pathogen 14 inhibition. Gut symbionts can augment resistance to pathogens by stimulating host immune responses, 15 competing for space and nutrients, or producing antimicrobial metabolites. The gut microbiota of social 16 bees, which pollinate many crops and wildflowers, has demonstrated benefits against diverse infections 17 and might help protect against pathogen-related declines. The bumble bee gut microbiota, consisting 18 chiefly of five taxa common to corbiculate bees, has been shown to enhance resistance to the 19 trypanosomatid parasite Crithidia bombi. Specifically, infection intensity was negatively correlated with 20 abundance of Lactobacillus "Firm-5" bacteria. However, the mechanism underlying this relationship 21 remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the Firm-5 bacterium Lactobacillus bombicola, which 22Acidification Experiment: pH-dependent inhibition of C. bombi with different sources of 132 acidity. Having established pH-dependent growth inhibition, we conducted a follow-up experiment to 133 quantify C. bombi growth rates across a range of pH values, and to compare the relative inhibitory 134 effects of L. bombicola spent medium with that of three other sources of acidity: HCl, L-lactic acid (the 135 form produced by animal cells (53)), and D-lactic acid (the form produced by L. bombicola (41)). We used 136

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Novel multiplex PCR reveals multiple trypanosomatid species infecting North American bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus)

Cited by 27 publications

References 20 publications

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

pH-mediated inhibition of a bumble bee parasite by an intestinal symbiont

pH-mediated inhibition of a bumble bee parasite by an intestinal symbiont

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