Data from: Honeybee microbiome is stabilized in the presence of propolis

Honey bees have developed many unique mechanisms to help ensure the proper maintenance of homeostasis within the hive. One specific method includes the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and wax to form propolis, which is deposited throughout the hive. Propolis is believed to play a significant role in reducing disease load in the colony due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. However, little is known on how propolis may be interacting with the commensal bacteria of the hive and if propolis alters the microbial community structure. In this study, we demonstrate that propolis appears to maintain a stable microbial community composition and reduce the overall diversity of the total honey bee microbiome. Several key members of the honey bee gut microbiota were significantly altered in the absence of propolis suggesting that it may play an important role in maintaining favorable levels of commensal bacteria. Overall, these findings demonstrate that propolis may help to maintain honey bee colony microbial health by limiting changes to the overall microbial community.

蜜蜂演化出诸多独特机制，以保障蜂箱内稳态(Homeostasis)的正常维持。其中一种特定机制为采集具有抗菌活性的植物树脂与蜂蜡，制成蜂胶(Propolis)并涂抹于整个蜂箱内。鉴于蜂胶具备抗菌与防腐特性，学界普遍认为其在降低蜂群病害负荷方面发挥着重要作用。然而，目前对于蜂胶如何与蜂箱内的共生菌群相互作用，以及蜂胶是否会改变微生物群落结构，仍知之甚少。本研究证实，蜂胶可维持稳定的微生物群落组成，并降低蜜蜂整体微生物组(Microbiome)的整体多样性。在无蜂胶存在的条件下，蜜蜂肠道菌群的若干关键类群发生了显著变化，这表明蜂胶在维持共生菌群的适宜水平方面可能发挥着重要作用。综上，本研究结果表明，蜂胶可通过限制整体微生物群落的变化，助力维持蜂群的微生物健康。