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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420501
Research Project: Managing Honey Bees Against Disease and Colony Stress

Location: Bee Research Laboratory

Title: The role of gut microbiota-gonadal axis in ovary activation of Asian honey bee (Apiscerana) queens

Author
item ZHAO, CHONGHUI - Kunming University Of Science And Technology
item PENG, YEHUA - Guangdong Academy
item LI, WENFENG - Guangdong Academy
item RAZA, MUHAMMAD FAHAD - Guangdong Academy
item WANG, WENBO - Guangdong Academy
item ZHANG, YI - Guangdong University
item Chen, Yanping
item GUO, JUN - Kunming University Of Science And Technology
item HUANG, SHAOKANG - Fujian Agricultural & Forestry University
item HAN, RICHOU - Guangdong Academy

Submitted to: npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2025
Publication Date: 6/7/2025
Citation: Zhao, C., Peng, Y., Li, W., Raza, M., Wang, W., Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., Guo, J., Huang, S., Han, R. 2025. The role of gut microbiota-gonadal axis in ovary activation of Asian honey bee (Apiscerana) queens. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00723-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00723-9

Interpretive Summary: The connection between gut bacteria and the ovaries is becoming a hot topic of research worldwide. While early findings suggest a link between gut bacteria and ovarian health, the research is still in the early stages and needs more testing in animals. In this study, we explored how gut bacteria in the midgut and hindgut interact with the ovaries during different phases of activation, development, and recovery in queens of the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana). By using advanced genetic and metabolic analysis techniques, we found a strong connection between gut bacteria and ovarian function, with purine metabolism being the key pathway active across all stages. The gut bacteria also influence ovarian metabolism through complex signaling processes, which in turn affect the size and weight of the ovaries. Our study provides important insights into how gut bacteria impact reproduction and could help guide future research on reproductive health and disease management in both animals and humans, potentially leading to new medical treatments and strategies.

Technical Abstract: The interaction between the gut microbiota and the ovary is rapidly gaining attention globally. Data demonstrates the gut microbiota-ovary cross-talk, the research is still in an exploratory stage and lacks extensive validation in animals. Therefore, we systematically investigate the potential mechanisms of midgut and hindgut microbiota-ovary interactions at different stages of ovarian activation, development, and recovery, using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic techniques on queens of the Asian honey bee Apis cerana. Our results indicate a strong correlation between gut microbiota and ovarian metabolism, with purine metabolism as the most prominent pathway enriched in all ovarian stages. Additionally,the gut microbiota regulates ovarian metabolism through complex signaling pathways, which in turn influence ovarian morphology and weight. This study provides valuable insights into the reproductive effects of the gut microbiota and could inform future research on reproductive health and disease management in both animals and humans, potentially leading to new clinical practices and intervention strategies.