Progress 03/01/18 to 02/13/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The primary target audience consists of researchers investigating honey bees and other pollinators, and researchers in related fields, such as microbiomes of other animals. We presented talks and published scientific papers to reach this audience, and we also shared information through direct contacts. (Published papers are listed on the following page.) A second audience is beekeepers and others in the beekeeping industry; they are interested in honey bee biology and ways to protect bee health. We presented talks and podcasts aimed at this audience. We also educated undergraduate students about pollinators and honey bees, and about research in general. This was achieved through a freshman research-based course ourse in an established UT program, involving 25 students in our pollinator section. We also had undergraduate research assistants who helped with this research. FInally we participated in outreach events for the public and for K-12 students. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project supported a doctoral student whose primary work was on the effects of agrochemicals on honey bee microbiota and honey bee health. The awardalso supported twopostdoctoral fellows, 6 undergrad research assistants, and a senior research technician in the lab. All of these individualsreceived in depthtraining in honey bee biology and microbiology. The award also provided partial support for an educator who taught a freshman research course on microbiota of bees and other insects. Approximately 50 University of Texas freshmen students participated in the course on the roles of bacteria in pollinator health. Two undergraduate students involved with this work have gone on to graduate programs where they are investigating bee health. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We disseminated results through numerouspeer-reviewed scientific publications in major journals in microbiology and biology. We also gave formal and informal talksto both scientific and lay audiences. The scientific talks were presented at universities, microbiology conferences, and entomological conferences. Talks to beekeeping groups or the public, including popular talks at UT Austin, were both in-person and remote, depending on the year and the needs of the group. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Research accomplishments: We completed numerous interrelated research projects on the honey bee gut microbiota, how it affects bee health and pathogen susceptibility, and how it is affected by various environmental perturbations. Broadly, we found that perturbation of the bee microbiota makes worker bees more susceptible to opportunistic pathogens, and results in lowered worker survivorship within hives. We showed that this kind of perturbation can be imposed by glyphosate and by glyphosate formulations that are used in agriculture. We showed that concentrations relevant to field conditions can have these negative effects on bee microbiota. In particular, the key member of the microbiota, the bacterium Snodgrassella alvi, is negatively affected by glyphosate exposure. We also performed related investigations in bumble bees and carpenter bees, which are major wild pollinators. We discovered a conserved microbiome, previously unreported, in carpenter bee species. All of these results were published in peer-reviewed journals, and they have stimulated work by other researchers concerned with bee health.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Motta, E, R. L. W. Arnott, N. A. Moran. Caffeine consumption helps honey bees to fight a bacterial pathogen.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Holley, J., M. N. Jackson, A. T. Pham, S. C. Hatcher, and N. A. Moran. 2022. Carpenter bees (Xylocopa) harbor a distinctive gut microbiome related to that of honeybees and bumblebees. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 88(13):00203-22. doi.org/10.1128/aem.00203-22
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Motta, E., N. A. Moran. The effects of glyphosate, pure or in herbicide formulation, on bumble bees and their gut microbial communities. Science of the Total Environment
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Motta, E., A. Gage, T. E. Smith, K. J. Blake, W. K. Kwong, I. M. Riddington, and N. A. Moran. 2022. Host-microbe metabolism of a plant toxin in bees. eLife 1:e82595. doi: 10.7554/eLife.82595
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Progress 03/01/21 to 02/28/22
Outputs
Target Audience:A main target audience consists of researchers investigating honey bees and other pollinators, and researchers in related fields, such as microbiomes of other animals. We present talks and publish scientific papers to reach this audience, and we also have discussions and share information through direct contacts. A second audience is beekeepers and others in the beekeeping industry; they are interested in honey bee biology and ways to protect bee health. We present talks and podcasts aimed at this audience. We also educate undergraduate students about pollinators and honey bees. This happens in 2 main ways. First we have a course in the UT Freshman Research Initiative in which students do hands-on research projects on bee pollinators and their microbial associates. This is a for-credit course that recruits diverse students, some of whom remain with the course for up to 2 years, as mentors to the next cohort of students. Second, we have undergraduate research assistants in the lab. FInally we have outreach events for the public and for K-12 students. Changes/Problems:During this reporting period, pandemic-related restrictions on research were mostly relaxed, so we were able to pursue the project aims. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Besides the Freshman Research Initiative (mentioned below), activities supported by this award provided research training related to bees and bee health for an undergradate researcherin the lab and for a postdoctoral researcher (Erick Motta). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We disseminated results throughpublications in scientific journals, as listed in this report. In addition, results were presented at several online or in person venues during this reporting period. PI Nancy Moran presented at the Texas Science Festival panel on "Saving the bees" (College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas), the Carnegie Institute of Science (Department of Embryology), and a conference on "From flowers to landscapes: the natural processes influencing pollinator health" (Kew Royal Botanical Gardens). Research Technician Eli Powell presented in the2 Bees in a Podcast (Univ. of Fla), theAustin Nature & Science Center's "Lunch & Learn" webinar, theUS Bartenders Guild Austin Chapter monthly meeting on "Beekeeping for Barkeepers-honey and mead", theNortheast Treatment Free Beekeeping Conference. Postdoctoral researcher Erick Motta gave an invited presentation at VAAM (the main German microbiological meeting on "How herbicides affect the gut microbiota and health of honey bees" and also in a Brazilian venue (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora) on "Abelhas melíferas como modelo animal para estudos de microbioma". What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have initiated a project on the effects of dietary supplements on the microbiota of honey bees. Some of these experiments have been completed; others will be conducted during the 2022 season. We also will perform further experiments on the potential benefits of probiotic supplements, consisting of native gut bacterial strains. These experiments were planned earlier, but pandemic delays have resulted in their being postponed to the 2022 field season. In addition, we have initiated a project on the ability of the gut microbiota to detoxify specific plant-produced toxins, and we will complete this project and publish it during the next, and final, reporting period. We will continue the undergraduate engagement in the Freshman Research Initiative course.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We carried out 3major research projects during this reporting period. First, we examined the effects of glyphosate on the immune responses of honey bees, to determine if such effects may contribute to the disruption of the microbiota previously documented to result from glyphosate exposure (supported by this award in prior years). We found rather large effects on innate immune responses, reflected in bee gene expression. This was published recently (Motta 2022). Second, we tested whether field-realistic doses of the antibiotic tylosin affected the bee microbiota, whether this affected bee health, and whether effects could be lessened by probiotic application of natural gut microbiota. We found significant effects on bee microbiota and found that probiotics could improve the microbiota and bee resistance to pathogens. This was published in 2021 (Powell et al. 2021). Third, we have an ongoing project on the ability of the bee gut microbiota to metabolize plant-produced toxins. This project has promising results, and is ongoing. We supported undergraduate education on pollinator biology, through the efforts of Dr. Jo Holley working with UT students in the Freshman Research Initiative.A total of 35 students were enrolled during this reporting year. Pandemic restrictions were mostly relaxed, so the students were able to have in person lab and field research projects.We also included aUT undergraduate research assistantin the experimental work.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Motta, E., J. E. Powell, S. P. Leonard, N. A. Moran. 2022. Prospects for probiotics in social bees. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (in press).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Motta, E., J. E. Powell, N. A. Moran. 2022. Glyphosate induces immune dysregulation in honey bees. Animal Microbiome 4; 16.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Powell, J. E., Z. Carver, S. P. Leonard, N. A. Moran. 2021. Field-realistic tylosin exposure impacts honey bee microbiota and pathogen susceptibility, which is ameliorated by native gut probiotics. Microbiology Spectrum 9: e0010321.
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Progress 03/01/20 to 02/28/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes beekeepers and others in the beekeeping industry, and anyone involved in protecting hearlth of honey bees and bumblebees, which are key in pollination of crops. Our work is aimed at improving methods for protectingbee health. A secondary audience is students from undergraduate to graduate levels, for whom we are providing education about pollinators and pollinator health. This audience includes undergraduate students in the Freshman Research Initiative program at UT-Austin.Finally, we also do general outreach education on this topic, for K-12 students and for the public, including amateur beekeepers. Changes/Problems:The pandemic had a big impact on our ability to do experiments in the early part of the 2020 season. Under UT research restrictions, we were limited in ability to carry out new experiments. However, postdoc Erick Motta managed to be quite productive, as he had data from earlier experimental work to analyze. Also, by June 2020, he was able to coordinate with Research Scientist Eli Powell to move some new experiments forward. In later season 2020 (August-November), our hives were healthy, and we were able to carry out new experiments,on effects of tylosin and effects of probiotics. Altogether, these challenges did not result in a major change in plans or approaches. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We continued the undergraduate education effort, led by Dr. Joanne Holley, for 35 students in the Freshman Research Initiative at UT Austin. Although many activities were carried out remotely, due to pandemic restrictions, there was some ability to have in-person lab work and in- person outdoor researchfor these students. This project has also continued to add to the professional development of Dr. Erick Motta and Research Scientist Eli Powell. Undergraduate researcher participation was curtailed this year as we could not recruit new undergraduates to the lab due to the pandemic restrictions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Besides the UT undergraduate efforts, we heldseveral remote presentations to beekeeper groups. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will complete additional experiments on the use of natural strains of bee gut bacteria as probiotic mixtures to improve bee health and survivorship in the field. We plan to emphasize field experiments, in order to take advantage of the 60 hives that we maintain under this award, located on a ranch near Austin.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The 2020 season was challenging due to the covid-19 pandemic. Dr Erick Motta is a postdoctoral researcher leading many aspects of this project, and he was forced to stay in Brazil for several months, due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. Fortunately he was able to be productive in analyzing data and completing two papers for publication, examiing in depth the effects of different concentrations of glyphosate on bee microbiota and bee resistance to pathogens. Additionally, he was able to coordinate new experiments with Research Scientist Eli Powell. Once back in Austin, he was able tocarry out new experiments in late season of 2020, on how glyphosate and tylosin affect the honey bee immnune response. This paper is in draft form, and will be submitted in spring 2021. Powell was able to complete a full set of experiments on effects of tylosin on bee gut microbiota and bee survivorship, using field hives at standard treatment levels for tylosin. He also included experiements on using natural probiotics containing bee gut bacteria, to test whether these bolster bee resistance to pathogens. This paper is in draft form, and will be submitted in spring 2021. Together these efforts add considerably to understanding of how different agro-chemicals affect bee microbiota and bee health, and how we might use natural probiotics to mitigate these negative effects.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Motta, E., N. A. Moran. 2020. Impact of glyphosate on the honey bee gut microbiota: effects of intensity, duration and timing of exposure. mSystems 5: e00268-20
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Motta, E., M. Mak, T. K. De Jong, J. E. Powell, A. ODonnell, K. J. Suhr, I. M. Riddington, N. A. Moran. 2020. Oral and topical exposure to glyphosate in herbicide formulation impact the gut microbiota and survival rates of honey bees). Applied and Environmental Microbiology 86: e01150-20.
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Progress 03/01/19 to 02/29/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes beekeepers and others in the beekeeping industry, and anyone involved in protecting hearlth of honey bees and bumblebees, which are key in pollination of crops. Our work is aimed at improving methods for protecting bee health. A secondary audience is students from undergraduate to graduate levels, for whom we are providing education about pollinators and pollinator health. Finally, we also do general outreach education on this topic, for K-12 students and for the public, including amateur beekeepers. Changes/Problems:This year we had much better survivorship of our bee colonies, so we do not expect a recurrence of the problems encountered last year. This will enable us to begin our experiments earlier, as we will not have to reestablish hives. Toensure continuity of the work, Dr. Erick Motta is continuing on the project as a postdoctoral researcher, as he completed his PhD in August 2019. Thus we do not have major changes or problems to report and are looking forward to a productive 2020 season. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two undergraduate students and 1 graduate student have been very involved in the research; grad student Erick Motta performed most of his dissertation on this topic, and completed his PhD in August 2019. He then transitioned to a postdoctoral position and is continuing to pursue this work under support from this award. In addition, we have given in-depth, hands-on education to 25 undergradaute students enrolled in the Freshman Research Initiative at UT Austin. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have submitted one additional paper, now under review (listed under Products), and have two additional manuscripts that will be submitted soon. This work has been presented at severalscientific meetings and departmental seminars. Members of the research team have presentedour research to beekeeping groups, including the beekeepers of San Antonio and Austin. We also discuss the work with landowners in Central Texas, as we are keeping our hives on private land provided to us by ranchers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are currently analyzing results from the 2019 season, and expect to complete this phase by late March before the new bee season begins. We have planned additional experiments on effects of agrochemicals on hive health and on micrxobiota composition within hives. In addition, we will perform experiments on whether addition of probiotic mixtures of natural gut bacteria can boost the health of hives that have been perturbed. These experiments will take place during the 2020 season, using hives purchased on this award and maintained in Driftwood Texas.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We completed a large number of experimental trials aimed at identifying how honey bee hives are affected by agrochemicals, including glyphosate and the antibiotic tylosin. These trials included both field experiments on outdoor hives and also lab experiments on honey bee workers within growth chambers. We are in process of analyzing and writing up these results for publication. One manuscript, now under review, shows a dose-dependent effect of glyphosate on honey bee microbiota, and is a major step towards identifying the levels of this compound that are harmful to bees. We also have worked with identifying defined communites of lab-cultured bacteria that might boost the health of bees for which the gut microbiota has been perturbed. FInally, we performed the first trials of the effects of tylosin (an antibiotic used in beekeeping) on honey bee microbiota and honey bee survivorship. Our educational and outreach accomplishments include hands-on education on pollinators for 25 undergraduates in the Freshman Research Initiative stream, which receives partial support from this award. Dr. Jo Holley works with the students on projects on pollinating insects, including both honey bees and native pollinators.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
The Effects of Agrochemicals on the Gut Microbiota of Honey Bees
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Dose dependent effects of glyphosate on the honey bee gut microbiota
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Progress 03/01/18 to 02/28/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The targe audience consists of those involved in beekeeping, and in protecting hearlth of honey bees and bumblebees, which are key in pollination of crops. Our work is aimed at improving methods for protecting bee health. A secondary audience is students from undergraduate to graduate levels, for whom we are providing education about pollinators and pollinator health. Finally, we also do general outreach education on this topic, for K-12 students and for the public, including amateur beekeepers. Changes/Problems:THe main adjustment is the result of poor overwintering survivorship of our colonies. This was a problem for all central Texas beekeepers this season. We have had to reestablish colonies from new packages, which is an extra expense and which results in some delay for the initiation of our experiments. However, the basic experimental plan remains the same. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four undergraduate students worked directly on this project. An additional group of undergraduate students were educated about pollinators and pollinator health as part of a course linked to our lab's work on honey bees; this course receives partial support from this award. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?PI Moran has given several talks at international meetings and at departmental seminars and has included results from this project. The graduate student supported on this award has given a talk to beekeepers in the Austin area and also to some UT donors who live in the Amarillo area, THe latter talk also included the president and provost of UT Austin. THe paper published in PNAS was supported in part on this award, and led to several news stories on our work. THe work was covered by a UT press release and by many newspapers as well as National Public Radio and other major news media in the US and Europe. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will perform experiments during the 2019 season, using our bee colonies that were purchased on this award. Experiments will include perturbation experiments as well as probiotic supplementation experiments, to determine the role of microbiota in bee health.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We established 60 new bee colonies for use in experiments during this project. We performed initial experiments, exposing bees to antibiotic treatments, to examine the effect on the microbiota. We also perfomed numerous lab experiments to examine the effect of exposure on bee gut microbiota and on bee health. THese experiments are being used in the design of larger scale experiments for the 2019 season.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Motta, E., Raymann, K., and N. A. Moran. 2018. Glyphosate perturbs the microbiota of honey bees. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 115(41):10305-10310.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Raymann, K., S. Salisbury, K. L. Coon, Z. Shaffer, and N. A. Moran. 2018. Pathogenicity of Serratia marcescens strains in honey bees. mBio, 9(5):mBio01649-18.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Zheng, H., M. I. Steele, S. P. Leonard, E. V. S. Motta, and N. A. Moran. 2018. Honey bees as models for gut microbiota research. Lab Animal 47: 317-325.
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