Publications by authors named "Alan Emanuel Silva Cerqueira"
Article Synopsis
- The gut microbiota of Melipona bees is notably different from other social bees, lacking key core gut symbionts and showing a variety of environmental strains.
- A study of three Melipona species revealed that they have higher microbial diversity and unique bacterial compositions compared to their honey, with distinct differences also found in fungal communities.
- Key findings indicate the absence of the typical eusocial symbionts and a prevalence of Lactobacillaceae and other strains thought to be acquired through horizontal transmission from their pollination environment, highlighting the unique evolutionary path of Melipona microbiota.
Animal-microbe symbioses are often stable for millions of years. An example is the clade consisting of social corbiculate bees-honeybees, bumblebees, and stingless bees-in which a shared ancestor acquired specialized gut bacteria that subsequently diversified with hosts. This model may be incomplete, however, as few microbiomes have been characterized for stingless bees, which are diverse and ecologically dominant pollinators in the tropics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF