Metabolomics-guided comparison of pollen and microalgae-based artificial diets in honey bees

Authors: Ricigliano, Vincent; CANK, KRISTOF - University Of North Carolina Greensboro; TODD, DANIEL - University Of North Carolina Greensboro; KNOWLES, SONJA - University Of North Carolina Greensboro; OBERLIES, NICHOLAS - University Of North Carolina Greensboro

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2022
Publication Date: 7/27/2022
Citation: Ricigliano, V.A., Cank, K.B., Todd, D.A., Knowles, S.L., Oberlies, N.H. 2022. Metabolomics-guided comparison of pollen and microalgae-based artificial diets in honey bees. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02583.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02583

Interpretive Summary: Honey bees collect floral pollen as their source of macro- and micronutrients. Managed honey bee colonies used for agricultural pollination are fed artificial diets to offset nutritional deficiencies related to landscape homogenization and climate change. In this study, we made novel microalgae-based artificial diets using Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) biomass and fed them to young adult honey bee workers. Diet-induced changes in bee metabolite profiles were studied relative to a natural pollen diet using LC- and GC-MS metabolomics approaches. The metabolomes of pollen- and microalgae-fed bees exhibited significant overlap, particularly upon subtraction of unique diet features. Targeted analyses identified a wide variety of metabolites that were influenced by diet, including cuticular hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and bioactive aromatic compounds. The metabolomics results are useful to understand effects underlying growth performance, molecular nutritional status, and increased antioxidant gene expression in bees fed the microalgae diets. We conclude that microalgae have potential as sustainable bee feed additives and health-modulating natural products. Metabolomics-guided diet development could eventually help tailor feed interventions to achieve precision nutrition in honey bees.

Technical Abstract: Managed honey bee colonies used for agricultural pollination are fed artificial diets to offset nutritional deficiencies related to landscape homogenization and climate change. In this study, we formulated novel microalgae diets using Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) biomass and fed them to young adult honey bee workers. Diet-induced changes in bee metabolite profiles were studied relative to a natural pollen diet using LC- and GC-MS metabolomics approaches. The metabolomes of pollen- and microalgae-fed bees exhibited notable overlap, particularly upon subtraction of unique diet features. Untargeted and targeted analyses identified a wide variety of metabolites that were influenced by diet, including complex lipids, essential fatty acids, and bioactive phytochemicals. The metabolomics results are useful to understand mechanisms underlying favorable growth performance as well as increased antioxidant and heat shock protein gene expression in bees fed the microalgae diets. We conclude that the tested microalgae have potential as sustainable feed additives and health-modulating natural products. Metabolomics-guided diet development could eventually help tailor feed interventions to achieve precision nutrition in honey bees.