About the project
Project Manager
Kalykova Assem
PhD, associate professor
Scopus Author ID: 56491387400
Web of Science Researcher ID: AAG-5794-2019
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7699-4561
Relevance
To date, the gut microbiome of the honeybee has not been utilized as a source of probiotics. In this context, the novelty of the proposed project lies in the comprehensive investigation of the natural microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract of locally adapted honeybee populations using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The integrated application of these methods to the same biological object will allow not only the characterization of microbial diversity and associated genomes, but also the verification of key assumptions regarding the structure of microbial communities in clinically healthy honeybees from different regions of the Republic. The results of this project may be applied in veterinary and medical practice for the prevention of pathological conditions associated with intestinal dysbiosis, as well as for the treatment of diseases of various etiologies.
In addition, there is growing global concern regarding the widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance, and increasing evidence indicates that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of antibiotic resistance. The honeybee is a key pollinator species; therefore, the presence and frequency of antibiotic resistance genes in the honeybee gut pose potential risks not only to honeybee health, but also to animal and human health, due to the honeybee’s potential role as a vector for dissemination, thereby attracting increasing public attention. Recent studies have demonstrated that the honeybee gut acts as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, likely as a consequence of historical antibiotic use in apiculture and horizontal gene transfer from highly contaminated environments. Antibiotic resistance genes accumulate in the honeybee gut and may be transferred to pathogenic microorganisms, with the potential for further dissemination during pollination, grooming, and social interactions. Consequently, investigation of the honeybee gut resistome enables the identification and assessment of the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes, highlighting the crucial role of the gut microbiota in shaping antibiotic resistance within honeybee colonies.
Aim
The aim of the project is a comprehensive investigation of the taxonomic diversity of microbial communities inhabiting the digestive system and the resistome of the honeybee in Kazakhstan using high-throughput next-generation sequencing, as well as the identification of natural-like medicinal products (pharmabiotics) with diverse functional applications.
Expected and Achieved Results
It is anticipated that a comprehensive analysis of the honeybee microbiome and resistome based on high-throughput sequencing data (shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA NGS) will provide representative information on the taxonomic composition, functional potential, and antibiotic resistance gene profiles of microbial communities associated with honeybees in Kazakhstan. The study is expected to identify characteristic microbiome and resistome signatures reflecting regional features and the health status of honeybee colonies, as well as to enable comparison with previously published metagenomic datasets available in international databases.
Overall, the resulting data on microbial species composition, functional pathways, and resistance genes will contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of the microbiome in honeybee physiology and health and will establish a scientific basis for the identification of potential candidates for natural origin pharmabiotics. In the longer term, the findings may be applied to the development of new biologically active and medicinal products, as well as to the formulation of practical recommendations aimed at maintaining and improving honeybee colony health. Successful implementation of the project will foster the advancement of metagenomic and bioinformatic research in veterinary science, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and related natural science fields in the Republic of Kazakhstan and will support the training of specialists in NGS technologies and microbiome analysis.
Information for Potential Users
The results of the metagenomic analysis of the honeybee microbiome and resistome in Kazakhstan may be used by researchers to investigate the structure and functional potential of microbial communities, to assess the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes, and to conduct comparative evolutionary and phylogenetic studies. Annotated nucleotide sequences and associated metadata deposited in international databases (NCBI) will enable their reuse and integration into global metagenomic research efforts.
For pharmaceutical and biotechnological organizations, the project data may serve as a foundation for the identification and selection of promising microorganisms and genes with potential applications in the development of pharmabiotics and other natural-like medicinal products. Practical recommendations developed as part of the project may be applied in beekeeping enterprises for monitoring the microbiome status of honeybee colonies and for designing measures aimed at enhancing their resilience and productivity.
Project Team
1. Kassymbekova Shinara
Candidate of Veterinary Sciences
Scopus Author ID: 57202643050
Researcher ID Web of Science: AAF-7874-2021
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2992-8817
2. Bimenova Zhanat
PhD, Acting аssociate professor
Scopus Author ID: 57208345895
Researcher ID: ID: GRS-4515-2022S
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1660-8040
3. Aygerim Orynbek
1st year doctoral student
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7848-7918
4. Sheralieva Zhanar
Scopus Author ID: 58513927700
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4437-1618