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Direct and indirect mechanisms through which “non-antimicrobial” pesticides deteriorate bee-associated microbial communities. The panels on the left (A, B) highlight how both the parent compound and breakdown metabolites of pesticides can cause direct harm to microbial cells. The panels on the right (C, D) highlight how pesticides can alter microbial homeostasis through modulating host immune gene expression and behaviour in honey bees.
Source publication
There is emerging concern regarding the unintentional and often unrecognized antimicrobial properties of “non-antimicrobial” pesticides. This includes insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides commonly used in agriculture that are known to produce broad ranging, off-target effects on beneficial wildlife, even at seemingly non-toxic low dose exposure...
Citations
... Frequent pesticide usage might hamper the world's ecosystem and increase various diseases. Due to antimicrobial effects, strong relations between pesticides and microbiome decline were sued (Chukwuka et al. 2022, Daisley et al. 2022, Ayari et al. 2023. The prevalence of respiratory diseases (tuberculosis, Johne's disease, etc.) is increasing with time in various resource-limited regions (Rehman et al. 2022). ...
PUBLISHED ONLINE: Pyrethroids are popular insecticides. Shortness of breath and dyspnea are key signs of exposure;however, their respiratory effects are rarely studied. This study investigated the combination andratios of specific blood tests and lung lesions as respiratory effects of cypermethrin (CY) in rabbits.The effects of CY at various doses and times are the novelty of this study. Doses (50, 100, and150mg.kg-1body weight) of CY were injected intraperitoneally every week for up to 9 weeks inrabbits assigned into four equal groups. Data analysis revealed various respiratory signs, signifi-cantly (p�0.05) lower fibrinogen, higher neutrophils-lymphocytes (NL), LDH-lymphocytes (LL),and De-Ritis ratios (DR), and lesions in the lungs. The frequency and incidence of these effectswere dose and dosage dependent. The CY leads to pulmonary signs and allergic effects. Lunginjury increases cell-free heme in plasma, causing pulmonary edema with hemolysis. Emphysemaand fibrosis followed the migration of basophils and mononuclear cells to the lungs. This studyinferred that CY exposure caused lower fibrinogen, higher NL, LL, and DR ratios, and pulmonarylesions, which forecast poor immunity, especially increased risk for cardiac and lung diseases.
... Similarly, although several types of microorganisms have been proven to be effective for plant stress alleviation and growth promotion (Nephali et al., 2020), only a few formulations have reached the market, mainly due to the lack of reproducibility in the field of the results observed in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. This failure could be related to: i) loss of microorganism viability during the shelf storage or even during the treatment; ii) poor stability in the formulation or scarcity of methods to store the microorganisms without disrupting their microbial interactions; iii) incomplete or poor-quality formulation; iv) management practices (such as chemical inputs, fertilizers, tillage, etc.) that affect agricultural microbiomes through modifications of microbe-microbe and plant-microbe interactions; and v) competitivity of the microorganism inoculated (Daisley et al., 2022;French et al., 2021;Vassilev et al., 2020). ...
Over the past decades, the atmospheric CO2 concentration and global average temperature have been increasing, and this trend is projected to soon become more severe. This scenario of climate change intensifies abiotic stress factors (such as drought, flooding, salinity, and ultraviolet radiation) that threaten forest and associated ecosystems as well as crop production. These factors can negatively affect plant growth and development with a consequent reduction in plant biomass accumulation and yield, in addition to increasing plant susceptibility to biotic stresses. Recently, biostimulants have become a hotspot as an effective and sustainable alternative to alleviate the negative effects of stresses on plants. However, the majority of biostimulants have poor stability under environmental conditions, which leads to premature degradation, shortening their biological activity. To solve these bottlenecks, micro- and nano-based formulations containing biostimulant molecules and/or microorganisms are gaining attention, as they demonstrate several advantages over their conventional formulations. In this review, we focus on the encapsulation of plant growth regulators and plant associative microorganisms as a strategy to boost their application for plant protection against abiotic stresses. We also address the potential limitations and challenges faced for the implementation of this technology, as well as possibilities regarding future research.
... Some pesticides contain anti-microbial compounds, which may harm the environmental microbiome. Pesticides may indirectly change the trajectory of host-microbiome coevolution in honey bees and alter their social behaviours, with potential implications for plant-pollinator symbioses [49]. Herbicides such as glyphosate have been shown to affect neuronal communication, resulting in altered behaviours and gut microbiota in rodent models [50]. ...
Early childhood is a time of rapid physiological, cognitive, and social development, affected by various environmental factors. The physical environment, including the environmental microbiome (the entire consortium of microorganisms and their theatre of activity in a given environment), plays an essential role in childhood development and can be shaped in ways to support health and wellbeing. In this Perspective article, we present considerations for early childhood education settings that wish to shape their outdoor and indoor environments to optimise human and ecosystem health. This is done in line with the latest evidence base on optimising health-supporting interactions between humans and environmental microbiota, but also in pedagogically and developmentally appropriate ways. Based on the Microbiome-Inspired Green Infrastructure (MIGI) principles, the considerations presented here not only support health through human–nature interactions and a healthier natural environment, but also promote a closer, reciprocal relationship between children and their natural environments.
... These non-target organisms can be economically important like pollinators or some insects beneficial to the farmers and disruption of food chain and biogeochemical cycles [1,2,3]. Recently, the ill effects of antimicrobial activity of pesticides on the non-target microorganisms like rhizosphere microflora is reported [4]. It should be ensured that the used pesticide is biodegradable after its action is exerted and it does not affect the non-target plants and animals [5]. ...
... Altered transgenerational immune priming could be one factor involved in the case of AFB [34,35], although findings have been inconsistent or context-dependent for other infectious bacterial diseases [36] as well as viral diseases [37]. Determining how repeat exposure to antibiotics (as well as pesticides with antimicrobial properties [1]) affects immune function and long-term health trajectory of honey bees under controlled conditions is a topic worthy of future investigation. ...
Paenibacillus larvae is a spore-forming bacterial entomopathogen and causal agent of the important honey bee larval disease, American foulbrood (AFB). Active infections by vegetative P. larvae are often deadly, highly transmissible, and incurable for colonies but, when dormant, the spore form of this pathogen can persist asymptomatically for years. Despite intensive investigation over the past century, this process has remained enigmatic. Here, we provide an up-to-date synthesis on the often overlooked microbiota factors involved in the spore-to-vegetative growth transition (corresponding with the onset of AFB disease symptoms) and offer a novel outlook on AFB pathogenesis by focusing on the 'collaborative' and 'competitive' interactions between P. larvae and other honey bee-adapted microorganisms. Furthermore, we discuss the health trade-offs associated with chronic antibiotic exposure and propose new avenues for the sustainable control of AFB via probiotic and microbiota management strategies.
... So far, the studies in terrestrial invertebrates have mainly concentrated on bees (but see [62,63] for effects on beetles and mosquitoes using both active ingredients and formulations). For example, glyphosate (active ingredient) has been shown to increase pathogenic and decrease symbiotic bacteria [64,65], which may affect the susceptibility of bees to viral and fungal pathogens [56,66] with survival effects cascading to the ecosystem level. In addition to direct herbicide exposure, herbicide-altered plant microbiomes and/or metabolomes in plant leaves, pollen, and nectar may alter the exposure and consumption of pollinators and herbivores, which can have cascading effects on their gut microbiomes and, therefore, the health of the pollinators and herbivores [86]. ...
... In addition to direct herbicide exposure, herbicide-altered plant microbiomes and/or metabolomes in plant leaves, pollen, and nectar may alter the exposure and consumption of pollinators and herbivores, which can have cascading effects on their gut microbiomes and, therefore, the health of the pollinators and herbivores [86]. Herbicides also lead to consistent compositional and functional changes in vertebrate models (mice and poultry [3,28,31,56,67]; both active ingredients Box 1. Active ingredients and co-formulants Herbicides used in the field are a combination of the active ingredient and a complex mixture of co-formulants. A compound is classified as active when it is intentionally added for toxicity to target species. ...
... This figure was created using BioRender (https://biorender.com/). virtually all plant aboveground (phyllosphere) interactions with other coevolving organisms such as pathogens, plant-mutualistic microbes, herbivores, and pollinators[16,50,56,57] (Figure 1). For example, in Arabidopsis thaliana glyphosate altered the plant metabolome, causing a change in the core phyllosphere microbiome ([27] ...
Non-target organisms are globally exposed to herbicides. While many herbicides - for example, glyphosate - were initially considered safe, increasing evidence demonstrates that they have profound effects on ecosystem functions via altered microbial communities. We provide a comprehensive framework on how herbicide residues may modulate ecosystem-level outcomes via alteration of microbiomes. The changes in soil microbiome are likely to influence key nutrient cycling and plant-soil processes. Herbicide-altered microbiome affects plant and animal performance and can influence trophic interactions such as herbivory and pollination. These changes are expected to lead to ecosystem and even evolutionary consequences for both microbes and hosts. Tackling the threats caused by agrochemicals to ecosystem functions and services requires tools and solutions based on a comprehensive understanding of microbe-mediated risks.
... More globally, pesticides may indirectly alter the trajectory of host-microbiota coevolution as revealed in honeybees through modulation of social behaviors and the insect gut-brain axis (Daisley et al. 2022). On top of their direct impacts on insects per se, we should also critically evaluate the pesticide influence on their microbiota and the functions it ensures. ...
Insects play many important roles in nature due to their diversity, ecological role, and impact on agriculture or human health. They are directly influenced by environmental changes and in particular anthropic activities that constitute an important driver of change in the environmental characteristics. Insects face numerous anthropogenic stressors and have evolved various detoxication mechanisms to survive and/or resist to these compounds. Recent studies highligted the pressure exerted by xenobiotics on insect life-cycle and the important role of insect-associated bacterial microbiota in the insect responses to environmental changes. Stressor exposure can have various impacts on the composition and structure of insect microbiota that in turn may influence insect biology. Moreover, bacterial communities associated with insects can be directly or indirectly involved in detoxification processes with the selection of certain microorganisms capable of degrading xenobiotics. Further studies are needed to assess the role of insect-associated microbiota as key contributor to the xenobiotic metabolism and thus as a driver for insect adaptation to polluted habitats.
Agriculture has a vital role in the life cycle of an economy. Phytopathogenic microorganisms negatively influence many crops, the economy, and the Environment worldwide. Beneficial plant microbiomes have the immense potential to provide cost-effective and maintainable solutions to existing agricultural challenges. The yield improvement can partly be credited to advanced plant pest and disease management, including better knowledge of phytopathogens and diverse control methods. Well-organized and balanced crop protection is of vast economic and ecological importance for food and feed production. A varied variety of goods made of plastics are utilized in farming which consists of poly-tunnels, plastic reservoirs, mulches, ropes, agrochemical cans, various nets, irrigation systems, packaging bags, nursery pots, anti-bird nets, greenhouses, and their components, wear and tear of these products are hosts of diverse microorganisms in agriculture. However, little investigation has been done to explore plastic microbes' diversity, survival strategies, and interaction mechanisms with plants. Several advanced approaches, including metagenomics, metabolomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and culturomics, are currently available to scrutinize the multiplicity, composition, and functions of the microbiomes in soil and plant habitats such as rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere. This review highlights the increasing use of plastic, plastic microbiomes, subsequent challenges, and future perspectives in agriculture. It emphasizes using advanced molecular tools and techniques to explore the microbiome diversity and the mechanism of plant-microbe interaction. The analyzed knowledge gaps in the host-pathogen relationship research area will help to redraft better research approaches based on economic thresholds.
Soil amendment is a viable alternative to chemical fumigants thanks its benefits on soil quality, microbial biodiversity, and plant health being valorized underused biomass. Nonetheless, the concepts of durability and stability for disease suppressive soils are became a critical issue in the advanced organic cropping systems. Although a comprehensive and critical literature is available, this paper briefly analyzes the governance of the soil organic amendments as an external source of organic matter and beneficial microbiota in view of new opportunities and technological advancements. Particularly, it discusses some possible solutions for developing the suppressive properties of the amended-soils by helping grower to well understand the complex processes/interactions that lead to soil suppressiveness from the most practical viewpoints according to the principles of green economy.
Keywords:
Circular economy
Disease suppression durability
Soil-borne plant pathogen
Soil microbiota
Soil quality
Background
Microbial communities are found on any part of animal bodies exposed to the environment, and are particularly prominent in the gut, where they play such a major role in the host metabolism and physiology to be considered a “second genome”. These communities, collectively known as “microbiome”, are well studied in humans and model species, while studies on wild animals have lagged behind. This is unfortunate, as different studies suggested the central role of the gut microbiome in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of species and their population dynamics. Among bird species, only few descriptions of raptor gut microbiomes are available, and mainly carried out on captive individuals.
Objectives
In this study, we aimed at improving the knowledge of raptor microbiomes by providing the first description of the gut microbiome of the lesser kestrel ( Falco naumanni ), a cavity-nesting raptor.
Results
The gut microbiome of the lesser kestrel was dominated by Actinobacteria (83.9%), Proteobacteria (8.6%) and Firmicutes (4.3%). We detected no differences in microbiome composition between males and females. Furthermore, the general composition of the microbiome appears similar to that of phylogenetically distant cavity-nesting species.
Conclusions
Our results broaden the knowledge of raptor gut microbial communities and let us hypothesize that the distinct nest environment in terms of microclimate and presence of organic material from previous breeding attempts, to which cavity-nesting species that reuse the nest are exposed, might be an important driver shaping microbiomes.
