Comprehension of the age-dependent gut and brain interaction of honey bee workers by integration of multi omics approaches.

Introduction: In honey bees, division of labour is a key feature, with age-related behavioural transitions being closely associated with molecular changes in the brain, gut, and microbiota. Despite evidence of both microbiome and brain changes in honey bees, most studies focus on either aspect or a single method of investigation, limiting our understanding of their interconnected roles in development and task differentiation.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the molecular changes in the gut and brain in honey bee workers of different ages using (meta-)proteomics and metabolomics to better understand their contribution to behavioural responses and modulation.