Microbial allies in bee nests
Kenya E. Fernandes A B *A
B
Dr Kenya Fernandes is a microbiologist exploring how microbes shape pollinator health, ecosystems and human wellbeing. Her research focuses on bee–microbe interactions, the antimicrobial properties of honey, and drug discovery for fungal infections. She is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellow at The University of Sydney and a Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM. |
Abstract
Bee nests harbour diverse microbial communities that play essential roles in bee health, nutrition and protection against disease. These microbial ecosystems can vary significantly across bee species, shaped by a combination of environmental factors, host behaviours and evolutionary histories. Bacteria and fungi contribute to the production, preservation and antimicrobial properties of bee foods like bee bread and honey. Within the bee body itself, microbial communities colonise the gut and exoskeleton, providing critical functions in digestion, immunity and pathogen defence. Environmental stressors such as agricultural chemicals, habitat fragmentation, climate change and disease increasingly disrupt these microbial communities, compromising colony health and survival. Understanding these complex bee–microbe interactions offers promising new perspectives for addressing global pollinator declines through microbe-aware management practices and conservation strategies. Effective pollinator conservation must protect both macroscopic and microscopic aspects of bee ecology, with significant implications for biodiversity, agriculture and ecosystem resilience.
Keywords: bee health, bee microbiome, colony health, environmental stressors, fermentation, honey bees, nest microbiome, pollinators, wild bees.
Dr Kenya Fernandes is a microbiologist exploring how microbes shape pollinator health, ecosystems and human wellbeing. Her research focuses on bee–microbe interactions, the antimicrobial properties of honey, and drug discovery for fungal infections. She is an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) fellow at The University of Sydney and a Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM. |
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