Perhaps hearing discussions about food and the “good” and “bad” bacteria in our gut, we may have come across the term “microbiome” in reference to the community of microorganisms hosted on our body—on its skin and gut. These microscopic communities are dynamic and essential for health.

As people, we first acquire our microbiome from our mothers during birth and then through close contact with family and friends. Similarly and somewhat more simple, a honey bee too has a microbiome living in its gut:  billions of tiny organisms—mostly bacteria—working together to keep the individual bee healthy. Since, unlike us, the honey bee is not born but emerges from her cell, she starts with almost no gut bacteria then “catches” its healthy microbiome through social contact with her sisters, specifically through food sharing (trophallaxis) and hive interactions.

In his talk, Michael Bennett discusses his PhD project researching the major honey bee diseases (Nosema, Chalkbrood, European Foulbrood [EFB] and American Foulbrood [AFB])  and describes how he has used molecular techniques to further understand these diseases and their impact on the honey bee gut microbiome.

Since he was 15, Michael has been working with animals in some capacity, from aquaria to zoos, by way, among others, of exotic pet shops and animal sanctuaries. This lifelong interest led Michael to complete two degrees, a BSc and an MSc in the field of Biology.  He has gone on to work in molecular biological laboratories using DNA to survey animals in their environment.  He has brought this expertise to his PhD research on honey bees at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Wallingford)  and the University of Reading.