Gut microbiota evaluation of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis in the detoxification of agrochemicals used in coffee production

• Grant number: 24/13652-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Mônica Tallarico Pupo
• Grantee: Bárbara Gimenes de Castro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07600-3 - CIBFar - Center for Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The socio-environmental impacts associated with the industrialization of agriculture since 1960 have called into questions the viability of maintaining this model to meet the world's growing demand for food. The ecosystem imbalance caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides has made the agricultural system increasingly dependent on these products and endangered biodiversity, especially pollinators. Bee diversity worldwide has declined by 25%, according to estimates, pesticides and industrial management being among the culprits. Bees' vulnerability to pesticides may be associated with the scarcity of detoxification genes compared to insect pests. In contrast, studies with Apis mellifera have highlighted the contribution of gut microbiota to xenobiotic metabolism, identifying species capable of biotransforming and/or modulating the insect's response to different agrochemicals. Considering the diversity of native bees and the importance of agricultural activity in Brazil, this project aims to explore the symbiotic interactions of the gut microbiota of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis involved in detoxifying Glyphosate, Imidacloprid, and Chlorpyrifos, pesticides used in coffee farm, the country's 4th largest agricultural production by value. To this end, tolerant microorganisms will be isolated and evaluated for growth kinetics at different pesticide concentrations, as well as their ability to biotransform them. By correlating this data with the identification of metabolic products, we aim to expand knowledge of stingless bee chemical ecology applied to ecotoxicology, contributing to advances in conservation policies for these species and exploring biotechnological potential aligned with Sustainable Agriculture.