Dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis-like gut permeability and dysbiosis in honeybees

The gut microbiota has been linked to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Current animal models are limited in the generation of germ-free animals to evaluate the roles of gut bacteria in intestinal health. Here, we used the honeybee (Apis mellifera) as a model animal to develop colitis-like gut permeability induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. We found that DSS could increase gut permeability and compromise the mucosal barrier in honeybees, resulting in...