European Apis mellifera and Asian Apis cerana honeybees are essential crop pollinators. Microbiome studies can provide complex information on health and fitness of these insects in relation to environmental changes, and plant availability. Amplicon sequencing of variable regions of the 16S rRNA from bacteria and the internally transcribed spacer (ITS) regions from fungi and plants allow identification of the metabiome. These methods provide a tool for monitoring otherwise uncultured microbes isolated from the gut of the honeybees. They also help monitor the composition of the gut fungi and, intriguingly, pollen collected by the insect. Here, we present data from amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA from bacteria and ITS2 regions from fungi and plants derived from honeybees collected at various time points from anthropogenic landscapes such as urban areas in Poland, UK, Spain, Greece, and Thailand. We have analysed microbial content of honeybee intestine as well as fungi and pollens. Furthermore, isolated DNA was used as the template for screening pathogens: Nosema apis, N. ceranae, N. bombi, tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi), any organism in the parasitic order Trypanosomatida, including Crithidia spp. (i.e., Crithidia mellificae), neogregarines including Mattesia and Apicystis spp. (i.e., Apicistis bombi). We conclude that differences between samples were mainly influenced by the bacteria, plant pollen and fungi, respectively. Moreover, honeybees feeding on a sugar based diet were more prone to fungal pathogens (Nosema ceranae) and neogregarines. In most samples Nosema sp. and neogregarines parasitized the host bee at the same time. A higher load of fungi, and bacteria groups such as Firmicutes (Lactobacillus); γ-proteobacteria, Neisseriaceae, and other unidentified bacteria was observed for Nosema ceranae and neogregarine infected honeybees. Healthy honeybees had a higher load of plant pollen, and bacteria groups such as: Orbales, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, and Enterobacteriaceae. Finally, the period when honeybees switch to the winter generation (longer-lived forager honeybees) is the most sensitive to diet perturbations, and hence pathogen attack, for the whole beekeeping season. It is possible that evolutionary adaptation of bees fails to benefit them in the modern anthropomorphised environment.

Background/Objectives: Overgrowth syndromes (OGSs) are a heterogeneous group of rare conditions marked by excessive growth and variable neurodevelopmental and systemic features. They are broadly classified into generalized overgrowth (GOG) and segmental overgrowth (SOG), which differ in clinical presentation and genetic mechanisms. However, many cases remain genetically unresolved, especially in underrepresented populations. Methods: We analyzed a binational cohort of patients from Poland and Lithuania with suspected OGSs, using detailed clinical evaluation and exome sequencing (ES) from blood-derived DNA. Variants were interpreted using current clinical guidelines, and phenotypes were compared between the GOG and SOG groups. Results: Patients with GOG more often showed developmental delay, intellectual disability, neurological issues, and joint laxity, while vascular malformations were more common in patients with SOG. Dysmorphic features appeared earlier in the SOG group, but became more pronounced over time in the GOG group. Genetic analysis led to the identification of definitive diagnoses in 25% of individuals. Pathogenic variants were identified in the genes involved in chromatin regulation and epigenetic control (DNMT3A, EED, KMT5B, CHD3, and NSD1), along with novel variants expanding the known spectrum. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic architecture of OGSs in underrepresented Central and North-Eastern European populations, supporting the development of region-specific diagnostic and surveillance strategies.

The bodies of animals host millions of microbial communities collectively known as the microbiome. The microbiome plays a crucial role in various processes related to the host’s health and well-being. Although our understanding of the microbiome’s importance to host functioning is growing rapidly, many aspects remain poorly understood. One such aspect is the role of the microbiome in chemical communication. To address this question, we used the sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ), a reptile with well-developed chemosensory abilities and commonly distributed in Central Europe. Our first goal was to characterize the bacterial microbiome associated with different body parts potentially involved in chemical signalling ( e.g. , femoral glands, cloaca, and skin). Additionally, we examined sex-related differences in the microbiome that could be connected to intraspecific communication. Over two years, a total of 274 samples were collected. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA V3–V4 region revealed significant variation in microbial diversity across body parts, with the skin hosting the most diverse and balanced communities. In contrast, the cloaca and femoral glands contained less diverse but more specialised assemblages. No differences in microbial diversity between sexes were observed, but the year of sampling was an important factor, suggesting a highly dynamic microbiome in sand lizards. There was minimal overlap in the number of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) between body parts, indicating a small core microbiome (∼1% of shared taxa). Sex differences in tissue-specific bacteria were more pronounced in the cloaca, supporting the idea that the cloacal microbiome is highly specialised. Our findings suggest that microbial communities vary significantly among body parts, with strong tissue specificity, indicating that each region provides a distinct ecological niche. This study offers promising directions for future research into how host-associated microbiomes could influence chemical communication in vertebrates.