近年来，随着全球气候变化、栖息地丧失、农药不合理使用、病原物等多种环境和疾病的压力，蜜蜂的生存受到严重威胁。意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera作为重要的传粉昆虫，其体内肠道微生物群在新陈代谢、生长发育、抵御病原体和免疫等方面发挥着重要作用。而且，蜜蜂体内含有相对简单但高度特化的肠道微生物，可以实现体外培养，从而也成为研究微生物与宿主的互作模型。本文基于国内外研究进展，系统论述了意大利蜜蜂肠道微生物群落组成、在肠道中的分布结构及变化规律，阐述了肠道菌群在宿主体内发挥的作用，特别是在抵抗病原物和影响宿主生长发育等方面的重要功能，进一步探讨了保护蜜蜂的措施及未来需要解决的关键科学问题，为蜜蜂的保护利用提供参考。

In recent years, the survival of the Western honeybee, Apis mellifera, an important pollinator, has been severely threatened by climate change, habitats loss, pesticides, pathogens and other environmental pressures. Gut microbiota plays an important role in honeybee metabolism, growth, development, disease resistance and immune response. Honeybees contain relatively simple, but highly specialized, gut microbiota, which can be cultured in vitro and used as a model for insect gut microbiota in general. Based on domestic and overseas research, we elaborated the composition of the gut microbiota of honeybees, their distribution in the gut, and how they respond to environmental change, especially when challenged by pathogens and during host growth and development. In addition, we discuss measures to protect honeybees and the key obstacles to improved protection and utilization of these essential insects.