Apilactobacillus zhangqiuensis sp. nov. and Apilactobacillus xinyiensis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Abstract

Three Gram-stain-positive bacterial strains (designated F502-1T, F575-4T and F582-1) were isolated from the gut of honeybee (Apis mellifera). These strains were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain F502-1T was phylogenetically related to the type strains of Apilactobacillus kunkeei , Apilactobacillus nanyangensis and Apilactobacillus apinorum , having 98.7–99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 84.6–92.5 % pheS sequence similarities and 95.2–99.0 % rpoA sequence similarities, and that strains F575-4T and F582-1 were closely related to the type strain of Apilactobacillus ozensis , having 99.7 and 99.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. Strains F575-4T and F582-1 had less than 88.7 % pheS and 96.4 % rpoA sequence similarities to strain F502-1T and type strains of all Apilactobacillus species. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains F502-1T, F575-4T, F582-1 and type strains of all Apilactobacillus species were less than 91.3 and 43.5 %, respectively, confirming that they represent two novel species within the genus Apilactobacillus . Based upon the data obtained in the present study, two novel species, Apilactobacillus zhangqiuensis sp. nov. and Apilactobacillus xinyiensis sp. nov., are proposed and the type strains are F502-1T (=JCM 34500T=CCTCC AB 2021026T) and F575-4T (=JCM 34501T=CCTCC AB 2021028T), respectively.

Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Algerian Honeybee and Honey and Exploration of Their Potential Probiotic and Functional Features for Human Use

“…The same findings were reported for different or identical phylotypes of the genus Lactobacillus originating from honeybees guts and their food [ 58 , 64 , 65 ]. Recently, three and two species belonging to Apilacobacillus and Lactobacillus , respectively, were described as novel and hosting the Apis mellifera gut [ 10 , 66 , 67 ]. Lactobacillus kimbladii and Lactobacillus kullabergensis , belonging to the Firm-5 clade, were commonly identified as the most numerically abundant phylotype in honey bee guts [ 68 , 69 ].…”

“…In this regard, in the last few years, symbiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) microbiota were first located in the honey crop of Apis mellifera , and later in bee hive environments [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The majority of these symbionts were described as novel species [ 10 , 11 ]. Besides its role in the honeybee’s food production and preservation, these co-evolved microbiota have shown a protective action against severe bee pathogens involving different mechanisms such as biofilms formation, preventing gut dysbiosis, release of antimicrobial compounds and immunomodulatory properties [ 12 , 13 ]; in addition, they can increase the longevity of the host via rescued metabolic stress markers [ 14 ].…”

“…Recently, Lactobacillus kunkeei and Lactobacillus apinorum , two of nine honeybee lactobacilli, were reclassified in new genus “ Apilactobacillus ” [ 19 ]. Both species belongs to fructofilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB), a specific subgroup of LAB [ 20 ], which tend to expand continuously [ 10 , 21 ]. Essentially, the FLAB group is represented only by Lactobacillus and Fructobacillus genera.…”