Insight into probiotic properties of lactic acid bacterial endosymbionts of Apis mellifera L. derived from the Polish apiary

Abstract

Taking into account that fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) can play an important role in the health of honey bees and can be used as probiotics, phenotypic properties of probiotic interest of Lactobacillus kunkeei (12 strains) and Fructobacillus fructossus bacteria (2 strains), isolated from Apis mellifera gastrointestinal tract, have been studied. We have evaluated survival of tested FLAB in honey bee gut, their susceptibility to antibiotics (ampicillin, erythromycin, tylosin), cell surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation ability, co-aggregation with model pathogenic bacteria, biofilm formation capacity, and effect of studied FLAB, added to sucrose syrup bee diet, on longevity of honey bees. The tested FLAB exhibited good gastrointestinal tract tolerance and high antibiotic susceptibility, which are important criteria in the screening of probiotic candidates. It was also found that all FLAB studied have high cell surface hydrophobicity and fulfil next selection criterion for their use as probiotics. Symbionts of A. mellifera showed also auto- and co-aggregation capacities regarded as valuable features for biofilm formation and inhibition of pathogens adhesion to the bee gut cells. Biofilm-development ability is a desired characteristic of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. As indicated by quantitative crystal violet-stained microplate assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging, all studied A. mellifera gut isolates exhibit a biofilm positive phenotype. Moreover, it was also documented, on honey bees kept in cages, that supplementation of A. mellifera sucrose diet with FLAB decreases mortality and improves significantly longevity of honey bees. Presented research showed that A. mellifera FLAB symbionts are good candidates for application as probiotics.

In vitro probiotic and safety attributes of Bacillus spp. isolated from beebread, honey samples and digestive tract of honeybees Apis mellifera

“…In recent years, importance of probiotics in bees has surfaced following reports that showed the presence of beneficial microbes in the gut of honeybees (Pachla et al 2021;Toutiaee et al 2021). Although, evidences exist showing the effectiveness of the probiotic bacteria in the same host from which it was originally isolated (Ptaszyńska et al 2016), but the fact they are efficient in hosts different from their original isolation source is not negated.…”

“…In recent years, importance of probiotics in bees has surfaced following reports that showed the presence of beneficial microbes in the gut of honeybees (Pachla et al . 2021; Toutiaee et al . 2021).…”

Dominance of Fructose-Associated Fructobacillus in the Gut Microbiome of Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) Inhabiting Natural Forest Meadows

“…in B. terrestris microbiomes, between natural habitats and agricultural habitats, suggest that bumblebees feeding in agricultural areas may be more susceptible to pathogens and parasites [62] and less resistant to changes in the environment. Fructobacillus bacteria are highly susceptible to antibiotics [63], and if beekeepers use antibiotics to treat bacterial diseases of honeybees, this can lead to the depletion of Fructobacillus bacteria in the honeybee gut [63]. If honeybees in the agricultural environment leave antibiotic residues on flowers, bumblebees may collect these residues together with nectar and pollen of contaminated flowers, reducing the amount of Fructobacillus spp.…”

In vitro Effects of Prebiotics and Synbiotics on Apis cerana Gut Microbiota

“…However, the increase in total LAB in vitro fermentation of A. cerana gut microbiota with IMO in the presence of lactobacilli might be due to the exogenously applied Lactobacillus , and this need to be elucidated in further study using molecular techniques in order to specify the inoculated or endogenous LAB. Bacteria present in the honeybee gut play a beneficial role in maintaining host health through helping utilize and absorb nutrients, protecting from xenobiotics, and acidifying the gut environment to reduce pathogens colonization ( Raymann et al 2018 ; Pachla et al 2021 ). However, yeasts have been recognized as dominant fungi in the gut of the Apis genus, but the increased abundance of yeast has been related to diseases and malnutrition or response to antibiotics and insecticides ( Gilliam and Prest 1972 ; Ptaszyńska et al 2016 ).…”