AUTHOR=Mundo Melissa A. , Xiong Zirui Ray , Galasong Yupawadee , Manns David C. , Seeley Thomas D. , Vegdahl Ann Charles , Worobo Randy W. 

TITLE=Diversity, antimicrobial production, and seasonal variation of honey bee microbiota isolated from the honey stomachs of the domestic honey bee, Apis mellifera

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.931363

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2022.931363

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=<p>The antimicrobial nature of honey and its related apiological origins typically focus on basic chemical analysis without attempting to understand the diversity of the microbial component. The antibacterial activity, chemical characterization, and diversity of bacteria isolated from <italic>Apis mellifera</italic> honey stomachs and hive honey collected throughout the honey production season are presented. After screening &gt;2,000 isolates, 50 isolates were selected and characterized by 16S rRNA gene homology, Gram stain, catalase and protease tests, as well as for antibacterial activity against select indicators. Antibacterial-producing isolates were predominantly from the <italic>Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Lonsdalea, Serratia</italic>, and <italic>Bacillus</italic> genera. Isolates collected from honey stomachs in April displayed the highest level of activity (27%). While April isolates did not demonstrate activity against the Gram-negative bacteria tested. Whereas 59% of July isolates, 33% of September isolates, and 100% of the honey isolates did. The predominant honey stomach isolates were <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> spp. (April), <italic>Paenibacillus polymyxa</italic> (July, Sept.), and <italic>Lonsdalea iberica</italic> (Sept.). Chemical characterizations of the antimicrobial compounds show most to be antibiotic in nature with the minority being potential bacteriocins. This study offers the first glimpse into the variability and diversity of the bacteria/host interactions found within the honey stomach of the domestic honey bee while revealing a novel source of potentially beneficial antimicrobial compounds.</p>