Isolation and probiotic evaluation of Apilactobacillus kunkeei and Bombella sp. from Apis mellifera anatoliaca and Bombus terrestris

The Anatolian honey bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) and Bombus terrestris are important species in Türkiye. In this context, protecting the health of these honey bees is particularly important. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are very important for the health of bees. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the antimicrobial and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus and Bombella bacteria isolated from A. m. anatoliaca and B. terrestris. As a result of morphological (Gram staining), physiological (catalase test), and molecular analysis (16 s rRNA) studies, the bacteria were determined to be Apilactobacillus kunkeei and Bombella sp. The shape and arrangement of the bacteria were observed by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Lactobacillus isolates were determined as Gram positive and catalase negative; Bombella isolate was Gram negative and catalase positive. Probiotic properties were determined by the resistance to acid, pepsin, pancreatin, and bile salts. Results showed that all bacteria demonstrated good survival for up to 24 h at all pH values tested. It (A. kunkeei from A. m. anatoliaca) showed antimicrobial activity against Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315 strain. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that all bacteria were susceptible to nystatin. Also A. kunkeei from A. m. anatoliaca was susceptible to spectinomycin, cycloheximide, kanamycin, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin (10 mg/ml) antibiotics. All these results suggest that A. kunkeei has potential to be used as a probiotic. It is thought that the bacteria obtained as a result of this study have probiotic properties and have the potential to be used in the natural environment by preparing preparations supported by further studies.