Characterization of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of scaptotrigona mexicana and scaptotrigona pectoralis stingless bees

Abstract

Stingless bees play an essential role as pollinators and have economic and cultural importance for their honey production. In the last decades, there has been a decrease in their populations by multiple factors. Stingless bees engage in symbiotic relationships with many microorganisms, some of which benefit the host nutritionally and protect them from natural enemies. Lactic acid bacteria benefit the host, but their probiotic ability depends on their antimicrobial capacity. This study included isolating and characterizing eight strains of lactic acid bacteria from the gastrointestinal tracts of stingless bees (Scaptotrigona mexicana and Scaptotrigona pectoralis). The bacterial phenotypic profile and antimicrobial activity, in vitro, against the pathogen Paenibacillus larvae and other common pathogens of the isolated bacteria, were also investigated. It was found that Weisella sp, Fructobacillus tropaeoli, Fructobacillus fructosus, and Fructobacillus pseudoficulneus showed probiotic potential.

Keywords:

• Weissella
• Fructobacillus
• antagonist
• American foulbrood
• probiotic potential
• 16S rRNA gene

Acknowledgments

We want to thank Mr. Juan Pale for kindly donating the samples of stingless bees, Antonio Acini Vásquez Aguilar for molecular laboratory assistance and Ismael Guzmán Valdivieso for technical support. We also thank Julia Danaé Suárez Cárcamo for her help in the laboratory work.

Authors contributions

DHR worked on the sample collection, the research methodology, data analysis, and the preparation of the first draft of the manuscript. HHS contributed to the review of the manuscript. AAV contributed to the review of the manuscript. GML contributed to the design of the research methodology, consultation and discussion of the final results and conclusions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

DHR receive a postdoctoral grant for Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología with project number I1200/320/2022. AAV received a doctoral grant from Conacyt with the number 73406. This project was financed within the program Ciencia Básica 2016-1 of Conacyt with the number 283954.