First Isolation and Characterization of Bombella apis from the Digestive System of Apis mellifera caucasica and Evaluation of Its Probiotic Potential

Zengin K., Nalçacıoğlu R., Demirbağ Z.

III. International Apitherapy and Nature Congress, Baku, Azerbaycan, 21 - 23 Kasım 2025, ss.1, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Baku
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Azerbaycan
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Apis mellifera caucasica, a subspecies of A. mellifera L., is one of the most valuable honeybee lineages in Türkiye due to its high honey productivity and strong propolis collection ability. The digestive system of honeybees harbors a distinctive microbial flora that contributes to metabolic processes, the production of bee products, and immune defense mechanisms. Understanding this microbiota is therefore crucial both for bee health and for identifying microorganisms with potential probiotic properties.

In the present study, bacterial isolates were obtained from the honey stomachs of A. mellifera caucasica under sterile conditions. After dissection, homogenized samples were cultured on MRS agar, and isolates were characterized morphologically (Gram staining) and molecularly using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The strain designated Amcs17 was evaluated for acid, pepsin, pancreatin, and salt tolerance, as well as for antimicrobial activity and antibiotic susceptibility.

The bacterium was identified as Bombella apis based on 16S rRNA sequence similarity. Importantly, this study reports for the first time the isolation of Bombella apis from the digestive system (honey stomach) of Apis mellifera caucasica. The strain exhibited limited tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions and showed no antimicrobial activity against tested human pathogens. However, it was sensitive to several antibiotics, including spectinomycin (10 m mg/ml), erythromycin (15 mg/ml), ceftazidime (10 mg/ml), rifampicin (800 µg/ml), chloramphenicol (15 mg/ml), ampicillin (100 mg/ml), kanamycin (10 mg/ml), tetracycline (10 mg/ml), penicillin (10 mg/ml), and gentamicin (10 mg/ml). According to the acid, pepsin, pancreatin, and salt resistance tests, Bombella apis exhibited limited tolerance under these conditions within 24 hours.

These findings contribute to the understanding of the gut microbiota of A. mellifera caucasica and highlight the presence of Bombella apis as a newly identified member of this unique microbial community. Although the strain showed limited probiotic potential, its discovery expands the known diversity of acetic acid bacteria in honeybee digestive ecosystems.