Isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria from the digestive tract of adult bees Apis mellifera

HERNANDEZ GARCÍA, J.E; FERNANDEZ LEÓN, K.J.; VICIEDO GALLO, D.; FRIZZO, L.S.; SOTO, L.P.; RODRIGUEZ DÍAS, J.A.; SOLENZAL VALDIVIA, Y.

Revista de Salud Animal

Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria

Lugar: La Habana; Año: 2020 vol. 42 p. 1 - 9

0253-570X

The aim of the study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the digestive tract of Apis mellifera bees. Thirty-five bacterial isolates were obtained and 13 of them were considered LAB due to their morphological and biochemical characteristics. A fragment of the 16S rDNA gene was amplified by PCR and using universal primers from the bacterial DNA. The obtained PCR products were purified and sequenced. The sequences obtained were compared with others deposited in the GenBank database. The strains were also identified by proteomic characterization using MALDI TOF MS. The results showed the presence of four genera of LAB, with Lactobacillus spp. (38.4 %) and Fructobacillus spp. (30.8 %) predominating. Lactobacillus kunkeei (31 %) and Fructobacillus fructosus (31 %) were identified in the analysis by species. This study confirms the predominance of the Lactobacillus genus within the lactic acid bacteria of the digestive tract of bees. This research is the first to report isolation and molecular identification of LAB obtained from the digestive tract of honey bees in Cuba. Apis mellifera, lactic acid bacteria.