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Detection and Identification of a Novel Lactic Acid Bacterial Flora Within the Honey Stomach of the Honeybee Apis mellifera.

Olofsson, Tobias LU and Vasquez, Alejandra LU (2008) In Current Microbiology 57(4). p.356-363
Abstract
This investigation concerned the question of whether honeybees collect bacteria that are beneficial for humans from the flowers that contribute to formation of their honey. Bacteria originating from the types of flowers involved, and found in different anatomic parts of the bees, in larvae, and in honey of different types, were sampled during a 2-year period. 16S rRNA sequencing of isolates and clones was employed. A novel bacterial flora composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which originated in the honey stomach of the honeybee, was discovered. It varied with the sources of nectar and the presence of other bacterial genera within the honeybee and ended up eventually in the honey. It... (More)
This investigation concerned the question of whether honeybees collect bacteria that are beneficial for humans from the flowers that contribute to formation of their honey. Bacteria originating from the types of flowers involved, and found in different anatomic parts of the bees, in larvae, and in honey of different types, were sampled during a 2-year period. 16S rRNA sequencing of isolates and clones was employed. A novel bacterial flora composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which originated in the honey stomach of the honeybee, was discovered. It varied with the sources of nectar and the presence of other bacterial genera within the honeybee and ended up eventually in the honey. It appeared that honeybees and the novel LAB flora may have evolved in mutual dependence on one another. It was suggested that honey be considered a fermented food product because of the LAB involved in honey production. The findings are seen as having clear implications for future research in the area, as providing a better understanding the health of honeybees and of their production and storage of honey, and as having clear relevance for future honeybee and human probiotics. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Current Microbiology
volume
57
issue
4
pages
356 - 363
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000258654500015
  • pmid:18663527
  • scopus:50249182791
  • pmid:18663527
ISSN
0343-8651
DOI
10.1007/s00284-008-9202-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Department of Cell and Organism Biology (Closed 2011.) (011002100)
id
6c721952-b82d-43a4-9caa-2464e026d879 (old id 1180792)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:15:10
date last changed
2022-04-14 00:03:05
@article{6c721952-b82d-43a4-9caa-2464e026d879,
  abstract     = {{This investigation concerned the question of whether honeybees collect bacteria that are beneficial for humans from the flowers that contribute to formation of their honey. Bacteria originating from the types of flowers involved, and found in different anatomic parts of the bees, in larvae, and in honey of different types, were sampled during a 2-year period. 16S rRNA sequencing of isolates and clones was employed. A novel bacterial flora composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which originated in the honey stomach of the honeybee, was discovered. It varied with the sources of nectar and the presence of other bacterial genera within the honeybee and ended up eventually in the honey. It appeared that honeybees and the novel LAB flora may have evolved in mutual dependence on one another. It was suggested that honey be considered a fermented food product because of the LAB involved in honey production. The findings are seen as having clear implications for future research in the area, as providing a better understanding the health of honeybees and of their production and storage of honey, and as having clear relevance for future honeybee and human probiotics.}},
  author       = {{Olofsson, Tobias and Vasquez, Alejandra}},
  issn         = {{0343-8651}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{356--363}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Current Microbiology}},
  title        = {{Detection and Identification of a Novel Lactic Acid Bacterial Flora Within the Honey Stomach of the Honeybee Apis mellifera.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00284-008-9202-0}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00284-008-9202-0}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}