Living in honey: bacterial and fungal communities in honey of sympatric populations of Apis mellifera and the stingless bee Melipona beecheii, in Yucatan, Mexico

Jacinto-Castillo, Diana Fátima; Canto, Azucena; Medina-Medina, Luis A.; O’Connor-Sánchez, Aileen

doi:10.1007/s00203-022-03319-5

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Bees host diverse communities of nonpathogenic fungi (Inglis et al 1993a , Grabowski and Klein 2017 , Echeverrigaray et al 2021 , Jacinto-Castillo et al 2022 ). Over the last few decades, and with increased accessibility of DNA sequencing methods, these fungal symbionts have been characterized in association with a growing diversity of bee species, and their roles within bee health and ecology have started to be examined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi

Rutkowski

Weston

Vannette

2023

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Bee-fungus associations are common, and while most studies of these focus on entomopathogens, emerging evidence suggests that bees associate with a variety of symbiotic fungi that can influence bee behavior and health. Here, we review non-pathogenic fungal taxa associated with different bee species and bee-related habitats. We synthesize results of studies examining fungal effects on bee behavior, development, survival, and fitness. We find that fungal communities differ across habitats, with some groups restricted mostly to flowers (Metschnikowia), while others are present almost exclusively in stored provisions (Zygosaccharomyces). Starmerella yeasts are found in multiple habitats in association with many bee species. Bee species differ widely in the abundance and identity of fungi hosted. Functional studies suggest that yeasts affect bee foraging, development, and pathogen interactions, though few bee and fungal taxa have been examined in this context. Rarely, fungi are obligately beneficial symbionts of bees, whereas most are facultative bee associates with unknown or ecologically contextual effects. Fungicides can reduce fungal abundance and alter fungal communities associated with bees, potentially disrupting bee-fungi associations. We recommend that future study focus on fungi associated with non-honeybee species and examine multiple bee life stages to document fungal composition, abundance, and mechanistic effects on bees.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi

Rutkowski

Weston

Vannette

2023

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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“…These results suggest that honey bee species shape the honey microbiome. However, different physicochemical characteristics (M. beecheii honey has higher moisture and lower pH than A. mellifera honey) and antibacterial compounds impose selective pressure on the honey microbiome [111].…”

Section: Honey Microbiomementioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Diversity in Bee Species and Bee Products: Pseudomonads Contribution to Bee Well-Being and the Biological Activity Exerted by Honey Bee Products: A Narrative Review

Tsadila,

Amoroso,

Mossialos

2023

Diversity

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Bees are important pollinators worldwide, promoting sustainability in agriculture and natural ecosystems. Moreover, honey bees produce a variety of honey bee products (beehive products). Honey is the main edible bee product. The consumption of pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, and propolis is becoming more popular nowadays. All these products are characterized by high nutritional value and/or bioactivity. A high microbial diversity has been reported in bees and beehive products, forming distinct microbial communities. The honey bee gut microbiome actively promotes good health and nutrient availability for the host. Furthermore, it prevents food spoilage and contributes to the maintenance of good hygiene conditions in the hive. Pseudomonads are often reported in investigations on bee and bee product microbiomes. Diverse Pseudomonas species demonstrate high metabolic adaptability, producing a wide range of bioactive enzymes and secondary metabolites. Several studies have provided evidence that Pseudomonads might play a role in bee well-being and the bioactivity exerted by honey bee products, though further research is warranted to fully understand the effects and mechanisms. The aim of this narrative review is to highlight the importance of Pseudomonads in the context of up-to-date knowledge regarding the bee and bee product microbiomes.

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“…The antimicrobial activity of stingless bee honeys, besides helping to preserve the honey itself or some foods, has been useful for wounds and burn care, skin, eye, and mucosal infections such as throat diseases and gastrointestinal infections in humans (Almasaudi, 2021; Esa et al., 2022; Jacinto‐Castillo et al., 2022; Kimoto‐Nira & Amano, 2008; Kwapong et al., 2013; Martínez‐Puc et al., 2022; Quezada‐Euán, 2018; Tesfaye et al., 2022; Zamora et al., 2015a). Since ancient times this knowledge has been used by indigenous communities in tropical regions around the world, as a natural antimicrobial agent against multiresistant and virulent microorganisms due to its unique biochemical composition and other properties that greatly differ from A. mellifera honey or other commercial honey (Alvarez‐Suarez et al., 2018; Domingos et al., 2021; Guerrini et al., 2009; Morroni et al., 2018; Ng et al., 2017, 2020; Rao et al., 2016; Villacrés‐Granda et al., 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial activity of stingless bee honey (Tribe: Meliponini) on clinical and foodborne pathogens: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Cabezas‐Mera,

Cedeño‐Pinargote,

Tejera

et al. 2024

Food Frontiers

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Honey produced by stingless bees (Tribe: Meliponini) is well‐known for their medicinal and antimicrobial properties from their diverse content of bioactive compounds. However, it has not been possible to fully characterize its active principles. The present systematic review is based on 117 full‐text articles. Our review highlights (1) the need to apply complementary methodologies and consolidate protocols to quantify antimicrobial activity (2) to characterize antimicrobial agents in honeys of Heterotrigona itama, Tetragonisca angustula, and Melipona beecheii, and; (3) to search for compounds against multidrug‐resistant and/or biofilm‐forming pathogens. Moreover, we performed a meta‐analysis of 29 articles with quantitative data using diffusion assays and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most evaluated pathogens, evidencing 221 and 149 antimicrobial activity assays against honey samples of 36 and 24 stingless bee species, respectively. The highest pooled mean in diffusion assays against S. aureus showed a difference between methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and non‐MRSA strains {14.43 [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.16–16.71] mm vs. 11.55 (95% CI: 10.22–12.87) mm}, whereas E. coli showed pooled means of 9.09 (95% CI: 7.93–10.25) mm. Regarding MIC expressed as volume/volume percentage (%, v/v), the estimated inhibitory concentrations were 7.89 (95% CI: 3.94–11.83) mL/100 mL for MRSA and 5.60 (95% CI: 2.66–8.55) mL/100 mL considering all S. aureus strains. In contrast, the estimated MICs as weight/volume percentage (%, w/v) showed 15.00 [(95% CI: 12.84–17.16) g/100 mL for S. aureus and 16.17 (95% CI: 5.78–26.55) g/100 mL for E. coli. However, honey remains an unexplored source of antimicrobial molecules.

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Living in honey: bacterial and fungal communities in honey of sympatric populations of Apis mellifera and the stingless bee Melipona beecheii, in Yucatan, Mexico

Cited by 4 publications

References 52 publications

Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi

Bees just wanna have fungi: a review of bee associations with nonpathogenic fungi

Microbial Diversity in Bee Species and Bee Products: Pseudomonads Contribution to Bee Well-Being and the Biological Activity Exerted by Honey Bee Products: A Narrative Review

Antimicrobial activity of stingless bee honey (Tribe: Meliponini) on clinical and foodborne pathogens: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

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