Abstract
BackgroundWidely considered probiotic organisms, Bifidobacteria are common inhabitants of the alimentary tract of animals including insects. Bifidobacteria identified from the honey bee are found in larval guts and throughout the alimentary tract, but attain their greatest abundance in the adult hind gut. To further understand the role of Bifidobacteria in honey bees, we sequenced two strains of Bifidobacterium cultured from different alimentary tract environments and life stages.ResultsReflecting an oxygen-rich niche, both strains possessed catalase, peroxidase, superoxide-dismutase and respiratory chain enzymes indicative of oxidative metabolism. The strains show markedly different carbohydrate processing capabilities, with one possessing auxiliary and key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.ConclusionsAs a result of long term co-evolution, honey bee associated Bifidobacterium may harbor considerable strain diversity reflecting adaptation to a variety of different honey bee microenvironments and hive-mediated vertical transmission between generations.
Highlights
Considered probiotic organisms, Bifidobacteria are common inhabitants of the alimentary tract of animals including insects
A phylogenomic analysis from the same study suggests that Bifidobacteria associated with the honey bee is of ancient origin relative to Bifidobacteria in mammals
Culture based results and 454 amplicon sequencing demonstrate that Bifdobacteria can be found throughout the alimentary tract but reside primarily in the hind gut of honey bees [3,4,5]
Summary
Reflecting an oxygen-rich niche, both strains possessed catalase, peroxidase, superoxide-dismutase and respiratory chain enzymes indicative of oxidative metabolism. The strains show markedly different carbohydrate processing capabilities, with one possessing auxiliary and key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway
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