Mining indigenous honeybee gut microbiota for with probiotic potential.

The present study was done to explore the diversity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) associated with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of honeybee species endemic to northeastern Pakistan. Healthy worker bees belonging to and were collected from hives and the surroundings of a major apiary in the region. The 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed a microbial community in that was distinct from the others in having an abundance of and . However, this was not reflected in the culturable bacteria obtained from these species. The isolates were characterized for safety parameters, and 20 LAB strains deemed safe were evaluated for resistance to human GIT stresses like acid and bile, adhesion and adhesiveness, and anti-pathogenicity. The five most robust strains, NPL780a, NPL782a, NPL783a, and NPL784, and NPL783b, were identified through normalized Pearson (n) principal components analysis (PCA). These strains were checked for inhibition of human pathogens, antibiotic resistance, osmotic tolerance, metabolic and enzymatic functions, and carbohydrate utilization, along with antioxidative and cholesterol-removing potential. The findings suggest at least three strains (NPL 783a, 784 and 782a) as candidates for further and investigations of their potential health benefits and application as novel probiotic adjuncts.