The findings of our previous investigation [19], as well as the results presented by other authors [40,41], revealed that bacteria isolated from honey show the ability to produce a wide range of antimicrobial metabolites. All these producing strains were likely brought to the hive with nectar or pollen that have been collected by bees from flowers of various species. Plants, like other living organisms, have developed numerous mechanisms of protection against the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms, mainly bacteria. Among them, production of different plant antimicrobial peptides (e.g., thionins, defensins, cyclotides [42,43]), and secondary metabolites of plants including terpenoids (polymeric isoprene derivatives and biosynthesized from acetate via the mevalonic acid pathway), phenolics (biosynthesized from shikimate pathways, containing one or more hydroxylated aromatic ring), and alkaloids (non-protein nitrogen-containing compounds, biosynthesized from amino acids, such as tyrosine) are recognized as the most important [44,45]. Besides the plant surface, plant tissues are also inhabited by bacteria and fungi (natural, beneficial microflora) that produce a broad spectrum of antimicrobial agents to protect the host plant against infection [46]. Most of these bacteria, when transferred to the hive, are not able to survive in the environment of matured honey primarily because of high sugar content (about 80%) and low pH (around 4.0). Most of the producing strains isolated by our group and other authors belong to spore-forming bacteria, mainly to the spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus spp. that were not killed by harsh conditions of mature honey. Therefore, most of the bacterial strains isolated from honey as producers of antimicrobial substances were classified as Bacillus spp. [19,40,41,46]. In our opinion, honey, but also pollen and bee bread, deserve more attention as a potential reservoir of bacteria interesting for both pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

Paenibacillus alvei MP1 as a Producer of the Proteinaceous Compound with Activity against Important Human Pathogens, Including Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes
https://tinyurl.com/mpmsewca

Gustav Palan

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html