In the present study, we analyzed LAB microflora in the intestinal tract of bees Apis melifera on the territory of Bulgaria. Sixteen isolates were collected from the honey stomach of the honeybee Apis mellifera. Poor growth was recorded when strains were incubated anaerobically in the presence of D-glucose as sole carbon source. All of isolated strain showed fructophilic characteristics fermenting fructose faster than glucose. The isolates were Gram-stained and tested for catalase reaction. The

more »

... 16S rRNA genes from extracted DNA of bacterial colonies were amplified with polymerase chain reaction using universal primers 27F and 1492R and were sequenced. The 10 isolated strains yielded five distinct 16S sequences of Lactobacillus plantarum, L. pentosus, L. iwatensis, L. kunkeei, Weissella Confusa. DNA of sequenced strains were amplified with specific primers in order to confirm the genus of the samples LBMA-1 (CTCAAAACTAAACAAAGTTC) and R16-1 (CTTGTACACACCGCCCGTCA). Carbohydrate fermentation reactions were recorded using API 50CH. For detection of enzymes activities of strains was used API ZYM. These strains can be good candidates for potential application as probiotics in honeybees and also as natural food preservatives, which, in turn, may be useful in the food industry.