Fuente: PubMed "bee pollen" Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2026 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s12602-026-11055-1. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHoney bee-associated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) represent promising probiotic candidates due to their ecological adaptation to sugar-rich niches and the potential to enhance host resilience. This study aimed to evaluate their probiotic attributes of LAB strains isolated and characterized from honey bee environment both in vitro and in vivo. Four isolates namely Apilactobacillus apinorum ACIP 01, A. kunkeei ACIH 04, Fructobacillus fructosus ACIG 04, and Secundilactobacillus kimchicus ACIG 01 were assessed for functional properties. Biofilm assays revealed strain and sugar-dependent adherence, with fructose strongly promoting biofilm formation in A. kunkeei and F. fructosus. Auto-aggregation and hydrocarbon-based hydrophobicity increased with incubation time, indicating enhanced cell to cell and surface interactions. Antioxidant assays demonstrated significant, density-dependent radical scavenging, with F. fructosus and A. kunkeei showing the highest activity. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling indicated strain-specific sensitivity, notably to chloramphenicol, while resistance was observed against doxycycline and vancomycin. Osmotic tolerance assays confirmed survival of isolates in high-sugar syrups, with superior persistence in glucose and fructose blends compared to sucrose. Field supplementation trials over eight weeks showed that colonies fed with A. kunkeei and F. fructosus exhibited significantly greater sealed brood areas, pollen reserves, and honey storage compared with controls, while A. apinorum and S. kimchicus supported moderate improvements. Overall, the findings highlight honey bee-derived LAB as robust probiotics with potential to enhance colony growth and resilience, offering an eco-friendly strategy to strengthen pollinator health and productivity.PMID:42142243 | DOI:10.1007/s12602-026-11055-1