Unlocking Microbial Diversity from Stingless Bees: Four Novel Lactic Acid Bacteria Revealed Through Genomics
/At AGRF, we're proud to support the research that unlocks the hidden potential of Australia's unique ecosystems. One of the most exciting developments in microbial genomics has emerged from our collaboration with researchers studying the microbiomes of native stingless bees — Tetragonula carbonaria and Austroplebeia australis.
In a study published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (Oliphant et al., 2022), four previously unknown species of lactic acid bacteria were identified using high-resolution genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis — a testament to the power of genomics in taxonomy and environmental microbiology.
Introducing Four Novel Species
The research team described the following species, all isolated from bee honey and homogenates:
Apilactobacillus apisilvae sp. nov.
Bombilactobacillus folatiphilus sp. nov.
Bombilactobacillus thymidiniphilus sp. nov.
Nicolia spurrieriana gen. nov. sp. nov. (later reclassified as Nicoliella spurrieriana)
These species contribute to a deeper understanding of the symbiotic microbial communities in stingless bees — a field with implications for bee health, pollination ecology, and even probiotic research.
Genomic Sequencing at the Core
AGRF played an integral role in the sequencing and assembly of the genomes that underpinned the taxonomic delineation of these isolates. The genome of Apilactobacillus apisilvae, for instance, comprises a ~1.47 Mb circular chromosome and two plasmids, assembled and annotated to high standards to meet the requirements of bacterial species description.
Through whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and phylogenetic placement, the team established clear genomic differentiation from closely related lactic acid bacteria, confirming novelty and supporting naming under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes.
What This Means for Science and Industry
These findings demonstrate how genomic tools are revolutionising our capacity to catalogue Earth’s microbial diversity. With only a fraction of microbial species known to science, high-throughput sequencing is vital for discovering and characterising organisms that may offer new functionalities in biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine.
Moreover, the study highlights the microbial richness in Australian native species and ecosystems. Native stingless bees, in particular, are now recognised not only for their ecological role but also as reservoirs of microbial biodiversity with potential biotechnological applications.
Read more: here
References
1. Oliphant, K., Soo, et al (2022). Apilactobacillus apisilvae sp. nov., Nicolia spurrieriana gen. nov., sp. nov., Bombilactobacillus folatiphilus sp. nov. and Bombilactobacillus thymidiniphilus sp. nov., four new lactic acid bacterial isolates from stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria and Austroplebeia australis. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 72(10). Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363489322_Apilactobacillus_apisilvae_sp_nov_Nicolia_spurrieriana_gen_nov_sp_nov_Bombilactobacillus_folatiphilus_sp_nov_and_Bombilactobacillus_thymidiniphilus_sp_nov_four_new_lactic_acid_bacterial_isolates_from_. Accessed 5 Dec 2024.
