Sains Malaysiana 49(8)(2020): 1853-1863

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4908-08

A Review on the Association of Bacteria with Stingless Bees

(Suatu Ulasan tentang Perkaitan Bakteria dengan Kelulut)

MOHAMAD SYAZWAN NGALIMAT^1,2, RAJA NOOR ZALIHA RAJA ABD RAHMAN^1,2, MOHD TERMIZI YUSOF², AMIR SYAHIR AMIR HAMZAH^1,3, NORHASNIDA ZAWAWI^4,5 & SURIANA SABRI^1,2*

¹Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁴Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁵Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 2 April 2019/Accepted: 25 March 2020

Abstract

Most cultivable microbes associated with stingless bees are bacteria. Studies about bacteria related to stingless bee colonies were only limited to bacterial isolation and identification, while a few studies consider their potential applications. Information on their biological roles and functions are scarce. Bacteria classified under the genera Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Lactobacillus are commonly associated with stingless bee colonies. They have been hypothesized to contribute to the formation and enhancement of antimicrobial activities of bee products such as honey and bee bread. There is now sizeable evidence that the microflora of bees can be used as biocontrol agent, potential probiotic, as well as producer of antimicrobial compounds and enzymes. The aim of this review was to stimulate a generation of further research on the enormous potential of the bacteria associated with stingless bees, their contributions and potential applications especially in medical and pharmaceutical uses.

Keywords: Bacteria; bee bread; bees and bacterial interaction; honey; stingless bee

Abstrak

Kebanyakan mikrob yang bersekutu dengan kelulut adalah bakteria. Kajian mengenai bakteria yang berkaitan dengan koloni kelulut hanya terhad kepada pemencilan dan pengecaman bakteria, sementara hanya beberapa kajian menganggap potensi aplikasi mereka. Maklumat mengenai peranan dan fungsi biologi mereka adalah terhad. Bakteria dikelaskan di bawah genus Bacillus, Streptomyces dan Lactobacillus biasanya dikaitkan dengan koloni kelulut. Mereka telah dihipotesiskan untuk menyumbang kepada pembentukan dan peningkatan aktiviti antimikrob produk-produk lebah seperti madu dan roti debunga. Terdapat bukti bahawa mikroflora lebah boleh digunakan sebagai agen kawalan bio, potensi probiotik serta pengeluar sebatian antimikrob dan enzim. Matlamat ulasan kajian ini adalah untuk merangsang satu generasi penyelidikan lanjut tentang potensi bakteria yang berkait dengan kelulut, sumbangan dan potensi mereka khususnya dalam penggunaan perubatan dan farmaseutik.

Kata kunci: Bakteria; interaksi lebah dan bakteria; kelulut; madu; roti debunga

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*Corresponding author; email: suriana@upm.edu.my