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http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24890&news_item=6172

Bacteria from bees possible alternative to antibiotics
08 September 2014
http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=24890&news_item=6172

• 13 lactic acid bacteria found in the honey stomach of bees have shown
promising results in a series of studies at Lund University in Sweden • The
group of bacteria counteracted antibiotic-resistant MRSA in lab experiments
• The bacteria, mixed into honey, has healed horses with persistent wounds

•  The formula has previously been shown to protect against bee colony
collapse
WATCH: Could bacteria from bees replace antibiotics?
Raw honey has been used against infections for millennia, before honey - as
we now know it - was manufactured and sold in stores. So what is the key to
its’ antimicrobial properties? Researchers at Lund University in Sweden
have identified a unique group of 13 lactic acid bacteria found in fresh
honey, from the honey stomach of bees. The bacteria produce a myriad of
active antimicrobial compounds.
These lactic acid bacteria have now been tested on severe human wound
pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), among others. When the lactic acid
bacteria were applied to the pathogens in the laboratory, it counteracted
all of them.
While the effect on human bacteria has only been tested in a lab
environment thus far, the lactic acid bacteria has been applied directly to
horses with persistent wounds. The LAB was mixed with honey and applied to
ten horses; where the owners had tried several other methods to no avail.
All of the horses' wounds were healed by the mixture.
The researchers believe the secret to the strong results lie in the broad
spectrum of active substances involved.
"Antibiotics are mostly one active substance, effective against only a
narrow spectrum of bacteria. When used alive, these 13 lactic acid
bacteria produce the right kind of antimicrobial compounds as needed,
depending on the threat. It seems to have worked well for millions of years
of protecting bees' health and honey against other harmful
microorganisms. However, since store-bought honey doesn't contain the
living lactic acid bacteria, many of its unique properties have been lost
in recent times", explains Tobias Olofsson.
The next step is further studies to investigate wider clinical use against
topical human infections as well as on animals.
The findings have implications for developing countries, where fresh honey
is easily available, but also for Western countries where antibiotic
resistance is seriously increasing.
Publication: Lactic acid bacterial symbionts in honeybees – an unknown key
to honey's antimicrobial and therapeutic activities
Contact:

Èile Butler, Medical Microbiology, Lund University
+46 738954980
eile.butler@med.lu.se
Dr Tobias Olofsson, Medical Microbiology, Lund University
+46706837683
tobias.olofsson@med.lu.se
Dr Alejandra Vasquez, Medical Microbiology, Lund University
+46 46173291
alejandra.vasquez@med.lu.se