Gluconobacters from honey bees

Fifty-sixGluconobacter strains and oneAcetobacter strain were isolated from honey bees and their environment in three different regions in Belgium and identified phenotypically. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the soluble cell proteins showed that two different types exist within theGluconobacter isolates: strains from type A were found in samples of the three regions, whereas strains from type B were only isolated in two of the three regions. Both types could occur in bees from the same region, from several hives of one bee keeper and from one hive. Strains from type A were almost identical with collection strainG. oxydans subsp.suboxydans NCIB 9018, whereas strains from type B consituted a new protein electrophoretic type within the genusGluconobacter. AlthoughGluconobacter is apparently associated with honey bees, it is not known whether it is important or required for the bees or any hive product.