ABSTRACT
Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) can be separated into two groups based on growth characteristics, that is, obligately FLAB and facultatively FLAB. Obligately FLAB grow well on fructose and on glucose with pyruvate or oxygen as external electron acceptors, but poorly on D-glucose without the electron acceptors. Lactic acid bacteria are found in diverse environments, including dairy products, animal gastrointestinal tracts, and fermented products of plant materials, and they are known to adapt well to each environment at the genome level. Similar findings have been reported in FLAB. FLAB species can be seen in other bee species, such as bumblebees, sweat bees, and stingless bees, and in insects that consume a fructose-based diet, namely tropical fruit flies and Camponotus ants. Lactobacillus florum, isolated from flowers, is classified as facultatively FLAB based on its biochemical characteristics. FLAB are shared at the strain level in their hives, including adult bees, larvae, pollen, and fresh honey.
