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Antimicrobial Activity of Five Apitoxins from Apis mellifera on Two Common Foodborne Pathogens
Alexandre Lamas1, Vicente Arteaga2, Patricia Regal1
1Laboratorio de Higiene Inspección y Control de Alimentos, Departamento de Química Analítica, Nutrición y Bromatología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance is one of today's major public health challenges. Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have been responsible for an increasing number of deaths in recent decades. These resistant bacteria are also a concern in the food chain, as bacteria can resist common biocides used in the food industry and reach consumers. As a consequence, the search for alternatives to common antimicrobials by the scientific community has intensified. Substances obtained from nature have shown great potential as new sources of antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of five bee venoms, also called apitoxins, against two common foodborne pathogens. A total of 50 strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Salmonella enterica and 8 strains of the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes were tested. The results show that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were highly influenced by the bacterial genus. The MIC values ranged from 256 to 1024 µg/mL in S. enterica and from 16 to 32 µg/mL in L. monocytogenes. The results of this study demonstrate that apitoxin is a potential alternative agent against common foodborne pathogens, and it can be included in the development of new models to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the food chain.
Insights
Bee venom (apitoxin) shows potent antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria. This natural substance offers a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobials for enhancing food safety.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Food Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global public health threat, increasing mortality from multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
- Foodborne pathogens exhibiting resistance to common biocides present a challenge to food safety and consumer health.
- The urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents drives research into natural product alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antimicrobial potential of five distinct bee venoms (apitoxins).
- To evaluate the efficacy of apitoxins against two prevalent foodborne pathogens: Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes.
Main Methods:
- Testing of 50 Salmonella enterica strains and 8 Listeria monocytogenes strains.
- Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for each apitoxin against the tested pathogens.
Main Results:
- Apitoxin demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with MIC values varying by bacterial genus.
- MIC values against Salmonella enterica ranged from 256 to 1024 µg/mL.
- MIC values against Listeria monocytogenes were notably lower, ranging from 16 to 32 µg/mL.
Conclusions:
- Bee venom (apitoxin) exhibits potent antimicrobial properties against common foodborne pathogens.
- Apitoxin represents a viable alternative for developing new strategies to combat pathogenic bacteria in the food chain.
- Further research into apitoxin could lead to innovative food safety solutions.
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