| Summary: | Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally inhabits the organisms of honeybees and can exhibit adhesive properties that protect these insects against various pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, cell surface (auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, hydrophobicity) and adhesive properties of LAB to two abiotic (polystyrene and glass) and four biotic (collagen, gelatin, mucus, and intestinal Caco-2 cells) surfaces were investigated. Additionally, anti-adhesion activity and the eradication of honeybee pathogen biofilms by LAB metabolites (culture supernatants) were determined. The highest hydrophobicity was demonstrated by <i>Pediococcus pentosaceus</i> 19/1 (63.16%) and auto-aggregation by <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> 18/1 (71.91%). All LAB showed a broad spectrum of adhesion to the tested surfaces. The strongest adhesion was noted for glass. The ability to co-aggregate with pathogens was tested for the three most potently adherent LAB strains. All showed various levels of co-aggregation depending on the pathogen. The eradication of mature pathogen biofilms by LAB metabolites appeared to be weaker than their anti-adhesive properties against pathogens. The most potent anti-adhesion activity was observed for <i>L. plantarum</i> 18/1 (98.80%) against <i>Paenibacillus apiarius</i> DSM 5582, while the strongest biofilm eradication was demonstrated by the same LAB strain against <i>Melissococcus plutonius</i> DSM 29964 (19.87%). The adhesive and anti-adhesive activity demonstrated by LAB can contribute to increasing the viability of honeybee colonies and improving the conditions in apiaries.
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