Phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance patterns in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) bacterial symbionts

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global public health issue, with limited knowledge about the factors driving its spread. A study on 53 bacterial strains from honey bees found that 83% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and 62% were multidrug-resistant. The most abundant gene encoding resistance to colistin mcr-1 was found in honey bee colonies. Geographical features influenced the distribution of these traits more than bacterial species or bee stage. This study supports the use of honey bee colonies and their bacteria as indicators to monitor environmental resistance, improving scientific understanding and increasing data collection capacity.