title: Draft genome sequences of two Bifidobacterium sp. from the honey bee (Apis mellifera).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Widely considered probiotic organisms, Bifidobacteria are common inhabitants of the alimentary tract of animals including insects. Bifidobacteria identified from the honey bee are found in larval guts and throughout the alimentary tract, but attain their greatest abundance in the adult hind gut. To further understand the role of Bifidobacteria in honey bees, we sequenced two strains of Bifidobacterium cultured from different alimentary tract environments and life stages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reflecting an oxygen-rich niche, both strains possessed catalase, peroxidase, superoxide-dismutase and respiratory chain enzymes indicative of oxidative metabolism. The strains show markedly different carbohydrate processing capabilities, with one possessing auxiliary and key enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of long term co-evolution, honey bee associated Bifidobacterium may harbor considerable strain diversity reflecting adaptation to a variety of different honey bee microenvironments and hive-mediated vertical transmission between generations.
authors.affiliation: Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, USDA-ARS, Tucson AZ 85719, USA. kirk.anderson@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Kirk E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Tim H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Brendon M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corby-Harris
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sprissler
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fitz