Australia’s stingless bees may help fight antibiotic resistance

For generations, Australia’s tiny native stingless honey bees have been part of Indigenous medicine. Scientists now believe they may hold clues to tackling one of modern medicine’s biggest challenges: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Sydney examined the potential medicinal benefits of honey and propolis (a mixture of plant resin and beeswax that bees use to build their nests) produced by Australia’s stingless bees, and the early results are hard to ignore. They found that the honey stopped the growth of every bacterium tested, including two hard-to-treat pathogens. These sugarbag bees hold valuable clues to tackling the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.Australia’s stingless bees could combat antibiotic resistanceStingless bees, also known as sugarbag bees, are native to Australia. Their honey has long been used in Indigenous medicine. However, almost all research on medicinal honey has focused on the European honey bee. These Australian species have been largely left out of the conversation. A new study led by PhD candidate Jasmin Li aimed to close that gap. Li’s team tested honey and propo...