Scientists discovered a special type of helpful bacteria called Lactobacillus helveticus KM7 living in the stomachs of Chinese honeybees. They studied this bacteria’s genes and tested how it works in the lab. The good news: this bacteria appears to be completely safe, doesn’t produce harmful substances, and has impressive abilities to survive stomach acid and protect your gut. It also makes a sticky substance that might help it stick to your intestines. This discovery could lead to new probiotic foods that help your digestive system work better, though more testing in humans is still needed before it becomes widely available.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a newly discovered bacteria from honeybee guts is safe and has probiotic benefits (the kind of benefits that help your digestive system)
  • Who participated: This was laboratory research on bacteria, not human volunteers. Scientists examined the complete genetic code of one specific bacterial strain called KM7
  • Key finding: The KM7 bacteria passed all safety tests—it has no dangerous genes, doesn’t produce toxic substances, survives stomach acid well, and produces a protective coating that helps it stick to intestines
  • What it means for you: This bacteria could potentially become an ingredient in probiotic foods or supplements to support gut health, but human studies are needed first to confirm benefits and determine the right doses

The Research Details

Scientists took a bacterial strain they found in honeybee guts and performed two main types of analysis. First, they read the complete genetic instruction manual (genome) of the bacteria—like reading an entire instruction book to understand what the bacteria can and cannot do. Second, they ran laboratory experiments to test how the bacteria behaves, such as whether it can survive in acidic stomach conditions, stick to intestinal walls, and produce helpful substances.

They specifically looked for dangerous genes that might make the bacteria harmful, checked if it could produce toxic compounds, and tested whether it could break down different types of food. They also examined whether the bacteria could produce a special sticky coating (exopolysaccharides) that might help it survive and function in the gut.

This approach is important because it combines two types of evidence. Reading the genetic code tells scientists what the bacteria is theoretically capable of doing, while lab experiments show what it actually does. Together, these methods provide strong evidence about whether a new bacteria is safe before testing it in humans. This is the standard safety-first approach used in probiotic research.

This study was published in BMC Microbiology, a respected scientific journal. The research used modern genetic sequencing technology, which is very accurate. However, this is laboratory research only—the bacteria hasn’t been tested in humans yet. The study doesn’t include a sample size of human participants because it’s focused on understanding the bacteria itself rather than testing it in people. More research in humans would be needed to confirm health benefits.

What the Results Show

The bacteria KM7 passed all safety tests with excellent results. Its genetic code contains 2,192 genes and showed no dangerous virulence genes (genes that cause disease) and no antibiotic resistance genes (genes that would make it immune to antibiotics). Laboratory tests confirmed the bacteria doesn’t produce hemolysins (substances that destroy red blood cells) or biogenic amines (toxic compounds like cadaverine and putrescine that can form in spoiled food).

The bacteria demonstrated impressive survival abilities. It can tolerate strong stomach acid and bile salts (digestive fluids), which means it could potentially survive the journey through your digestive system. In lab tests, it showed strong ability to stick to intestinal cells, which is important because bacteria need to attach to the intestinal wall to provide benefits.

The bacteria also showed powerful antioxidant activity, meaning it can neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals that damage cells. The genetic analysis revealed the bacteria contains genes for producing bacteriocins (natural antibiotics produced by bacteria) that might help fight harmful bacteria in the gut.

One particularly interesting finding was the bacteria’s ability to produce exopolysaccharides—a sticky, protective coating. When scientists added glucose (a type of sugar) to the growth medium, the bacteria produced even more of this coating, suggesting it could be enhanced in food production.

The bacteria contains genes for carbohydrate-active enzymes, which means it can break down different types of carbohydrates and fiber. This ability could help it survive on various foods in the gut and potentially produce beneficial byproducts. The genetic analysis also identified genes potentially involved in producing two specific types of bacteriocins (Helveticin J and Enterolysin A), which are natural antimicrobial compounds that could help suppress harmful bacteria.

Lactobacillus helveticus is already known as a safe probiotic bacteria used in food production worldwide. This new KM7 strain appears to have similar or superior properties compared to other known strains, particularly in its exopolysaccharide production and antioxidant activity. The fact that it was isolated from honeybee guts is interesting because it suggests this bacteria naturally thrives in insect digestive systems, which share some similarities with human digestion.

This study only examined the bacteria in laboratory conditions, not in living organisms or humans. Lab results don’t always translate to real-world benefits in the human body. The study didn’t test the bacteria in actual food products or determine optimal doses for human consumption. Additionally, while the genetic analysis is thorough, genes don’t always function exactly as predicted—a bacteria might have a gene but not use it, or use it differently than expected. Human clinical trials would be necessary to confirm any health benefits and determine safety in actual consumption.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research alone, we cannot recommend consuming this bacteria yet. The laboratory evidence is very promising and suggests it’s safe, but human studies are needed first. If this bacteria eventually becomes available in probiotic products, it would likely be most appropriate for people interested in general digestive health support. People with compromised immune systems, severe digestive conditions, or those taking specific medications should consult their doctor before using any new probiotic.

This research is most relevant to: probiotic manufacturers looking for new safe strains, people interested in natural digestive health support, and researchers studying beneficial bacteria. People with inflammatory bowel disease, severe food allergies, or immunocompromised conditions should wait for human studies before considering this bacteria. Healthy individuals with normal digestion may eventually benefit if this becomes a commercial product, but it’s not yet ready for consumer use.

If this bacteria is developed into a commercial probiotic product, it would likely take 3-5 years of human clinical trials before becoming available. Even after availability, benefits would likely take 2-4 weeks of regular consumption to become noticeable, as probiotics work gradually to establish healthy gut populations.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Once this probiotic becomes available, users could track daily consumption and monitor digestive symptoms using a simple 1-5 scale (1=poor digestion, 5=excellent digestion) to see if they notice improvements over 4-8 weeks
  • When this product becomes available, users could set a daily reminder to consume it at the same time each day (ideally with food) and log their consumption in the app to maintain consistency, which is important for probiotics to work effectively
  • Create a long-term tracking system that monitors digestive comfort, energy levels, and general wellness weekly, allowing users to identify patterns and determine if the probiotic is providing personal benefits over months of use

This research describes laboratory findings about a bacterial strain and does not constitute medical advice or approval for human consumption. The bacteria has not been tested in humans, and no health benefits have been proven in people. Do not attempt to obtain or consume this bacteria without consulting a healthcare provider. If you have digestive conditions, take medications, or have a compromised immune system, consult your doctor before using any probiotic product. This summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical guidance.