Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Microbiology 2008-3289 18 5 2026 10 05 787 798 Iram Asad Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Mubashar Hussain Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Sheeza Sakhawat Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Arooj Fatima Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Aqsa Noreen Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Aniza Iftikhar Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Suleman Hussain Shah Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Saira Bashir Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Samia Arif Department of Higher Education, Faculty of Science, Govt. Asghar Ali Graduate College for Women, Punjab, Pakistan Iqra Rafiq Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan Haseeb Raza Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan Yasal Cheema Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Iqra Nawaz Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan Muhammad Sikander Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan 2026 06 26 2026 08 24 Background and Objectives: Apis dorsata (A. dorsata), the giant honeybee, is an important pollinator of Asia. Gut-microbial assemblages contribute to nutrient utilization and metabolism, yet their diversity in the gut of A. dorsata remains underexplored. The main objective of the current study was to explore the impact of local geographical conditions on the gut microbial diversity and the functional potential of A. dorsata gut-associated bacteria. Materials and Methods: Bacterial community profiling and characterization were performed using high-throughput sequencing on the DNA Nanoball Sequencing (DNBseq) platform. Results: Fifty-four bacterial species were detected from the gut of A. dorsata, expanding the known microbial diversity of this host species. The comprehensive analysis of pooled samples from two regions revealed that higher microbial diversity in district Bhimber than in Jhelum. Nevertheless, site-specific putative differences were observed in the pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid synthesis, and other cellular activities. Conclusion: This exploratory pilot investigation revealed site-wise preliminary differences in taxonomy and putative metabolic functions of bacterial species. These results provide a baseline for future studies on the diversity and dynamics of functioning of gut-associated microbial communities of A. dorsata. https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/6286 https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/download/6286/1939