Original paper
Newly isolated bacteria increase the survival of honeybee larvae infected with Paenibacillus larvae
Zhao, Hongyang; Han, Bo; Yang, Sa; Zhao, Danyang; Zhang, Li; Dai, Pingli
Entomologia Generalis Volume 45 Number 3 (2025), p. 837 - 845
published: Aug 19, 2025
published online: Jun 6, 2025
manuscript accepted: Apr 23, 2025
final revised version received: Feb 18, 2025
manuscript revision requested: Nov 27, 2024
manuscript received: Oct 3, 2024
ArtNo. ESP146004503022, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
American foulbrood (AFB) is a bacterial disease of honeybees caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Probiotics play an important role in resistance to pathogens in honeybees. Two strains 74-8 and FB-1 with inhibitory effects on P. larvae were isolated from the whole gut of honeybees, and the multiple probiotic properties and safety in honeybee larvae were tested to assess their potential use in the prevention of AFB. Leuconostoc citreum 74-8 and Latilactobacillus sakei FB-1 could inhibit P. larvae by producing acid in vitro and increased the survival rates of larvae infected with P. larvae by approximate 30 % in vivo. L. citreum 74-8 and L. sakei FB-1 could colonize honeybee larvae and significantly increase the abundance of dominant microorganisms, as well as modulate the transcription of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) apidaecin, abaecin, hymenoptaecin in honeybee larvae infected with P. larvae. L. citreum 74-8 and L. sakei FB-1 exhibited probiotic characteristics and effectively antagonized AFB through multiple mechanisms. This study will expand our knowledge of the honeybee gut native bacteria against the pathogen and highlight a new strategy for the control of AFB.
Keywords
Apis mellifera
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American foulbrood •
Leuconostoc citreum
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Latilactobacillus sakei
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antimicrobial peptides