Abstract
We evaluated the antagonistic effects of newly identified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, originating from the honey stomach, on the honey bee pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. We used inhibition assays on agar plates and honey bee larval bioassays to investigate the effects of honey bee LAB on P. larvae growth in vitro and on AFB infection in vivo. The individual LAB phylotypes showed different inhibition properties against P. larvae growth on agar plates, whereas a combination of all eleven LAB phylotypes resulted in a total inhibition (no visible growth) of P. larvae. Adding the LAB mixture to the larval food significantly reduced the number of AFB infected larvae in exposure bioassays. The results demonstrate that honey bee specific LAB possess beneficial properties for honey bee health. Possible benefits to honey bee health by enhancing growth of LAB or by applying LAB to honey bee colonies should be further investigated.
Zusammenfassung
Die Amerikanische Faulbrut (AFB) ist eine Krankheit, die junge Honigbienenlarven befällt. Sie ist eine der schädlichsten Bienenkrankheiten und hat große ökonomische Bedeutung für die Imkerei weltweit. Der Erreger der AFB ist das sporenbildende Bakterium Paenibacillus larvae, das den Mitteldarm junger Larven durch kontaminiertes Futter befällt. Die Besiedelung des larvalen Mitteldarms stellt einen der Schlüsselfaktoren für die Pathogenese von P. larvae dar und bestimmte Zusammensetzungen der Mikroflora des Darmes könnten das Wachstum des Krankheitserregers unterdrücken. Kürzlich wurden eine neue Flora von Milchsäurebakterien (LAB) der Gattungen Lactobacillus und Bifidobacterium aus dem Honigmagen der Bienen beschrieben. LAB sind zwar bekannt für die Produktion von antimikrobiellen Substanzen, jedoch gibt es Variationen bezüglich der nutzbringenden Eigenschaften zwischen Arten und Gattungen. In dieser Untersuchung wurde der antagonistische Effekt der Honigbienen-LAB auf P. larvae beurteilt. Wir verwendeten Hemmtests auf Agarplatten und Biotests mit Honigbienenlarven, um diese Effekte zu untersuchen. Die individuellen LAB-Phylotypen zeigten unterschiedliche Hemmeigenschaften gegenüber auf Agarplatten wachsenden P. larvae, während eine Kombination aller 11 LAB-Phylotypen sogar eine totale Hemmung (kein sichtbares Wachstum mehr) von P. larvae bewirkte. Eine Zugabe des LAB-Mix zum Larvenfutter reduzierte signifikant die Anzahl an AFB-infizierten Larven im Biotest.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die für Honigbienen spezifischen LAB nutzbringende Eigenschaften für die Bienengesundheit besitzen. Der mögliche Nutzen einer Applikation von LAB in Bienenvölkern sollte untersucht werden.
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Forsgren, E., Olofsson, T.C., Váasquez, A. et al. Novel lactic acid bacteria inhibiting Paenibacillus larvae in honey bee larvae. Apidologie 41, 99–108 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009065
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009065