{
  "abstract": "Introduction\n\nHoneybee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae are susceptible to Paenibacillus larvae, a spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium that causes American Foulbrood (AFB), a destructive honeybee brood diseases. Current antibiotic treatments are inadequate because of rising pathogen resistance and residue accumulation in hive products, driving interest in biological and other natural strategies for AFB control. Most candidate biocontrol agents, however, have been evaluated only for their ability to inhibit P. larvae or protect larvae, with less attention to their effects on adult bees.Methods\n\nHere we assessed the biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against P. larvae infection. Bacteria isolated from AFB-infected combs were sequenced and screened for antagonistic activity, and active isolates, their lysates, and lysate-derived protein fractions were tested for their ability to improve larval survival during P. larvae challenge. To evaluate effects on adult bees, newly emerged workers were caged and fed the B. licheniformis lysate (ASx), and their survival and gut microbiome were compared with untreated controls and with bees fed Terra-Pro, a Terramycin-based AFB treatment.Results\n\nSeveral Bacillus species - including B. zhangzhouensis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis, and B. mojavensis - inhibited one or more P. larvae strains. The B. licheniformis lysate (ASx) and its 30 -50 kDa protein fraction improved larval survival during P. larvae challenge. In caged adults, survival of lysate-fed bees differed from untreated controls but was comparable to that of Terra-Pro-fed bees, and their gut microbiome remained similar to that of untreated controls.Discussion\n\nTogether, these results indicate that hive-associated Bacillus species - and B. licheniformis-derived proteins in particular - are promising candidates for AFB management that improve larval survival without harming adult bees more than an existing antibiotic treatment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States.",
    "Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Anuja Shrestha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yva Eline"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kenzie Sundstrom"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "James T Van Leuven"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4vjmscebsypqw.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/finsc.2026.1870750",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689933",
  "id": "4vjmscebsypqw",
  "issns": [
    "2673-8600"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923729",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1109|Insect and Pesticide Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220959494",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689933?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13689933",
  "pmid": "42923729",
  "published": "2026-10-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4vjmscebsypqw.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42923729",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923729"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1109|Insect and Pesticide Research",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against American Foulbrood disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).",
  "title_text": "Biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against American Foulbrood disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:33Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4vjmscebsypqw",
  "venue": "Frontiers in insect science",
  "versions": []
}