Biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against American Foulbrood disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).
- 1Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States.
- 2Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States.
Abstract
Introduction
Honeybee (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
Here 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
Several 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
Together, 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.
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BibTeX
@article{shrestha2026biocontrol,
title = {{Biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against American Foulbrood disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).}},
author = {Anuja Shrestha and Yva Eline and Kenzie Sundstrom and James T Van Leuven},
journal = {Frontiers in insect science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/finsc.2026.1870750},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923729},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biocontrol potential of hive-associated Bacillus species against American Foulbrood disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).
AU - Anuja Shrestha
AU - Yva Eline
AU - Kenzie Sundstrom
AU - James T Van Leuven
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Frontiers in insect science
DO - 10.3389/finsc.2026.1870750
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923729
AB - Introduction Honeybee (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 Here 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 Several 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 Together, 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.
SN - 2673-8600
ER -