Strain- and Genotype-Specific Differences in Virulence of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, a Bacterial Pathogen Causing American Foulbrood Disease in Honeybees

ABSTRACT Virulence variations of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease of honeybees, were investigated by analysis of 16 field isolates of this pathogen, belonging to three previously characterized genotypes, as well as the type strain (ATCC 9545) of P. larvae subsp. larvae, with exposure bioassays. We demonstrated that the strain-specific 50% lethal concentrations varied within an order of magnitude and that differences in amount of time for the pathogen to kill 100% of the infected hosts (LT100) correlated with genotype. One genotype killed rather quickly, with a mean LT100 of 7.8 ± 1.7 days postinfection, while the other genotypes acted more slowly, with mean LT100s of 11.2 ± 0.8 and 11.6 ± 0.6 days postinfection.

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Complete Genome Sequences of Paenibacillus larvae Phages Halcyone, Heath, Scottie, and Unity from Las Vegas, Nevada

Microbiology Resource Announcements ◽

10.1128/mra.00977-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Diane G. Yost ◽

Carolyn Chang ◽

Lucy LeBlanc ◽

Erin Cassin ◽

Ceara Peterman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Causative Agent ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Las Vegas ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Content Type ◽

American Foulbrood Disease

We present the complete genome sequences of four phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from beehives and beeswax products from Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Actinobacteria associated with stingless bees biosynthesize bioactive polyketides against bacterial pathogens

New Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1039/c9nj01619h ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (25) ◽

pp. 10109-10117 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Diego Rodríguez-Hernández ◽

Weilan G. P. Melo ◽

Carla Menegatti ◽

Vitor B. Lourenzon ◽

Fábio S. do Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Causative Agent ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Stingless Bees ◽

Bacterial Pathogens ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Strong Activity ◽

American Foulbrood Disease

Strong activity against the bacteria Paenibacillus larvae ATCC9545, the causative agent of the American Foulbrood disease of honey bees.

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Complete Genome Sequences of Nine Phages Capable of Infecting Paenibacillus larvae , the Causative Agent of American Foulbrood Disease in Honeybees: TABLE 1

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.01120-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Philippos K. Tsourkas ◽

Diane G. Yost ◽

Andrew Krohn ◽

Lucy LeBlanc ◽

Anna Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Causative Agent ◽

Complete Genome ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

American Foulbrood Disease ◽

Single Publication

We present here the complete genome sequences of nine phages that infect Paenibacillus larvae , the causative agent of American foulbrood disease in honeybees. The phages were isolated from soil, propolis, and infected bees from three U.S. states. This is the largest number of P. larvae phage genomes sequenced in a single publication to date.

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Diagnosis and molecular detection of Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood in honey bees in Saudi Arabia

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science ◽

10.1017/s1742758417000133 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 37 (03) ◽

pp. 137-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mohammad Javed Ansari ◽

Ahmad Al-Ghamdi ◽

Adgaba Nuru ◽

Ashraf Mohamed Ahmed ◽

Tahany H. Ayaad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Large Scale ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Apis Mellifera Jemenitica ◽

Large Scale Field ◽

American Foulbrood Disease ◽

Phosphate Buffered Saline

AbstractApis mellifera jemenitica, the only indigenous honey bee race of Saudi Arabia, is well adapted to the harsh local environmental conditions. A large-scale field survey was conducted to screen major Saudi Arabian beekeeping locations for infection byPaenibacillus larvae. Paenibacillus larvaeis one of the major bacterial pathogens of honey bee broods and is the causative agent of American foulbrood disease. Larvae from samples suspected of infection were collected from different apiaries and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline. Bacteria were isolated on MYPGP agar medium. Two bacterial isolates, ksuPL3 and ksuPL5 (16S rRNA GenBank accession numbers, KR780760 and KR780761, respectively), were subjected to molecular identification usingP. larvae-specific primers. A BLAST sequence analysis revealed that the two isolates wereP. larvaewith more than 98% sequence identity. This detection ofP. larvaein the indigenous honey bee is the first recorded incidence of this pathogen in Saudi Arabia. This study emphasizes the need for the relevant authorities to take immediate steps towards treating and limiting the spread of this disease throughout the country.

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Bystander Phage Therapy: Inducing Host-Associated Bacteria to Produce Antimicrobial Toxins against the Pathogen Using Phages

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics7040105 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 105 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

T. Brady ◽

Christopher Fajardo ◽

Bryan Merrill ◽

Jared Hilton ◽

Kiel Graves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Recovery Rate ◽

Phage Therapy ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Associated Bacteria ◽

Field Isolates ◽

Brevibacillus Laterosporus ◽

Bystander Killing

Brevibacillus laterosporus is often present in beehives, including presence in hives infected with the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), Paenibacillus larvae. In this work, 12 B. laterosporus bacteriophages induced bactericidal products in their host. Results demonstrate that P. larvae is susceptible to antimicrobials induced from field isolates of the bystander, B. laterosporus. Bystander antimicrobial activity was specific against the pathogen and not other bacterial species, indicating that the production was likely due to natural competition between the two bacteria. Three B. laterosporus phages were combined in a cocktail to treat AFB. Healthy hives treated with B. laterosporus phages experienced no difference in brood generation compared to control hives over 8 weeks. Phage presence in bee larvae after treatment rose to 60.8 ± 3.6% and dropped to 0 ± 0.8% after 72 h. In infected hives the recovery rate was 75% when treated, however AFB spores were not susceptible to the antimicrobials as evidenced by recurrence of AFB. We posit that the effectiveness of this treatment is due to the production of the bactericidal products of B. laterosporus when infected with phages resulting in bystander-killing of P. larvae. Bystander phage therapy may provide a new avenue for antibacterial production and treatment of disease.

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Using palynological evidence from royal jelly to mediate the spread of Paenibacillus larvae in Brazil

Hoehnea ◽

10.1590/2236-8906-45/2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 512-539 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cynthia Fernandes Pinto da Luz ◽

Lubiane Guimarães-Cestaro ◽

José Eduardo Serrão ◽

Dejair Message ◽

Marta Fonseca Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Royal Jelly ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

Inspection System ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Pollen Spectrum ◽

Paulo State ◽

Total Percentage ◽

Brazilian Legislation ◽

American Foulbrood Disease

ABSTRACT Royal jelly may contain pollen grains and their presence can be used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the product. This study analyzed the phytogeographical origin of commercial royal jelly samples from São Paulo State, tested as part of the Brazilian Federal Inspection System (SIF), found to be contaminated with spores of the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, that causes the American Foulbrood Disease. The pollen grains of Castanea had the highest total percentage, with lower percentages of Cirsium/Carduus, Cistus, Parthenocissus, Prunus, Quercus, Robinia, Scrophulariaceae, Taraxacum, Tilia, among others. This pollen spectrum is incompatible with royal jelly samples produced in Brazil. The pollen spectrum resembled that of an imported product, compatible with the Northern Hemisphere origin. Brazilian legislation does not require the phytogeographic origin of imported bee products to be analyzed by palynological procedures, but it is mandatory to have a certificate issued by the country of origin attesting the absence of pathogens, monitored with the objective of preventing the exotic diseases from entering Brazil. Palynology, therefore, proved to be fundamental in detecting imports of this contaminated batches.

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