Honey-derived <i>Paenibacillus</i> spp. with potential to affect bee brood development in <i>Apis mellifera</i>: Are they a new threat to honey bees?

ABSTRACT: Honey bees are important pollinators in both agriculture and ecosystems, and their health is essential for sustainable human development. Although only two bacteria, Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius, have been identified as bacterial pathogens in honey bee brood for over 100 years, we found three additional Paenibacillus strains (Paenibacillus sp. J27TS7, Paenibacillus azoreducens J34TS1, and Paenibacillus melissococcoides J46TS7) in honey that harmed honey bee brood development. In particular, Paenibacillus sp. J27TS7 was highly virulent in bee larvae (the median lethal dose [LD₅₀] = 12.7 spores/larva) and was comparable to P. larvae (LD₅₀ = 2.3-11.5 spores/larva). Paenibacillus azoreducens

SUBMITTER: Nakamura K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834430 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature