Nisin A Treatment to Protect Honey Bee Larvae from European Foulbrood Disease.

ABSTRACT: European foulbrood (EFB) is a bee larvae-specific infectious disease and the causative pathogen is Melissococcus plutonius. Broad-spectrum antibiotics have classically been used in many countries to control the pathogens; however, their use in apiaries was discontinued in several countries due to concerns regarding the health of bees and humans. Therefore, the development of alternative treatments for use in apiaries that are safe for bees and humans is essential. The present study examined the effects of nisin A supplementation using artificially reared honey bee larvae infected by M. plutonius strains. The results obtained showed that a non-purified nisin A product was toxic to honey bee larvae, while semi-purified nisin A by removing low-molecular-weight (< 3,000) chemicals was not leth

SUBMITTER: Nakamura K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12532646 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature