Propolis envelope in Apis mellifera colonies supports honey bees against the pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae.

ABSTRACT: Honey bees have immune defenses both as individuals and as a colony (e.g., individual and social immunity). One form of honey bee social immunity is the collection of antimicrobial plant resins and the deposition of the resins as a propolis envelope within the nest. In this study, we tested the effects of the propolis envelope as a natural defense against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB) disease. Using colonies with and without a propolis envelope, we quantified: 1) the antimicrobial activity of larval food fed to 1-2 day old larvae; and 2) clinical signs of AFB. Our results show that the antimicrobial activity of larval food was significantly higher when challenged colonies had a propolis envelope compared to colonies without the envelope. In addition,

SUBMITTER: Borba RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5595881 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature