Putative determinants of virulence in Melissococcus plutonius, the bacterial agent causing European foulbrood in honey bees.

ABSTRACT:

Melissococcus plutonius

is a bacterial pathogen that causes epidemic outbreaks of European foulbrood (EFB) in honey bee populations. The pathogenicity of a bacterium depends on its virulence, and understanding the mechanisms influencing virulence may allow for improved disease control and containment. Using a standardized in vitro assay, we demonstrate that virulence varies greatly among sixteen M. plutonius isolates from five European countries. Additionally, we explore the causes of this variation. In this study, virulence was independent of the multilocus sequence type of the tested pathogen, and was not affected by experimental co-infection with Paenibacillus alvei, a bacterium often associated with EFB outbreaks. Virulence in vitro was correlated wi

SUBMITTER: Grossar D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7567439 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature