Isolation and Characterization of Phages Active against Paenibacillus larvae Causing American Foulbrood in Honeybees in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization, including the phage effect on honeybees in laboratory conditions, of phages active against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood—a highly infective and easily spreading disease occurring in honeybee larva, and subsequently the development of a preparation to prevent and treat this dangerous disease. From the tested material (over 2500 samples) 35 Paenibacillus spp. strains were obtained and used to search for phages. Five phages specific to Paenibacillus were isolated and characterized (ultrastructure, morphology, biological properties, storage stability, and genome sequence). The characteristics were performed to obtain knowledge of their lytic potential and compose the final phage cocktail with high antibacterial potential and intended use of future field application. Preliminary safety studies have also been carried out on healthy bees, which suggest that the phage preparation administered is harmless.

In VitroEvolution to Increase the Titers of Difficult Bacteriophages: Rapid Appelmans Protocol

“…Similarly, a P. polymyxa bacteriophage isolated in Slovakia required the concentration of a 200 mL volume of lysate (Halgasova et al, 2010). More recently a similar study from Poland described five P. larvae bacteriophages, four of which were at a titer of 8×10 6 or lower and required additional centrifugation steps before DNA sequencing (Jończyk-Matysiak et al, 2021). Similar protocols for tractable bacteriophages often require volumes of 1-10 mL and are easily brought to titers above 5×10 9 PFU/mL.…”

Bal Arılarında Amerikan Yavru Çürüklüğü Sıklığı: 2015-2020 Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Verileri

“…Antibiotic use has been prohibited in most countries due to the harmful effects of antibiotic residues in honey and other bee products, shortening of larval viability and adult lifespan in colonies, and emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Schiesser 2014;Locke et al 2019). A more sustainable and effective approach to AFB in the long term is the development of disease-resistant honeybee lines and the use of natural strategies such as plant extracts, propolis, probiotics (B. thuringiensis as a biological control), and phage therapy as an alternative treatment (Schiesser 2014;Jończyk-Matysiak et al 2021).…”