title: Paenibacillus larvae-Directed Bacteriophage HB10c2 and Its Application in American Foulbrood-Affected Honey Bee Larvae.
abstract: Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), the most serious honey bee brood bacterial disease. We isolated and characterized P. larvae-directed bacteriophages and developed criteria for safe phage therapy. Whole-genome analysis of a highly lytic virus of the family Siphoviridae (HB10c2) provided a detailed safety profile and uncovered its lysogenic nature and a putative beta-lactamase-like protein. To rate its antagonistic activity against the pathogens targeted and to specify potentially harmful effects on the bee population and the environment, P. larvae genotypes ERIC I to IV, representatives of the bee gut microbiota, and a broad panel of members of the order Bacillales were analyzed for phage HB10c2-induced lysis. Breeding assays with infected bee larvae revealed that the in vitro phage activity observed was not predictive of the real-life scenario and therapeutic efficacy. On the basis of the disclosed P. larvae-bacteriophage coevolution, we discuss the future prospects of AFB phage therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beims
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Boyke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bunk
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Cathrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spröer
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Central Facility for Microscopy, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.affiliation: Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Institute for Apiculture, Celle, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: von der Ohe
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Central Facility for Microscopy, Braunschweig, Germany m.steinert@tu-bs.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D023061:Gene Order; D016679:Genome, Viral; D058507:Host Specificity; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D056507:Paenibacillus / Q000821:virology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016019:Survival Analysis; D026801:Synteny; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral