title: Experimental bacteriophage treatment of honeybees (Apis mellifera) infected withPaenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood Disease.
abstract: American Foulbrood Disease (AFB) is an infection of honeybees caused by the bacteriumPaenibacillus larvae. One potential remedy involves using biocontrol, such as bacteriophages (phages) to lyseP. larvae. Therefore, bacteriophages specific forP. larvaewere isolated to determine their efficacy in lysingP. larvaecells. Samples from soil, beehive materials, cosmetics, and lysogenizedP. larvaestrains were screened; of 157 total samples, 28 were positive for at least oneP. larvaebacteriophage, with a total of 30. Newly isolated bacteriophages were tested for the ability to lyse each of 11P. larvaestrains. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the phage isolates were from the familySiphoviridae. Seven phages with the broadest host ranges were combined into a cocktail for use in experimental treatments of infected bee larvae; both prophylactic and post-infection treatments were conducted. Results indicated that although both pre- and post-treatments were effective, prophylactic administration of the phages increased the survival of larvae more than post-treatment experiments. These preliminary experiments demonstrate the likelihood that phage therapy could be an effective method to control AFB.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada , Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
authors.forename: Diane G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yost
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada , Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
authors.forename: Philippos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsourkas
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada , Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
authors.forename: Penny S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Amy
keywords: Paenibacillus larvae; bacteriophages; environmental sampling; genomes; phage therapy