Article
Microbiology
A-Tai Truong, Jeong Eun Kang, Mi-Sun Yoo, Thi Thu Nguyen, So-Youn Youn, Soon-Seek Yoon, Yun Sang Cho
Summary: This study identified 20 strains of Lactobacillus with antimicrobial properties against P. larvae, and three representative strains (L. apis HSY8_B25, L. panisapium PKH2_L3, and L. melliventris HSY3_B5) were evaluated as potential probiotic candidates for the prevention of AFB.
Article
Microbiology
Kirk J. Grubbs, Daniel S. May, Joseph A. Sardina, Renee K. Dermenjian, Thomas P. Wyche, Adrian A. Pinto-Tomas, Jon Clardy, Cameron R. Currie
Summary: Research suggests that honey bees may use Actinobacteria derived from pollen and their associated small molecules to maintain colony health, particularly exhibiting inhibitory activity against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Stefano Bassi, Giorgio Galletti, Emanuele Carpana, Stefano Palminteri, Filippo Bosi, Giulio Loglio, Elena Carra
Summary: This study investigated the identification of P. larvae infection levels in honey bee colonies through the examination of powdered sugar samples collected in hives. The results showed that spore counting in sugar samples can effectively determine the infection levels and aid in the control of American Foulbrood.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Julia Ebeling, Anne Fuenfhaus, Elke Genersch
Summary: Paenibacillus larvae is the etiological agent of American Foulbrood, a serious honey bee brood disease. The species has five ERIC-genotypes with differences in virulence. Several virulence factors, including ADP-ribosylating toxins Plx1, Plx2, and C3larvin, have been identified, providing insights into the molecular basis of pathogen-host interactions during P. larvae infections.
Article
Microbiology
Florine Ory, Vincent Dietemann, Anne Guisolan, Ueli von Ah, Charlotte Fleuti, Simone Oberhaensli, Jean Daniel Charriere, Benjamin Dainat
Summary: A novel strain 2.1(T) of the genus Paenibacillus, a facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile, and endospore-forming bacterium, was isolated from diseased Apis mellifera in Switzerland. The strain showed unique characteristics and distinct genomic differences from other closely related species, leading to the proposal of a new species, Paenibacillus melissococcoides.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Julia Ebeling, Franziska Pieper, Josefine Goebel, Henriette Knispel, Michael McCarthy, Monica Goncalves, Madison Turner, Allan Rod Merrill, Elke Genersch
Summary: Recent research has identified potential drugs against American Foulbrood, but these drugs did not have a significant impact on honey bee larvae mortality in experiments. This suggests that the pathogenesis strategies of American Foulbrood may be too complex to be effectively disarmed through anti-virulence strategies targeting a single virulence factor.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael W. Zabrodski, Jessica E. DeBruyne, Geoff Wilson, Igor Moshynskyy, Mohsen Sharafi, Sarah C. Wood, Ivanna Kozii, Jenna Thebeau, Colby D. Klein, Igor Medici de Mattos, LaRhonda Sobchishin, Tasha Epp, Antonio C. Ruzzini, Elemir Simko
Summary: This study in three commercial honey bee operations in Canada found outbreaks of American foulbrood (AFB) and metaphylactic antibiotic use may lead to spore contamination in hives. The study compared different sample types within hives and found honey collected from honey supers could be a good surrogate for detecting spore contamination. Additionally, pooled, extracted honey had predictive potential for overall spore contamination and assessing the risk of future AFB outbreaks.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Timur Bulatov, Sebastian Gensel, Andi Mainz, Tam Dang, Timm O. Koller, Kerstin Voigt, Julia Ebeling, Daniel N. Wilson, Elke Genersch, Roderich D. Suessmuth
Summary: The study reports the total synthesis and structural revision of paenilamicin B2, highlighting the N-terminal fragment as an important pharmacophore, and conducts biological activity evaluation and competition experiments with bacterial competitors in the ecological niche. It also presents data classifying paenilamicins as potential ribosome inhibitors, contributing to a better understanding of the pathogenicity of P. larvae and paving the way for future structure-activity relationship and mode-of-action studies.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brendan A. Daisley, Andrew P. Pitek, Elizabeth Mallory, Anna M. Chernyshova, Emma Allen-Vercoe, Gregor Reid, Graham J. Thompson
Summary: This study investigates the causal agent of American foulbrood (AFB), Paenibacillus larvae, a spore-forming bacterial entomopathogen that is deadly and incurable for honey bee colonies when active, but can persist asymptomatically for years in its dormant spore form. The study highlights the overlooked role of microbiota factors in the transition from spore to vegetative growth and offers insights on the collaborative and competitive interactions between P. larvae and other honey bee-adapted microorganisms. Additionally, it proposes probiotic and microbiota management strategies for sustainable control of AFB, considering the health trade-offs associated with chronic antibiotic exposure.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Ewa Jonczyk-Matysiak, Barbara Owczarek, Ewa Popiela, Kinga Switala-Jelen, Pawel Migdal, Martyna Cieslik, Norbert Lodej, Dominika Kula, Joanna Neuberg, Katarzyna Hodyra-Stefaniak, Marta Kaszowska, Filip Orwat, Natalia Baginska, Anna Mucha, Agnieszka Belter, Miroslawa Skupinska, Barbara Bubak, Wojciech Fortuna, Slawomir Letkiewicz, Pawel Chorbinski, Beata Weber-Dabrowska, Adam Roman, Andrzej Gorski
Summary: The study aimed to isolate and characterize phages active against Paenibacillus larvae in lab conditions, and develop a preparation to prevent and treat American Foulbrood. 35 Paenibacillus strains were obtained from over 2500 samples, and five specific phages were isolated from them. Preliminary safety studies on healthy bees suggest the phage preparation administered is harmless.
Article
Microbiology
T. Scott Brady, Charles R. Roll, Jamison K. Walker, Christopher P. Fajardo, Donald P. Breakwell, Dennis L. Eggett, Sandra Hope
Summary: Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), a destructive bacterial infection in honeybees. Phages that infect P. larvae have been shown to effectively combat AFB. The study found that certain phages can bind to both vegetative P. larvae and spores, which may improve treatment of sporulating bacterial infections.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Darja Kusar, Bojan Papic, Urska Zajc, Irena Zdovc, Majda Golob, Lucija Zvokelj, Tanja Knific, Jana Avbersek, Matjaz Ocepek, Metka Pislak Ocepek
Summary: American foulbrood (AFB) is a severe bacterial disease of honeybees caused by Paenibacillus larvae. Detection of P. larvae spore counts can help identify at-risk colonies early, with the newly developed qPCR assay proving to be reliable at detecting and quantifying P. larvae even at low spore counts.
Article
Microbiology
Mariko Okamoto, Masahiko Kumagai, Hiroyuki Kanamori, Daisuke Takamatsu
Summary: American foulbrood (AFB) is a serious bacterial disease of honey bee brood caused by Paenibacillus larvae, with tylosin being used in Japan as a prophylactic. Resistance genes in honey may lead to the emergence of tylosin-resistant P. larvae, as shown by isolating tylosin-resistant bacteria from Japanese honey samples and identifying macrolide resistance genes present on mobile genetic elements. Monitoring bacteria in honey could help predict and prevent the selection of resistant strains of P. larvae.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Bartosz Piechowicz, Aleksandra Kwiatek, Stanislaw Sadlo, Lech Zareba, Anna Koziorowska, Daniela Kloc, Maciej Balawejder
Summary: Paenibacillus larvae is a deadly pathogen for bee brood, and the presence of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the hive may be related to its occurrence. A study compared the compositions of VOCs in healthy brood and infected brood using GC-MS and SPME, and found that the concentrations of 3-carene and limonene differentiated the brood from healthy and infected colonies. The number of emitted VOCs also differentiated the samples.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Joseph Kiriamburi, Jamleck Muturi, Julius Mugweru, Eva Forsgren, Anna Nilsson
Summary: This study compared the biocidal effects of two commercially available disinfectants, Disinfection for Beekeeping and Virkon S, on Paenibacillus larvae. The results showed that Disinfection for Beekeeping had a higher biocidal effect on P. larvae in suspension, while Virkon S had a better effect on P. larvae on Styrofoam material. The two disinfectants had similar effects on infected wood material.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tanja Mertschnigg, Sascha Patz, Matthias Becker, Gebhard Feierl, Silke Ruppel, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Joerg Overmann, Gernot Zarfel
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Martinique Frentrup, Zhemin Zhou, Matthias Steglich, Jan P. Meier-Kolthoff, Markus Goeker, Thomas Riedel, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Jorg Overmann, Marion Blaschitz, Alexander Indra, Lutz von Mueller, Thomas A. Kohl, Stefan Niemann, Christian Seyboldt, Frank Klawonn, Nitin Kumar, Trevor D. Lawley, Sergio Garcia-Fernandez, Rafael Canton, Rosa Del Campo, Ortrud Zimmermann, Uwe Gross, Mark Achtman, Ulrich Nuebel
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Chandra Risdian, Wiebke Landwehr, Manfred Rohde, Peter Schumann, Richard L. Hahnke, Cathrin Sproeer, Boyke Bunk, Peter Kaempfer, Peter J. Schupp, Joachim Wink
Summary: A novel actinobacterium, designated ASO4wet(T), isolated from deep-sea sponge in the North Atlantic Ocean, is identified as a new species Streptomyces bathyalis through polyphasic taxonomy. Analysis of its whole-genome sequence revealed characteristics distinct from known Streptomyces species.
ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dimitry Y. Sorokin, Tatjana Khijniak, Alicia P. Zakharycheva, Alexander G. Elcheninov, Richard L. Hahnke, Olga Boueva, Elena Ariskina, Boyke Bunk, Ilya Kublanov, Lyudmila Evtushenko
Summary: A new haloalkaliphilic hydrolytic actinobacterium, Natronoglycomyces albus gen. nov., sp. nov., with high alkalinity and salt tolerance, was discovered and classified within the family Glycomycetaceae. This strain contains multiple glycosidase-encoding genes and has a cell wall characteristic of peptidoglycan type A1 gamma'. The genome analysis revealed a chromosome of 3.94 Mbp encoding 3285 proteins, leading to the proposal of a new genus and species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Siti Roszilawati Ramli, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Robert Geffers, Michael Jarek, Sabin Bhuju, Marga Goris, Sahlawati Mustakim, Frank Pessler
Summary: The study utilized a combination of sequencing methods to obtain complete genome sequences of six human clinical L. interrogans isolates, revealing a high degree of genomic plasticity, conservation of virulence-associated genes, and diverse pathogenic factors in Leptospirae.
Article
Ecology
Andres E. Brunetti, Boyke Bunk, Mariana L. Lyra, Carlos A. Fuzo, Mariela M. Marani, Cathrin Sproeer, Celio F. B. Haddad, Norberto P. Lopes, Joerg Overmann
Summary: This study investigated the molecular basis of the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and amphibians, uncovering adaptive resistance mechanisms of bacteria against host antimicrobial peptides and the role of specific genomic factors in maintaining the symbiosis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susanne Krause, Sabrina Gfrerer, Andriko von Kuegelgen, Carsten Reuse, Nina Dombrowski, Laura Villanueva, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Thomas R. Neu, Ute Kuhlicke, Kerstin Schmidt-Hohagen, Karsten Hiller, Tanmay A. M. Bharat, Reinhard Rachel, Anja Spang, Johannes Gescher
Summary: This study reports a stable co-culture of a member of the Micrarchaeota and its host, and sheds light on this symbiosis through multi-omic and physiological analyses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Janine Mayer, Tobias Knuuti, Lisa Baumgarten, Elise Menke, Lena Bischoff, Boyke Bunk, Rebekka Biedendieck
Summary: The secretion of recombinant proteins is crucial for their economic production and purification. A plasmid-based signal peptide (SP) library has been established to facilitate the identification of suitable SPs for specific proteins. The functionality of the library has been demonstrated by increasing the secretion of alpha-amylase by 1.6-fold and significantly enhancing the secretion of another protein, penicillin G acylase.
Article
Microbiology
Samad Ashrafi, Nemanja Kuzmanovic, Sascha Patz, Ulrike Lohwasser, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Maria Lorenz, Ahmed Elhady, Anja Fruehling, Meina Neumann-Schaal, Susanne Verbarg, Matthias Becker, Torsten Thuenen
Summary: New rhizobial species associated with root nodules of common sainfoin have been identified, which have significant implications for nitrogen fixation and plant growth promotion.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Richard Bigge, Boyke Bunk, Wolfram W. Rudolph, Florian Gunzer, Sina M. Coldewey, Thomas Riedel, Percy Schroettner
Summary: Recent publications show that A. radioresistens can cause infections in humans, although it is rarely reported in routine diagnostics. This might be due to misidentification by conventional methods and the lack of clinical relevance and consistent inclusion in diagnostic results. To investigate the medical significance of this bacterium and establish reliable identification methods, a collection of 21 well-documented reference strains was created. Comparison of three widely used methods (MALDI-TOF MS, VITEK 2, and sequencing of housekeeping genes) revealed that MALDI-TOF MS and sequencing of housekeeping genes provide secure and reliable identification of A. radioresistens, while VITEK 2 resulted in misidentification for some strains.
Article
Microbiology
Nemanja Kuzmanovic, George C. diCenzo, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Anja Fruehling, Meina Neumann-Schaal, Joerg Overmann, Kornelia Smalla
Summary: In this study, a distinct tumorigenes clade of the genus Rhizobium, including the tumorigenic species Rhizobium tumorigenes, was analyzed. A novel species of the genus Rhizobium, named Rhizobium rhododendri sp. nov., was proposed. The characteristics and gene clusters specific to the tumorigenes clade were identified, and their roles in the ecological diversification were predicted and discussed.
Article
Microbiology
Ashraf R. Zayed, Dina M. Bitar, Michael Steinert, Christian Lueck, Cathrin Sproeer, Ingrid Brettar, Manfred G. Hoefle, Boyke Bunk
Summary: This study sequenced and compared the whole genome of L. pneumophila isolates from the West Bank and Germany, revealing high genomic plasticity of this bacterium across different geographical regions. Whole genome sequencing provides a powerful tool for molecular surveillance of L. pneumophila with high resolution.
Article
Microbiology
Cynthia Maria Chibani, Robert Hertel, Meina Neumann-Schaal, Henry Goehlich, Kim Wagner, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Sproeer, Jorg Overmann, Michael Hoppert, Silke Mareike Marten, Olivia Roth, Heiko Liesegang, Carolin C. Wendling
Summary: A new Vibrio strain, K08M4(T), was isolated from the broad-nosed pipefish Syngnathus typhle in the Kiel Fjord. The strain showed distinct phenotypic features and its complete genome sequence was analyzed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Isabel Schober, Boyke Bunk, Gabriela Carril, Heike M. Freese, Nicolas Ojeda, Thomas Riedel, Jan P. Meier-Kolthoff, Markus Goeker, Cathrin Sproeer, Patricio A. Flores-Herrera, Guillermo Nourdin-Galindo, Fernando Gomez, Constanza Cardenas, Felipe Vasquez-Ponce, Alvaro Labra, Jaime Figueroa, Jorge Olivares-Pacheco, Ulrich Nuebel, Johannes Sikorski, Sergio H. Marshall, Jorg Overmann
Summary: The study reveals the global diversity, evolution, and selection of Piscirickettsia salmonis, an important bacterial pathogen in aquaculture. The research shows that P. salmonis consists of distinct genetically isolated species and highlights the role of transposases in its diversification. Group-specific genes may contribute to differences in virulence between strains, but horizontal acquisition of resistance genes does not explain the failure of antibiotic treatment in outbreaks.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Katherine E. Dougan, Zhi-Luo Deng, Lars Woehlbrand, Carsten Reuse, Boyke Bunk, Yibi Chen, Juliane Hartlich, Karsten Hiller, Uwe John, Jana Kalvelage, Johannes Mansky, Meina Neumann-Schaal, Joerg Overmann, Joern Petersen, Selene Sanchez-Garcia, Kerstin Schmidt-Hohagen, Sarah Shah, Cathrin Sproeer, Helena Sztajer, Hui Wang, Debashish Bhattacharya, Ralf Rabus, Dieter Jahn, Cheong Xin Chan, Irene Wagner-Doebler
Summary: This study provides insights into the molecular response to heat stress in an important bloom-forming algal species, Prorocentrum cordatum, revealing a complementary interplay between RNA editing and exon usage in regulating gene expression and functional diversity. The findings highlight genomic signatures and post-transcriptional regulation for the first time in pelagic dinoflagellates.
