Microorganisms best known for promoting gut health in humans may be the key to saving honey bee colonies from collapse, according to a novel discovery by Western and Lawson Health Research Institute researchers.
“Probiotics aren’t just for humans,” said Gregor Reid, a Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor and Endowed Chair in Human Microbiome and Probiotics at Lawson. “Our idea was that if you could use beneficial microbes to stimulate the immune response or attack the pathogens that are infecting the hives, then maybe we can help save the bees.”
The study, Novel probiotic approach to counter Paenibacillus larvae infection in honey bees, was published Tuesday in The ISME Journal.
Honey bees are an important part of the cultural and economic landscape because of their role in food production both through pollination of crops and honey production. However, the world’s bee population is being threatened by the spread of viruses and bacteria that infect the hives.
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