Antimicrobial Activity against <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> and Functional Properties of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> Strains: Potential Benefits for Honeybee Health
Massimo Iorizzo,
Bruno Testa,
Silvia Jane Lombardi,
Sonia Ganassi,
Mario Ianiro,
Francesco Letizia,
Mariantonietta Succi,
Patrizio Tremonte,
Franca Vergalito,
Autilia Cozzolino,
Elena Sorrentino,
Raffaele Coppola,
Sonia Petrarca,
Massimo Mancini,
Antonio De Cristofaro
Affiliations
Massimo Iorizzo
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Bruno Testa
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Silvia Jane Lombardi
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Sonia Ganassi
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Mario Ianiro
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Francesco Letizia
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Mariantonietta Succi
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Patrizio Tremonte
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Franca Vergalito
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Autilia Cozzolino
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Elena Sorrentino
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Raffaele Coppola
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Sonia Petrarca
Consorzio Nazionale Produttori Apistici CONAPROA, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Massimo Mancini
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Antonio De Cristofaro
Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), a severe bacterial disease that affects larvae of honeybees. The present study evaluated, in vitro, antimicrobial activity of sixty-one Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains, against P. larvae ATCC 9545. Five strains (P8, P25, P86, P95 and P100) that showed the greatest antagonism against P. larvae ATCC 9545 were selected for further physiological and biochemical characterizations. In particular, the hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, exopolysaccharides production, osmotic tolerance, enzymatic activity and carbohydrate assimilation patterns were evaluated. The five L. plantarum selected strains showed suitable physical and biochemical properties for their use as probiotics in the honeybee diet. The selection and availability of new selected bacteria with good functional characteristics and with antagonistic activity against P. larvae opens up interesting perspectives for new biocontrol strategies of diseases such as AFB.
