New Eco-Friendly Solution for Bee Health

Amid increasing environmental challenges facing bees, a team of American researchers has discovered a potentially eco-friendly source for treating bee diseases: the pollen collected by bees. Researchers believe that bacteria and fungi coexisting within plant tissues can develop compounds that maintain the health of plant pollinators.

Bacteria Found in Pollen

The researchers conducted a study on the bacteria present in pollen and found that they share similar properties with those found in plants near bee colonies. Dr. Daniel May from Washington College in the United States, one of the study’s participants, noted that the isolated bacteria produce antimicrobial compounds that eliminate pathogens affecting bees and plants, making them an excellent starting point for new treatments.

The researchers focused on bacteria from the Actinobacteria family, which is the source of two-thirds of the antibiotics currently used in clinics. They collected pollen from ten native plant species in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as pollen from a nearby beehive.

Experiments and Results

The researchers isolated 16 strains of Actinobacteria from plants and 18 strains from pollen stores within the hive. Genetic analyses revealed that the same or closely related species were found in both types of samples. Most of them belong to the genus Streptomyces, a source of many compounds used in medicine and agriculture.

Competitive tests were conducted where known pathogens were grown alongside isolated Streptomyces, and most were found to be effective in inhibiting Aspergillus niger mold, which causes stonebrood disease in bees. Individual strains also showed moderate to strong effectiveness against bacterial pathogens of bees and some crop diseases.

The Role of Bees in Bacteria Transmission

The researchers explained that bees collecting pollen from flowers pick up Streptomyces bacteria and bring them back to pollen stores in the hive, where they help defend the colony against diseases. They found clear evidence in the studied genomes that these bacteria were living inside plants, not in a superficial or random relationship.

The findings suggest that a diverse array of bioactive compounds awaits discovery in symbiotic bacteria, which can help maintain bee health. They also imply that an environment rich in different plant species benefits bees by providing a greater diversity of symbiotic Actinobacteria.

Conclusion

This study confirms that beneficial bacteria found in pollen can play a vital role in combating bee diseases. By enhancing the natural environment of bees with more plant diversity, bee health can be improved, reducing reliance on traditional chemical treatments. In the future, treating bee diseases may involve introducing the right beneficial bacteria into hives to control specific pathogens.