Researchers have shown that pollen collected by honeybees contains Streptomyces bacteria that are endophytes, symbionts living inside plant tissue.
Researchers have shown that pollen collected by honeybees contains Streptomyces bacteria that are endophytes, symbionts living inside plant tissue. These release antimicrobial compounds that inhibit common bacterial and fungal diseases of honeybees and crop plants. This discovery could be used to treat infections of honeybee colonies by introducing selected species of Streptomyces into the hive.
A honeybee hive, with its large stores of pollen, wax, and honey, is like a fortress guarding treasure: with strong defenses, but a bonanza for enemies that can overcome those. More than 30 parasites of honeybees are known, spanning protists, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and arthropods – and this number keeps growing. As a result, beekeepers are always on the lookout for new ways to protect their precious hives.
A team of researchers from the US suspected that a rich new source of ecofriendly treatments for bee diseases might be hiding in plain sight: in the pollen gathered by bees. They reasoned that so-called endophytes, symbiotic bacteria and fungi living inside most plant tissues, should benefit when their hosts are pollinated. This could be an incentive for these microbes to evolve compounds that keep their host’s pollinators healthy.
And now, they have shown their hunch to be correct.
Read More: Frontiers
Photo Credit: PollyDot via Pixabay
