We evaluated the antagonistic effects of newly identified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the genera
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, originating from the honey stomach, on the honey bee pathogen,
Paenibacillus larvae. We used inhibition assays on agar plates and honey bee larval bioassays to investigate
the effects of honey bee LAB on P. larvae growth in vitro and on AFB infection in vivo. The individual
LAB phylotypes showed different inhibition properties against P. larvae growth on agar plates, whereas a
combination of all eleven LAB phylotypes resulted in a total inhibition (no visible growth) of P. larvae.
Adding the LAB mixture to the larval food significantly reduced the number of AFB infected larvae in
exposure bioassays. The results demonstrate that honey bee specific LAB possess beneficial properties for
honey bee health. Possible benefits to honey bee health by enhancing growth of LAB or by applying LAB
to honey bee colonies should be further investigated