In silico simulation of pathogen interaction with bee probiotics

Authors : Mehtap Usta

Pages : 1125-1132

Doi:10.17714/gumusfenbil.1752884

View : 71 | Download : 132

Publication Date : 2025-12-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies face serious biological threats from bacterial pathogens such as Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius. This study evaluated the inhibitory potential of bacteriocins derived from Apilactobacillus kunkeei strains against multiple virulence factors of these pathogens using in silico methods. Bacteriocins identified by BAGEL4, including Ak-Bac1 (class IIa) and Ak-Bac2 (class III), were subjected to protein–protein docking analyses using ClusPro and HDOCK platforms with three virulence-associated proteins: the amidase enzyme and spore coat protein CotE from P. larvae, and the surface adhesin protein from M. plutonius. The docking results revealed strong binding affinities, particularly between Ak-Bac2 and the P. larvae amidase enzyme, as well as between Ak-Bac1 and the CotE spore protein, suggesting both enzymatic inhibition and spore suppression effects. These findings indicate that A. kunkeei bacteriocins exhibit broad-spectrum antagonistic potential against honeybee pathogens, providing a molecular basis for the development of probiotic-based biocontrol strategies to support honeybee health.
Keywords : Apilactobacillus kunkeei, Bakteriyosin, Arı sağlığı, in silico docking, Paenibacillus larvae

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