In silico simulation of pathogen interaction with bee probiotics

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 15 Sayı: 4, 1125 - 1132, 15.12.2025

Mehtap Usta

https://doi.org/10.17714/gumusfenbil.1752884

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Apilactobacillus kunkeei , Bacteriocin , Bee health , in silico docking , Paenibacillus larvae

Arı probiyotikleriyle patojen etkileşiminin in silico simülasyonu

Öz

Bal arısı (Apis mellifera L.) kolonileri, Paenibacillus larvae ve Melissococcus plutonius gibi bakteriyel patojenlerden kaynaklanan ciddi biyolojik tehditlerle karşı karşıyadır. Bu çalışma, Apilactobacillus kunkeei suşlarından elde edilen bakteriyosinlerin, bu patojenlerin çoklu virülans faktörlerine karşı inhibe edici potansiyelini in silico yöntemler kullanarak değerlendirmiştir. BAGEL4 tarafından tanımlanan Ak-Bac1 (sınıf IIa) ve Ak-Bac2 (sınıf III) dahil olmak üzere bakteriyosinler, ClusPro ve HDOCK platformları kullanılarak üç virülansla ilişkili proteinle protein-protein kenetlenme analizlerine tabi tutulmuştur: P. larvae'den amidaz enzimi ve spor coat proteini CotE ve M. plutonius'tan yüzey adezin proteini. Bağlanma sonuçları, özellikle Ak-Bac2 ile P. larvae amidaz enzimi arasında ve Ak-Bac1 ile CotE spor proteini arasında güçlü bağlanma afiniteleri ortaya çıkarmış ve bu da hem enzimatik inhibisyon hem de spor baskılama etkilerini düşündürmüştür. Bu bulgular, A. kunkeei bakteriyosinlerinin bal arısı patojenlerine karşı geniş spektrumlu antagonistik potansiyel sergilediğini göstermekte ve bal arılarının sağlığını desteklemek için probiyotik bazlı biyolojik mücadele stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi için moleküler bir temel sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Apilactobacillus kunkeei , Bakteriyosin , Arı sağlığı , in silico docking , Paenibacillus larvae

Kaynakça

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