Honey bee-associated bacteria are a source of natural compounds of interest for controlling hive decline which is threatening bee health globally. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of a series of extracellular compounds released by bacteria living on the external surface of honey bees were investigated. A biosynthetic gene-based approach was adopted by developing a battery of primers to target the genes involved in the biosynthesis of four groups of bioactive compounds (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, surfactin, 2-heptanone and helveticin J). The primers were tested on 51 bacterial isolates belonging to Bacillus thuringiensis, Acetobacteraceae bacterium, Bifidobacterium asteroides and Apilactobacillus kunkeei. The developed primers led to species-specific detection and characterization of the functional genes involved in the production of three out of four groups of compounds selected for this study. The findings suggest that microbial populations inhabiting apiaries harbor genes involved in the biosynthesis of metabolites linked to the reduction of important honey bee pathogens such as Varroa destructor, Paenibacillus larvae and Nosema ceranae. The gene-based approach adopted for evaluating the biosynthetic potential of bioactive compounds in hives is promising for investigating further compounds for low input control strategies of bee enemies.

蜜蜂相关细菌是控制蜂巢衰退的天然化合物的来源，蜂巢衰退威胁着全球蜜蜂的健康。研究了与生活在蜜蜂外表面上的细菌释放的一系列细胞外化合物的生物合成有关的基因。通过开发一系列引物以靶向参与四组生物活性化合物（吡咯里西啶生物碱、表面活性素、2-庚酮和 helveticin J）生物合成的基因，采用了基于生物合成基因的方法。引物在51株苏云金芽孢杆菌、醋杆菌科细菌、星状双歧杆菌和昆氏脱毛杆菌上进行了检测。开发的引物导致对参与本研究选择的四组化合物中的三组产生的功能基因进行物种特异性检测和表征。研究结果表明，栖息在养蜂场的微生物种群含有参与代谢物生物合成的基因，这些基因与重要的蜜蜂病原体（如破坏瓦螨、幼虫类芽孢杆菌和Nosema ceranae）的减少有关。用于评估荨麻疹中生物活性化合物的生物合成潜力的基于基因的方法有望用于研究用于蜜蜂敌人低输入控制策略的其他化合物。