To date, the assessment of the impact of beneficial bacteria on Nosema sp. was based on a wide set of application methods lacking standardization:
i) International literature reports the use of the sole fermented growing media deprived of bacteria or purified antimicrobials only or bacteria pelleted and mixed with sugar syrup at different concentrations, lacking a combined approach.
ii) On the N. ceranae side, different N. ceranae spore doses ranging from 10^4 to 10^6 were used for individual infections of honeybees, significatively changing the final results. Moreover, also different strains of N. ceranae, with different virulence were used worldwide to carry out the experiments.
iii) Different approaches influencing the environmental condition were used, ranging from cage tests with different RH and incubation temperature, or direct testing in field on developing or fully developed honeybee hives.
iv) The feed supplement often comprised just sugar or proteinaceous additives like monofloral or polyfloral pollen, sterile or unsterile.
Finally, data available on the use of beneficial bacteria and plants extracts were sparse, dated, carried out with old methodologies and often inconsistent.
The progresses beyond the state of the art consist in:
i) The final validation of beneficial bacteria and some plants extracts as effective control methods for N. ceranae, with standardized experimental conditions.
ii) The tests carried out in the framework of NO PROBLEMS, involved the most advanced molecular techniques applied to a large number of experimental theses (51 theses) composed of individually infected honeybees (over 13,000 bees). The reliability of obtained data therefore should be considered as a milestone in the scientific knowledge about Nosema and organic control methods.
By the end of the project the expected result is a prototype feed additive for honeybees, based on beneficial bacteria and validated in field for its efficacy against N. ceranae but also proven as booster of honeybee immune system.
A beneficial bacteria-based feed additive for honeybees, proven for its efficacy and presenting open access data of the experiments involving it, will definitely pave the way for a microbial resource management of the honeybee superorganisms. This fact is very important because an extensive literature, which shows how naturally occurring bacteria and fungi can significantly increase the nutritional power of honeybee natural feed (pollen and nectar) and drive honeybee health, already exists. What is missing is the knowledge on the management of these resources for a better performance of the beekeeping sector, and NO PROBLEMS project has strong implications on these aspects paving the way to new solutions and approaches
