Towards a beehive breathalyser: Identification of volatile biomarkers for the costly honey bee disease American foulbrood

Jessica Bikaun

doi:10.26182/nbce-m948

Towards a beehive breathalyser: Identification of volatile biomarkers for the costly honey bee disease American foulbrood

Jessica Bikaun

School of Molecular Sciences

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis

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Abstract

Honey bee pollination services are under threat by American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages. This thesis investigated whether AFB could be non-invasively detected from its notoriously foul smell. We identified 40 volatile biomarkers for AFB and assessed their sensitivity and specificity in beehive air. Next, we developed and tested aprototype AFB-sensor (‘beehive breathalyser’) device. Finally, we analysed AFB’s economic impact and opportunities for Australia’s beekeeping industry. The developed methods and obtained results lay the foundation for new AFB sensing technologies, which will greatly benefit beekeepers and safeguard pollination services.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution	The University of Western Australia
Supervisors/Advisors	Putrino, Gino, Supervisor Melonek, Joanna, Supervisor Grassl, Julia, Supervisor Small, Ian, Supervisor Leyland, David, Supervisor, External person
Thesis sponsors	Australian Government Research Training Program
Award date	18 Aug 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.26182/nbce-m948
Publication status	Unpublished - 2023

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10.26182/nbce-m948

THESIS - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY - BIKAUN Jessica Michelle - 2023
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1 Article

Volatile biomarkers for non-invasive detection of American foulbrood, a threat to honey bee pollination services
Bikaun, J. M., Bates, T., Bollen, M., Flematti, G. R., Melonek, J., Praveen, P. & Grassl, J., 1 Nov 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 845, 157123.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
8 Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

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title = "Towards a beehive breathalyser: Identification of volatile biomarkers for the costly honey bee disease American foulbrood",

abstract = "Honey bee pollination services are under threat by American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages. This thesis investigated whether AFB could be non-invasively detected from its notoriously foul smell. We identified 40 volatile biomarkers for AFB and assessed their sensitivity and specificity in beehive air. Next, we developed and tested aprototype AFB-sensor ({\textquoteleft}beehive breathalyser{\textquoteright}) device. Finally, we analysed AFB{\textquoteright}s economic impact and opportunities for Australia{\textquoteright}s beekeeping industry. The developed methods and obtained results lay the foundation for new AFB sensing technologies, which will greatly benefit beekeepers and safeguard pollination services.",

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AB - Honey bee pollination services are under threat by American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease that is difficult to detect in its early stages. This thesis investigated whether AFB could be non-invasively detected from its notoriously foul smell. We identified 40 volatile biomarkers for AFB and assessed their sensitivity and specificity in beehive air. Next, we developed and tested aprototype AFB-sensor (‘beehive breathalyser’) device. Finally, we analysed AFB’s economic impact and opportunities for Australia’s beekeeping industry. The developed methods and obtained results lay the foundation for new AFB sensing technologies, which will greatly benefit beekeepers and safeguard pollination services.

KW - Honey bee

KW - Apis mellifera

KW - American foulbrood

KW - Paenibacillus larvae

KW - volatile biomarkers

KW - GC-MS

KW - beekeeping

KW - sensors

U2 - 10.26182/nbce-m948

DO - 10.26182/nbce-m948

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

ER -

Towards a beehive breathalyser: Identification of volatile biomarkers for the costly honey bee disease American foulbrood

Abstract

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Research output

Volatile biomarkers for non-invasive detection of American foulbrood, a threat to honey bee pollination services

Cite this