> many of us have looked at the research on gut microbiota and seen nothing
conclusive nor of note.

In a recent study (in prep), Dr. Brian Johnson started a large group of
package colonies.  At set up, he treated some groups of them with a
cocktail of OTC, tylosin, and fumagillin.  This would likely have affected
some of the gut bacteria.  He found no difference in the buildup of the
groups, nor when he fed back dog formula probiotics to some.

I'm not saying that the gut microbiota are unimportant (a number of studies
have suggested that they are).

Viral recombination is indeed a very interesting avenue of study.  I'm
trying to get the Monsanto lab to perform such analysis on our samples.

As far as practical application, when a wave of apparently contagious
disease sweeps across apiaries, I would more suspect a viral pathogen than
a problem with gut bacteria, which I would suspect would be a more generic
effect.  OK Christina, there could be a phage virus involved : )

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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