Here is one presentation on apimondia congress about benefical Lactic acid bacteria from the honey stomac. http://www.apimondia.org/2009/apitherapy/symposia/Novel%20Lactic%20acid%20bacteria%20from%20the%20honey%20stomach%20of%20honey%20bees%20-%20VASQUEZ%20Alejandra.pdf They found that bacteria are a defence against American foul brood. Here is one article about that: Novel lactic acid bacteria inhibiting Paenibacillus larvae in honey bee larvae http://www.apidologie.org/index.php?option=article&access=standard&Itemid=129&url=/articles/apido/pdf/2010/01/m09040.pdf So, I think together with the selection, we should pay attention that bees have enough of natural honey, containing that bacteria, and we should avoid treatments with chemicals, that kill beneficial bacteria. Predrag *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm