This interesting finding that may indicate a direction to take toward a bona fide cure...

 "In vitro experiments utilizing laboratory-reared honey bee larvae showed Lactobacillus plantarum Lp39, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, and Lactobacillus kunkeei BR-1 (contained in the BioPatty) could reduce pathogen load, upregulate expression of key immune genes, and improve survival during P. larvae infection."

...would net you no benefit and potentially much harm if applied as a remedy.

In dealing with AFB in your bees, you cannot apply something that will improve but not guarantee survival (and is survival defined here? the nightmare scenario being larvae survive through pupation and emergence but are still infective). While you sit there, hoping some of your bees "survive" the AFB infection, drift bees are carrying AFB into hives within their flight range, roughly in proportion to proximity. Meanwhile the bees who do not exhibit any benefit are creating those AFB spores we all so rightly fear.

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