First-Ever Honeybee Vaccine

First-Ever Honeybee Vaccine

US officials have granted conditional approval to a vaccine meant to protect honeybees against a fatal bacteria known to jump easily between hives, wiping out entire colonies as it spreads. It is the first time a vaccine for insects has been approved in the US. 

Honeybees are one of the most important pollinating insects, playing a critical role in natural ecosystems and supporting at least $15B in US agricultural production each year. Populations have seen steep declines in recent years, with highly infectious pathogens among a number of causes. The new vaccine targets the bacteria responsible for American foulbrood, a disease that attacks larvae and can lead to colony death within weeks of infection—the typical defense against transmission is to burn diseased colonies. 

Instead of treating individual bees, the vaccine is delivered to the queen in a sugar mixture, which prompts an immune response in her offspring. Researchers hope to extend the approach to other insect-related diseases.