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Bees
play an
integral role in maintaining global ecosystems and food supplies,
so protecting them is essential to preserving our planet. But in the past
several years, various factors, including climate change, pesticides, and
disease, have put the species in peril. The first-ever insect vaccine, which
protects honeybees against the American Foulbrood (AFB) infection, could
provide a solution to one of those problems.
Dalan Animal Health and researchers at the Karl-Franzens University in Graz,
Austria, utilized decades of research to develop the vaccine, which provides
immunity through “transgenerational immune priming,” wherein a parent passes
down immunity to their offspring. In a recent study, researchers compared the
offspring of bees born to vaccinated and unvaccinated queens. They found that
colonies
with vaccinated queens had a greater resistance to AFB — a
deadly bacterial disease that has decimated beehives for over a century.
Besides protecting individual colonies, the vaccine could improve commercial
beekeeping. Pollen, honey, and wax are used in various applications, from
food and medicine to cosmetics, and pollination services are crucial for crop
production. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, said in a press release: “This is a big
step for sustainable agriculture worldwide.”
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