According to a report, United States has approved the World’s first vaccine for honeybees to protect bees from the American Foulbrood disease.
As per a report by the Business Wire , the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted a conditional license to American biotech company Dalan Animal Health Inc for making the vaccine.
As per further reports, the American Foulbrood disease which affects the bees , is caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae which can weaken and kill honey bee colonies.It is said that the deadly disease although originated in the US but it has now spread globally. This disease is infectious with no cure and the only treatment method requires burning the colony of infected bees along with the hives and equipment and treating nearby colonies with antibiotics.
According to Business Wire ,the vaccine, which contains killed whole-cell Paenibacillus larvae bacteria, is administered by mixing it into queen feed which is consumed by worker bees. The vaccine is incorporated into the royal jelly by the worker bees, who then feed it to the queen. She ingests it, and fragments of the vaccine are deposited in her ovaries. Having been exposed to the vaccine, the developing larvae have immunity as they hatch. Pivotal efficacy studies have indicated that oral vaccination of honeybees may reduce larval death associated with American Foulbrood infections caused by P. larvae. The vaccine is non-GMO and can be used in organic agriculture.
Chief executive officer of Dalan Animal Health Dr Anette Kleiser called the vaccine a breakthrough saying,
“We are committed to providing innovative solutions to protect our pollinators and promote sustainable agriculture. Global population growth and changing climates will increase the importance of honeybee pollination to secure our food supply,” Dr Kleiser added.
According to the USDA, the US has seen annual reductions in honey bee colonies since 2006. Pollinators such as bees, birds and bats are responsible for about a third of the world’s crop production, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization.
