Science updates: Biological control method to improve honey bee resistance to viral infections

 

Science updates:

Biological control method to improve honey bee resistance to viral infections

 

The study investigates the impact of crude extracts from Talaromyces strains on honey bee resistance to Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), a significant factor in the decline of honey bee populations globally. The authors highlight the importance of pollinators in ecosystems and the threats posed by viruses and parasites, particularly the Varroa destructor mite, which exacerbates viral infections in honey bees.

Seven Talaromyces strains were isolated from bee bread and tested for their antiviral properties. The extracts were evaluated in both in vivo (honey bees) and in vitro (mammalian cells) settings. The study involved feeding honey bees with sugar solutions enriched with fungal extracts and subsequently injecting them with CBPV to assess survival rates.

 

The results indicated that extracts from strains B13, B18, and B30 improved the survival rates of CBPV-infected honey bees, while extracts B11 and B49 showed no effect, and B69 and B195 were toxic. Specifically, extract B18 demonstrated significant antiviral activity, inhibiting the replication of feline calicivirus and feline coronavirus in mammalian cells.

 

This research provides insights into the potential use of Talaromyces extracts as a biological control method to improve honey bee resistance to viral infections, which could have implications for agricultural productivity and food security. The authors call for more detailed studies to explore the mechanisms behind the antiviral effects and the safety of these extracts for honey bees.

 

Reference:

Vocadlova, K., Lamp, B., Benes, K., Matha, V., Lee, K. Z., & Vilcinskas, A. (2023). Crude Extracts of Talaromyces Strains (Ascomycota) Affect Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Resistance to Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. Viruses, 15(2), 343.

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