A world-first vaccine for honeybees

Could this new finding help to protect pollinators from a deadly disease?

Spotted: Most food crops, not to mention 80 per cent of all flowering plants, rely on honeybees for pollination. But honeybees have for many years been suffering from a growing number of viruses and diseases, which have led to massive die-offs. In the US alone, almost half of all honeybee hives were lost in 2023. That year, Dalan Animal Health developed the world’s first honeybee vaccine against American Foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease.

This year, Dalan has announced experimental findings showing that its new vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce Deformed Wing Virus variant B (DWV-B), one of three major variants of DWV, in honeybee populations. Until now, there have been no preventatives or treatments for DWV, which is transmitted by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and causes deformed wings in adult honeybees.

The full-season trial conducted by Dalan showed an 83 per cent reduction in the levels of DWV-B, and the reduction in virus load will last from between four months to an entire season. Data on the research was presented at the World Vaccine Congress and is currently undergoing peer review.

According to Dalan, the vaccine offers a non-chemical, sustainable alternative to antibiotics, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. The company is committed to scaling up the production and widespread distribution of its vaccine. In the U.S. and Canada, beekeepers can purchase inoculated queens through queen producers and retailers, while larger operations purchase vials of the vaccine directly.

To help scale production, Dalan will need to navigate diverse regulatory regimes and ensure global accessibility. Now, it’s working to develop partnerships and collaborations with agricultural organisations, environmental groups, and regulatory bodies to pool resources and expertise.

Written By: Lisa Magloff