Coronavirus vaccine technology could help bees – news.ORF.at

The gene technology that was crucial to the development of CoV vaccines could also help fight Varroa mites, which are very dangerous to bees.

US company GreenLight Biosciences is developing an RNA-based syrup against Varroa mites, the parasite that lives on bees and spreads disease. Mites often destroy entire beehives and now have both environmental and economic impacts. This affects the USA and Canada much more than Europe, since in North America beekeeping is more commercialized and these hives are transported in trucks at the time of pollination to larger plots and orchards often.

prevents reproduction

Mark Singleton, managing director of GreenLight, explained to Bloomberg business news agency how this genetically modified drink works, ensuring that moths cannot reproduce. The first tests – which are still small – showed that the hives I treated were healthier and had a greater chance of survival.

Unlike chemical agents currently used to control mites, RNA syrup does not harm bees and degrades naturally. The syrup is placed in an envelope perforated in the cell. Towards the end of the year, GreenLight says it would like to submit the drink to US authorities for approval.