Oral vaccination of honeybees against varroa destructor

Abstract

First reported in the USA, a mysterious socalled colony collapse disorder (CCD) decimated the bee colonies there between 50 and 90%. The huge global loss of honey bees as pollinators has a dramatic impact of agricultural pollination. About 130 crops, nuts, fruits, vegetables are pollinated by A.mellifera, with an overall value of more than $ 15 billion in the USA, and more than € 14 billion for the EU in 2005. In all CCD cases an overload of bloodsucking Varroa mites is detectable and Varroa is currently considered the major threat for apiculture. Honeybees possess a humoral and cellular immune system, e.g., multiple antimicrobial peptides and immune reactive enzymes. Varroa mites overcome the bee’s immune response by massive suppressing some of these immune genes. We developed a DNA vaccine for oral application which is able to reconstitute the full function of the bee’s immune system. This vaccine is absolutely biological safe, well-tolerated, show no side effects, and does not form any burden for the environment.