La Varroa es la principal causa de muerte de las abejas en todo el mundo, después de haber desarrollado resistencia a los medicamentos aplicados por los apicultores en la última década. En particular, se desarrolla en los fríos inviernos, cuando las colonias son más vulnerables mientras se colocan todas juntas para mantener el calor. Ahora los investigadores de la Unidad Nacional Apícola del Gobierno y la Universidad de Aberdeen, han trabajado en cómo las funciones naturales de "silencio" en un gen de los ácaros "- con el potencial para lograr su auto-destrucción. El Dr. Alan Bowman de la Universidad de Aberdeen, dijo: "La introducción de material genético inofensivos alienta la respuesta propios inmune de los ácaros para evitar que los genes de expresión de las funciones naturales. Esto podría hacer que se produzca la autodestrucción. "La belleza de este enfoque es que es específico a los objetivos de destrucción de los ácaros sin dañar a las abejas o, de hecho, ningún otro animal."
Dr Giles Budge from National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) said: “This is environment-friendly and poses no threat to the bees. With appropriate support from industry and rigorous safety testing, chemical-free medicines could be available in five to ten years.”
In developing this, scientists have used the Nobel-Prize Winning theory ‘RNA interference’, which controls the flow of genetic information. So far the ‘silencing’ process has worked with a neutral Varroa gene, which has no significant effect on the mite. But scientists now need to target a gene with the specific characteristics that are perfect to force the Varroa to self destruct.
Tests by other scientists have shown the treatment can be added to hives in bee feed. The bees move it into food for their young, where the Varroa hides.
Notes to Editors
1. The full report is available here
2. The Varroa mite originally attacked the Asian honeybee but recently jumped to the European honeybee, which has a poor natural defence. Beekeepers use chemical controls but can never eradicate it. The mite injects viruses, suppresses the bees’ immune system and feeds on blood. If untreated, or given inappropriate chemicals, it can destroy colonies.
3. RNA interference (RNAi) regulates gene expression and has greatly impacted biomedical research. Professor Andrew Fire won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2006/press.html. For more information go to: http://www.nature.com/focus/rnai/animations/index.html.
4. The Food and Environment Research Agency supports and develops a sustainable food chain and healthy natural environment, and protects against biological and chemical risks. http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/. The National Bee Unit protects advises beekeepers, supports industry, andcontrols serious pests and diseases to minimise the economic and environmental impact. https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/index.cfm
5. In 2009 the Government launched the Healthy Bees Plan,a 10-year strategy to protect and improve the health of honeybees in England and Wales. To help it start, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) contributed £2.8million up to 2011.
6. In June 2010, Defra and WAG contributed £2.5million to the Insect Pollinators Initiative for research into understanding and mitigating the biological and environmental factors affecting insect pollinators.
7. In October Defra announced support for the British Beekeeping Association to increase the number of quality trainers for beekeepers across England and Wales. This is to teach amateurs the skills to care for bees and guard against pests and diseases.
