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| − | </sidenav> | + | <h4><a href="#header">Abstract</a></h4> |
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| − | <h4><a href="#Introduction">Introduction</a></h4>
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| − | <a href="#varroa"><i>Varroa destructor</i></a>
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| − | <a href="#Bee T">Bee T</a>
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| + | <h1><b>Abstract</b></h1> |
| − | | + | <p> The abundance and diversity of our food relies on honeybee pollination. <i>Varroa destructor</i> mites weaken bee colonies through the spread of disease. Our team aims to save bees by killing <i>Varroa</i> using bacteria inside beehives. In continuous conversation with beekeepers and scientists we develop a bacterium that targets mites, leaving bees and humans unaffected. The hive-localized bacteria sense <i>Varroa</i> and produce mite-specific toxin, eliminating the need for beekeepers to dose the product. The bacteria are dependent on a synthetic amino acid and are shut down by light to confine them to the hive. Additionally, we develop an <i>in vitro</i> test of <i>Varroa</i> toxicity to show the utility of our bacterium. The system is modeled in various ways to assess its viability in the real world. This is the first effective method to combine specificity, ease of use, safety through bio-containment, and the iGEM open source character to save the honeybee. |
| − | <h1><b>Introduction</b></h1> | + | </p> |
| − | <p> Honeybees are incredibly important pollinators responsible for the abundance and diversity of our food. Unfortunately, honeybees are in trouble: the fittingly named <i>Varroa destructor</i> (from here on ‘<i>Varroa</i>’ or ‘<i>Varroa</i> mite’)weakens the bees and spreads diseases. iGEM Wageningen UR 2016 aims to save the bees from <i>Varroa.</i></p> | + | |
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| − | <p> Honeybees can pollinate an enormous range of plants through active collection of pollen<sup><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup>, making them important for pollination of crops. Apples, almonds and numerous other crops rely heavily on bee pollination, tying the diversity of our diet to the well-being of these insects<sup><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup>. Therefore, it is of key importance to keep bees alive and healthy.</p>
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| − | <p> Unfortunately bees are not doing well at all. There has been a sustained loss of bee colonies in the western world for at least 10 years. In 2014-2015, US beekeepers lost over 40% of their colonies<sup><a href="#fn2" id="ref2">2</a></sup>! Such numbers are unacceptable!</p>
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| − | <h2><i>Varroa destructor</i></h2>
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| − | <p> What causes the loss of bee colonies? According to beekeepers we have spoken to and as has been suggested in scientific studies<sup><a href="#fn3" id="ref3">3</a><a href="#fn4" id="ref4">4</a><a href="#fn5" id="ref5">5</a></sup>, the most important factor is the mite <i>Varroa destructor</i>. <i>Varroa</i> mites feed on haemolymph (‘bee-blood’) weakening the bees, while spreading serious diseases like the deformed wing virus. Beekeepers and bee researchers stress that the first and most important step to save the bees should be to control <i>Varroa</i> more effectively. </p>
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| − | <p> Currently in the Netherlands and other European countries, beehives are treated against <i>Varroa</i> with a combination of organic products consisting of thymol, formic acid and oxalic acid. These compounds can contaminate beeswax and honey<sup><a href="#fn6" id="ref6">6</a></sup>. More importantly, beekeepers are wary that such compounds can be harmful to bees and humans when the concentration used is too high<sup>7,8</sup>. On the other hand, too low concentrations fail to kill <i>Varroa</i> and facilitate resistance<sup>9</sup>. The hobbyist character of beekeepers further adds to the concerns that accompany <i>Varroa</i> treatment. Beekeepers often care for their bees in their spare time and might not have time, resources or the experience to use existing treatments in the intended manner. </p> </section>
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| − | <h1><b>Bee T</b></h1>
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| − | <p>We propose a <i>Varroa</i> specific treatment through the use of engineered bacteria that releases toxin in a specified and regulated manner. The released toxin is not harmful to bees or humans. To do so, the bacteria will employ a network of regulation mechanisms to produce the toxin only when mites are present and when enough bacteria are present to effectively kill the mite. Other mechanisms are intended to strictly confine the bacteria to the treated hive, preventing them from spreading and mixing with natural ecosystems. </p></section>
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| − | <h2>References</h2>
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| − | <a id="fn1" href=http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es101468w>1.</a> The Plight of the Bees. Marla Spivak, Eric Mader, Mace Vaughan, Ned H Euliss Jr.. Environmental Science and Technology. Volume 45 Issue 1. pp 34–38. 2011 <a href="#ref1" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.">↩</a>
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| − | <a id="fn2" href=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00218839.2016.1153294>2.</a> A national survey of managed honey bee 2014–2015 annual colony losses in the USA. Nicola Seitz, Kirsten S Traynor, Nathalie Steinhauer, Karen Rennich, Michael E Wilson, James D Ellis, Robyn Rose, David R Tarpy, Ramesh R Sagili, Dewey M Caron, Keith S Delaplane, Juliana Rangel, Kathleen Lee, Kathy Baylis, James T Wilkes, John A. Skinner, Jeffery S. Pettis, Dennis vanEngelsdorp. Journal of Apicultural Research. Volume 54. Issue 4. May 2015 <a href="#ref2" title="Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.">↩</a>
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| − | <a id="fn3" href=http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0131611>3.</a> An Observational Study of Honey Bee Colony Winter Losses and Their Association with Varroa destructor, Neonicotinoids and Other Risk Factors. Romée van der Zee , Alison Gray, Lennard Pisa, Theo de Rijk. Plos One. July 2015. <a href="#ref3" title="Jump back to footnote 3 in the text.">↩</a>
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