A team of microbiologists at Lund
University have patented the treatment, known as SymBeeotic -- made
from lactic acid bacteria from the stomachs of healthy bees -- which
they described as a major "boost" to bees' immune system and are hopeful
that it could slow down the rate at which bees are dying.
"The bacteria in this product is active against both American and
European foulbrood disease," Dr Alejandra Vasquez, who co-developed the
product, told
AFP. Foulbrood is the fatal bacterial disease which threatens bees.
"We hope that beekeepers will see this as a good preventative medicine so that they can avoid using antibiotics."
The researchers, who worked on the medicine for nearly ten years, planned
to launch it at an annual conference of beekeepers in Russia on Saturday.
In a statement from the university, co-researcher Dr Tobias Olofsson
said it was "the only existing product that boosts bees' natural immune
system", as resistance to antibiotics grows.
Pesticides, parasites, stress and poor nutrition are believed to be some
of the factors causing a deterioration of the immune systems of bees
around the world, making them more susceptible to disease.
AFP/The Local/pvs
See when Stockholm was plagued by bees
