Problem

How can the spread of viral pathogens among bees be prevented?

• Pollinators are experiencing population decline around the world.

Findings

An international team of researchers collected samples of DNA and RNA from twelve bee species in nine countries and then developed a novel sequencing technique to detect viruses. Researchers detected both known and twenty-seven never-before-seen viruses belonging to at least six new families.

Impact

This inexpensive and efficient technique allows researchers to monitor bee health around the world in order to:

• Identify additional unknown viruses in bee populations.
• Monitor imported bee populations for potential threat of virus transmission to local bees.
• Determine whether the viruses in infected bees are passed to crop plants.