Can honey bees develop resistance to viral infections? And is it possible to select for this resistance through selective breeding? A ten-year study conducted in Flanders, Belgium, suggests that selective breeding could help honey bees become more resistant to viral infections. The research, published in 2026 in the scientific journal Insects, investigated whether selecting queens with lower levels of viral infection could gradually improve the health of subsequent generations. The researchers, led by Emma Bossuyt of Ghent University, analysed samples collected between 2015 and 2024 as part of an established honey bee breeding programme.

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