File Photo: It was engineered to prevent fatalities from American foulbrood disease, a bacterial condition known to weaken colonies by attacking bee larvae. The USDA approved a conditional license for the vaccine this week. AFP

File Photo: The vaccine could serve as a “breakthrough in protecting honey bees”, Dalan Animal Health CEO said. It works by introducing an inactive version of the bacteria into the royal jelly fed to the queen, whose larvae then gain immunity. iStock

File Photo: USDA approved a conditional license for the vaccine this week, according to the biotech firm behind its development. As pollinators, bees play a critical role in many aspects of the ecosystem. The US has seen annual reductions in honey bee colonies since 2006, according to the USDA. DPA/Alamy

File Photo: An Afghan Hazara man beekeeper checks beehives as he works at a bee farm in the Bamiyan Province. It was engineered to prevent fatalities from American foulbrood disease, a bacterial condition known to weaken colonies by attacking bee larvae. AFP