[Pollinator] Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder - Newly Discovered Virus

Tue Sep 2 08:28:04 PDT 2008

From: FIEN, LLC - Jack Cooper [mailto:JLC at fien.com]
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 9:27 PM
To: Ag Res, Crop Prot, FaV and Invasive Species
Subject: Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder - Newly Discovered Virus may
provide clues to the disorder according to researchers at the Edgewood
Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) in Edgewood, Maryland, University of
Montana, Bee Alert Technology, Inc. and BVS, Inc

Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder - Newly Discovered Virus may provide clues
to the disorder according to researchers at the Edgewood Chemical Biological
Center (ECBC) in Edgewood, Maryland, University of Montana, Bee Alert
Technology, Inc. and BVS, Inc who " ... have discovered in U.S. honeybees a
virus only before identified in European honeybees ... The invading bee
virus ... Varroa Destructor Virus -1 (VDV-1) ... is carried by both
honeybees and the tiny varroa mites that affect them ..."

Document Title: The title of the August 29, 2008 DCBC News Release is
"Scientists Discover New Virus Invading US Honeybees"

Organization: Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) in Edgewood,
Maryland

Summary: The text of the August 29, 2008 ECBC News Release follows

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Scientists at the Edgewood Chemical Biological
Center (ECBC), located in Edgewood, MD, working with scientists at the
University of Montana and industry partners Bee Alert Technology, Inc. and
BVS, Inc. have discovered in U.S. honeybees a virus only before identified
in European honeybees.

The invading bee virus newly discovered in the U.S. is called Varroa
Destructor Virus -1 (VDV-1). First definitively identified in Europe in
2006, VDV-1 is carried by both honeybees and the tiny varroa mites that
affect them. VDV-1 is related to a family of paralytic viruses that causes a
breakdown of some membranes. In silkworms the virus causes flaccid disease,
which causes the worms to digest themselves internally.

The virus was discovered using a technology developed for battlefield
detection of viruses. This technology, called Integrated Virus Detection
System / Proteomic Mass Spectrometry, reveals virus by size and peptide
information contained in a sample and compares that information against
known genetic sequences. This approach may provide important clues to
scientists around the world working to find the cause of Colony Collapse
Disorder -- a mysterious malady that has caused rapid depopulation of
beehives around the globe.

This is the first detection of this virus in North America and will allow
beekeepers in the U.S. the possibility of early control and quarantine of
affected colonies.

For more information, please contact Joan Michel (410.436.3610; 410.652.3912
- mobile).

ECBC is the Army's principal research and development center for chemical
and biological defense technology, engineering and services. ECBC has
achieved major technological advances for national defense, civilian needs
and industrial competitiveness, with a long and distinguished history of
providing the Armed Forces with quality systems and outstanding customer
service. ECBC is located at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Maryland. For more information about the Edgewood Chemical Biological
Center, please visit our Web site at http://www.ecbc.army.mil or call (410)
436-3610.

Source: August 29, 2008 ECBC News Release

Web site: The August 29, 2008 Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC)
News Release is posted at
http://www.edgewood.army.mil/pr/pr.htm
specifically at
http://www.edgewood.army.mil/pr/download/VDV-1_Discovery.pdf

An August 29, 2008 Wall Street Journal Market Watch article on the research
is posted at
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/scientists-discover-new-virus-invading
/story.aspx?guid={DC641B50-D36E-4FC2-9326-D6485866854F}
<http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/scientists-discover-new-virus-invadin
g/story.aspx?guid=%7bDC641B50-D36E-4FC2-9326-D6485866854F%7d&dist=hppr>
&dist=hppr

Information about the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center is posted at
http://www.ecbc.army.mil

Information about Bee Alert Technology, Inc. is posted at
http://beealert.blackfoot.net/~beealert/index.php

Information about BVS, Inc. is posted at http://www.bvs-inc.us/

Contact: Questions may be directed to Joan Michel of the Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center located at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood,
Maryland at 410 436 3610; e-mail not provided or available.

Prepared by: This message was distributed by Jack Cooper, who may be reached
at e-mail: jlc at fien.com or 301-384-8287

This article (#6126) was distributed by e-mail on September 1, 2008 to those
whose names are on the FIEN, LLC Subject Matter Distribution Lists for
Agricultural Research; Crop Protection; Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts;
Invasive Species

end

The above information was sent to you by:

Jack Cooper

Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC (FIEN, LLC) - see
http://www.fien.com <http://www.fien.com/>  - FIEN, LLC is a regulatory and
policy e-mail update service for the agriculture and food industry which is
operated as a partnership by:

Jack L. Cooper
Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
33 Falling Creek Court, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
Phone: 301 384 8287 --- E- Mail: JLC at fien.com
and
Cindy Roberts
Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
1464 Harvard St. NW, Suite 14
Washington, DC 20009-4610
Phone: 202 669 6951 --- E-Mail: CAR at fien.com

Laurie Davies Adams
Executive Director
Pollinator Partnership
425 Washington Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
415 362 1137 (p)
415 362 3070 (f)
LDA at pollinator.org
www.pollinator.org
www.nappc.org

Join the Pollinator Partnership working to protect agriculture and ecosystems 
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