A study by the University of Sydney reveals that honeybee colonies build a coordinated…

A study by the University of Sydney reveals that honeybee colonies build a coordinated antimicrobial defense system within their hives. Researchers led by microbiologist Kenya Fernandes analyzed honey, propolis, fermented pollen, beeswax, and insect tissues from 24 European honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies across five apiaries in New South Wales, Australia. Using microbial community profiling, antimicrobial assays, and nuclear magnetic resonance chemical analysis, they found antibacterial activity arranged in a spatial gradient from the bees’ bodies to the hive’s outer surfaces.