Modeling Pollen-Mediated Virus Spread in Bee Colonies as a Classroom Activity †
-
Authors:
Veronica E. Snow1,*,
Donna M. Becker1,
Josh S. Sharp1
-
Received 16 August 2018 Accepted 28 November 2018 Published 26 April 2019
- ©2019 Author(s). Published by the American Society for Microbiology
-
[open-access] This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ and https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode), which grants the public the nonexclusive right to copy, distribute, or display the published work.
-
†Supplemental materials available at http://asmscience.org/jmbe
- *Corresponding author. Mailing address: Biology Department NMU, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. Phone: 906-227-2380. E-mail: [email protected].
- « Previous Article
- Table of Contents
- Next Article »
Abstract:
Using a hands-on approach, this activity introduces students to the concept of viral spread and honey bee pathogenesis by illustrating pathogen transmission throughout the hive. This viral transmission activity, designed for introductory biology, virology, or microbiology classes, can be used in laboratory or lecture settings. Students are provided with information on viral transmission and hive structure. Students then retrieve “pollen” and distribute it to the colony. A UV light passed across students’ hands determines which hive was infected, indicating the viral transmission pathways among bees. Students then discuss how viruses impact bees, how long it would take an infected hive to succumb to the pathogen, and what can be done to prevent viral spread.
References & Citations
Supplemental Material
-
Appendix 1: Player cards and transmission pathway card, Appendix 2: Simulation setup
-
MyBook is a cheap paperback edition of the original book and will be sold at uniform, low price.
-
PDF
218.79 Kb
-
PDF
-

Article metrics loading...
Abstract:
Using a hands-on approach, this activity introduces students to the concept of viral spread and honey bee pathogenesis by illustrating pathogen transmission throughout the hive. This viral transmission activity, designed for introductory biology, virology, or microbiology classes, can be used in laboratory or lecture settings. Students are provided with information on viral transmission and hive structure. Students then retrieve “pollen” and distribute it to the colony. A UV light passed across students’ hands determines which hive was infected, indicating the viral transmission pathways among bees. Students then discuss how viruses impact bees, how long it would take an infected hive to succumb to the pathogen, and what can be done to prevent viral spread.

Full text loading...
Author and Article Information
-
Received 16 August 2018 Accepted 28 November 2018 Published 26 April 2019
- ©2019 Author(s). Published by the American Society for Microbiology
-
[open-access] This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ and https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode), which grants the public the nonexclusive right to copy, distribute, or display the published work.
-
†Supplemental materials available at http://asmscience.org/jmbe
- *Corresponding author. Mailing address: Biology Department NMU, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette, MI 49855. Phone: 906-227-2380. E-mail: [email protected].
Figures

Click to view
FIGURE 1
A) Non-contaminated glove. B) Non-contaminated “pollen” under UV light. C) “Pollen contaminated” with simulated virus. D) After exposure to simulated virus.