This method allowed the researchers to distinguish between bees that were merely carrying the virus on their surfaces and those that were actually infected. By analyzing the genetic material of the virus present in the bees, they could determine whether the virus had successfully invaded the bee's cells and was replicating. This approach is crucial for understanding the transmission dynamics of viruses in bee populations, as it provides insight into both external contamination and internal infection, which can have different implications for bee health and the wider ecosystem. Additionally, by correlating the presence of viruses with various environmental or behavioral factors, the researchers could better understand the conditions under which infections occur and how they impact bee populations.
The team then measured the number of viruses stuck to each bee. Just because an animal has a virus on its outside doesn’t mean it has an infection. You may have touched your friend’s influenza-soaked tissue, but washed your hands before the flu infected you. So the researchers also tested each bee for virus genetic material, which is only made once the virus infects a host.
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