Das Projekt "Bees in Europe and the decline of honeybee colonies (BEE DOC)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Fachbereich Biologie, Institut für Zoologie, Arbeitsgruppe Molekulare Ökologie durchgeführt. The BEE DOC comprises a network of eleven partners from honeybee pathology, chemistry, genetics and apicultural extension aiming to improve colony helath of honeybees. The BEE DOC will empirically and experimentally fill knowledge gaps in honey bee pest and diseases, including the 'colony collapse disorder' and quantify the impact of ineractions between parasites, pathogens and pesticides on honey bee mortality. Specifically BEE DOC will show for two model parasites (Nosema and Varroa mites), three model viruses (Deformed Wing Virus, Black Queen Cell Virus, Israel Acute Paralysis Virus) and two model pestcides (fipronil, A-fluvalinate) how interactions affect individual bees and colonies in different European areas. The BEE DOC will use transcriptome anayses to explore host-pathogen-pesticide interaction and identify novel genes for disease resistance. The BEE DOC will specifically address sublethal and chronic exposure to pesticides and screen how apicultural practices affect colony health. The BEE DOC will develop novel diagnostic screening methods and develop sustainable concepts for disease prevention using novel treatments and selection tools for resitant stock. The BEE DOC will be linked to various national and international ongoing European, North-, and Latin-American colony health monitoring and research programs, which will not only ensure a pan European but also a global visibility and the transfer of results to a world wide community of beekeepers.
Das Projekt "European Network for Alternative Testing Strategies in Ecotoxicology (EUROECOTOX)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von ZF BIOLABS SL durchgeführt. EUROECOTOX is a Coordination Action which aims at supporting and accelerating the development and use of alternative eco-toxicology methods and strategies in Europe in order to reduce or replace the use of laboratory animals, particularly those used for regulatory testing. For this, a network will be created (EUROECOTOX network) formed by European R&D groups from universities, public research institutions, animal welfare organizations, specialized eco-toxicological laboratories, industry and other stakeholders, developing alternative test methods. EUROECOTOX network will promote the cooperation between research centres, industry and other stakeholders in Europe devoted to the R&D and application of alternative ecotoxicity methods. It will aim at the integration of efforts and the exchange of knowledge, data and expertise between partners to accelerate the R&D, and validation of new methods. Planned activities includes: Mapping of European research capacities on alternative eco-toxicological test methods, identification of the rate-limiting steps to reduce or replace the use of animals, identification and promotion of new alternative methods, recommendations for future research, promotion of the dialogue with validation agencies and other coordination and networking activities. Elaboration of different documents and publications and launching a dedicated website is also planned. A final Conference open to all the stakeholders, will be organized to disseminate the results. Networking with ongoing activities of other European projects supporting R&D on alternative methods and with other relevant international, European and national R&D and initiatives is also expected. This Coordination Action will be carried out over two years by a consortium composed of eight partners with complementary background, but the EUROECOTOX network is expected to last over a longer term.