The research, led by Dr Daniel May from Washington College, identified strains of Streptomyces, a genus known for its antibiotic properties, both in plant pollen and within honeybee hives. They also collected pollen from the hives of a nearby honeybee. The team isolated 16 strains of actinobacteria from plants, and 18 strains from pollen stores inside the hive. “We isolated the same Streptomyces bacteria from flowers, pollen-covered bees leaving flowers, and hives. “Looking ahead, managing bee diseases might one day involve simply introducing the right beneficial bacteria into hives to target specific pathogens,” concluded May.