https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/d93b6dbf-7528-4cc8-a8e9-3fb0408d1b9f Title: SWARM — A Dual-Targeted Therapeutic Approach Against Deformed Wing Virus in Honeybees Description: Imagine a world without color, where blooming flowers, fresh blueberries, and the familiar buzzing of bees have become distant memories. This future may be closer than we think. Between April 2024 and April 2025, U.S. beekeepers lost 55.6% of managed colonies, with Varroa destructor mites and deformed wing virus (DWV) posing major threats. To fight back, Lambert iGEM developed SWARM, a two-pronged approach targeting both the virus and its carrier. We designed a minibinder targeting DWV's VP3 protein, with the goal of neutralizing the virus, achieving the first experimentally validated minibinder against an iflavirus. Alongside this, we developed an RNA interference system targeting three genes essential to mite survival. To support our approach, we created PRINCE, a tool for identifying promising protein-binding regions, and Vapor-X, a frugal device for drying biological materials. We also developed mathematical models to predict treatment efficacy and colony survival. Through community outreach, global collaboration, and accessible biotechnology, SWARM works toward a future where flowers bloom, bees thrive, and our world remains full of color. Wiki | Official Page Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:23:08 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://video.igem.org https://video.igem.org/client/assets/images/icons/icon-1500x1500.png https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/d93b6dbf-7528-4cc8-a8e9-3fb0408d1b9f All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://video.igem.org/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.