02/10/2026
Ariana is on a mission to save the bees!
Former student, Ariana H, is currently studying Biochemistry at St Hilda's College, Oxford, where she is the wet lab co-lead of NECTAR, Oxford's 2026 iGEM team. The team is developing a dsRNA therapy to protect honeybees from the Varroa mite and will present this work in Paris in November.
Ariana writes:
“Varroa mites are one of the biggest threats facing honeybees, they are responsible for 60% of colony losses in the US and are a growing concern in the UK. These mites, like fleas or ticks, are parasites that cling to bees and feed on them, spreading viruses as they go. If left untreated, they can cause entire colonies with tens of thousands of bees each, to collapse.
“Current treatments are either chemical-based or slow-acting. Mites are becoming resistant to the chemical treatments, and the slower options leave the mites free to wreak havoc on the hive during the delay period.
“This is where my team comes in. I'm part of NECTAR, Oxford's 2026 team in iGEM. iGEM is the world's largest international synthetic biology competition, giving university students a chance to tackle real issues using bioscience. This year, we are designing a dsRNA (double-stranded RNA) therapy that stops Varroa mites from making the proteins they need to survive. Our aim is to produce a faster-acting, safer alternative to current treatments in order to save the bees.
“Every living organism has a set of internal instructions, called genes, which tell the body how to build the proteins it needs to survive. dsRNA works by silencing specific genes. We have designed our therapy to silence genes that mites cannot live without, so when the mites take in our therapy, they can no longer make those proteins and should die before they can harm the bees.
“Since the dsRNA matches only the mite's genes, it is designed to leave bees, other insects and humans unaffected.
“As wet lab co-lead, I'm in charge of synthesising the therapy and making sure our experiments run smoothly. In November, we're heading to Paris to present our research alongside over 500 student-led teams from around the world.
“None of this would have been possible without Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC). When I mentioned wanting to apply to Oxford, my teachers encouraged and supported me every step of the way, showing me that nothing was out of reach. That belief gave me the confidence to apply, and now to help lead NECTAR.
“CSFC was a place where I could share my ideas freely. Being encouraged to speak up and think critically about what I was learning is exactly what prepared me for research. CSFC also taught me how to work as part of a team, something I rely on every day with NECTAR.
“To current students - if there's something you want to go for, say it out loud. The people at CSFC will help you get there!”
https://youtu.be/Sdgsmx52x6w?si=7xDWet_w9jzZb25A
