US approves world’s first vaccine for declining honey bees全球首款蜜蜂疫苗获批，旨在保护蜂群

【原文】It was engineered to prevent fatalities from American foulbrood disease, a bacterial condition known to weaken colonies by attacking bee larvae. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a conditional license for the vaccine this week, according to the biotech firm behind its development. As pollinators, bees play a critical role in many aspects of the ecosystem.

【翻译】美国新推出的疫苗旨在防止蜂群死于幼虫腐烂病，这种细菌疾病会通过攻击蜜蜂幼虫来削弱菌落。 据研制该疫苗的生物技术公司称，美国农业部本周向公司颁发了许可证。作为传粉媒介，蜜蜂在生态系统的许多方面都发挥着关键作用。 来自BBC

【讲解】

declining是declin的变形，意思是正在减少的，例如declining sales(销量一直在下跌)

be engineered to,意思是为什么而设计的

【生词】

fatality n.死亡，宿命

foulbrood n.幼虫腐烂病

pollinator n.传粉媒介

a bacterial condition 细菌性疾病

colony n.群落

larvae n.幼虫

approve v.批准，认可，通过

license for 向…颁发…许可证(或执照)；批准；准许

conditional adj.有条件的

biotech firm 生物公司

behind its development 在它的技术发展的背后=研制该疫苗的

play a critical role in 发挥着至关重要的作用

ecosystem 生物系统

be known to do 被...所知