**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MICROORGANISMS LIVING IN HONEY BEES (THE MICROBIOME) ARE KEY TO BEE HEALTH. DISRUPTIONS OF THE MICROBIOME OFTEN HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. YET WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE MOST ABUNDANT MICROBES IN HONEY BEES; THE VIRUSES THAT INFECT BACTERIA (BACTERIOPHAGES). OUR WORK SEEKS TO LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE THAT THESE VIRUSES PLAY IN THE HEALTH OF BEES; IF THEY AFFECT SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISEASE AND HOW THEY CAN BE USED TO INFLUENCE THE BEE MICROBIOME. AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF HOW BACTERIOPHAGES INTERACT WITH BACTERIA AND ANIMAL HOSTS WILL RESULT IN INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, ENSURE FOOD STABILITY, AND RELIEVE OUR DEPENDENCE ON ANTIBIOTICS IN AGRICULTURE.THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO MANIPULATE THE MICROBIAL COMMUNITY OF THE HIVE USING PHAGES TO REDUCE DISEASE. TOWARDS THIS GOAL, WE PROPOSE THREE OBJECTIVES: (1) TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISEASED AND NON-DISEASED HONEY BEE MICROBIOMES, (2) TO IDENTIFY AND IMPROVE PHAGES THAT INFECT HONEY BEEPATHOGENS, AND (3) TO ADAPT PHAGES TO OVERCOME FOULBROOD RESISTANCE WHEN IT EVOLVES. DURING THIS PROJECT, WE WILL INNOVATE WAYS TO IMPROVE BEE HEALTH, TRAIN STUDENTS IN HIGH-DEMAND SKILLS, AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN HONEY BEE AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.