Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

Researchers Develop First Insect Vaccine for Bees

A team in Finland has created a vaccine to protect the struggling honeybee population from bacterial disease.

Honey Bees / Image: Bernadett Szabo
Honey Bees / Image: Bernadett Szabo

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard that the global honeybee population is declining at an alarming rate. Because insect immune systems don’t have antibodies, there’s no chance for “memory” to help fight bacterial disease, a major contributor to the population decline. However, a recent NPR article says science may come to the rescue. A team of researchers in Finland is combatting an infectious disease called American foulbrood with an edible vaccine called PrimeBEE.

The vaccine can be delivered to the queen in the form of a sugar patty, or beekeepers can simply order a queen that’s already received the vaccine. When the queen consumes pathogens, the molecules are bound by vitellogenin, which transfers the molecules into the queen’s eggs to protect future generations. The vaccine is currently undergoing safety tests, but if all works out, the team hopes to eventually vaccinate against any microbe.

Medical Device Innovations Report
Cutting-edge packaging technologies are transforming the medical device sector in PMMI’s “Innovation in Medical Device” report, featuring advanced materials, smart solutions, and evolving regulations. Editors share insights from nearly 300 PACK EXPO booth visits—each product deemed new and truly innovative—alongside video demonstrations of the equipment and materials on display.
Learn More
Medical Device Innovations Report
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO