Edible vaccination against microbial pathogens
The present invention relates to animals and more specifically to insects. In more details the invention relates to an edible composition or insect artificial diet comprising bacteria, fungi or any fragment or spore thereof for use as a vaccine in preventing a microbial disease or infection in an insect. Still, the present invention relates to preventive methods and different uses relating to said compositions or bacteria, fungi or fragments or spores thereof.
1 . A method of immunizing a honey bee or a honey bee larvae against European foulbrood disease or infection caused by Melissococcus plutonius , comprising feeding the honey bee queen an artificial insect diet comprising dead Melissococcus plutonius , thereby immunizing the honey bee or the honey bee larvae against European foulbrood disease.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial insect diet is used as the only immunization method against the European foulbrood disease.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of dead Melissococcus plutonius in the artificial diet is 1 to 20% by weight.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the artificial diet is administered to the honey bee queen once, twice or three times a year.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein amount of dead Melissococcus plutonius in the artificial diet is from 1 to 10% by weight.
6 . A method for increasing the survival of a honey bee larvae upon infection with Melissococcus plutonius comprising feeding a honey bee queen prior to egg laying an artificial insect diet comprising dead Melissococcus plutonius.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the amount of dead Melissococcus plutonius in the artificial diet is 1 to 20% by weight.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the artificial diet is administered once, twice or three times a year.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein amount of dead Melissococcus plutonius in the artificial diet is from 1 to 10% by weight.