BeeVax

For years, we have been observing a concerning phenomenon: the decline of bees in Europe. Bees are indispensable pollinators for numerous plants, making them essential for biodiversity conservation and food production. However, due to the use of pesticides, loss of habitats, and infestation by pathogens, bee populations in Europe have significantly declined. Particularly, their health is increasingly threatened by fungal infections. To address this problem, the iGEM Team Münster has set an ambitious goal: They aim to specifically modify vitellogenin, an important protein in the bee's immune system, to better bind to pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecules (PAMPs) from fungi, thereby strengthening the bees' immune defenses. To achieve this goal, the researchers utilize state-of-the-art methods in protein engineering.