SBIR Phase II: Production of an affordable synthetic colostrum replacer in edible green algae

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将是在可食用绿藻中生产初乳蛋白质，这种蛋白质有可能减少牲畜对抗生素的使用和依赖。初乳蛋白质具有有益的健康和生长特性，可以极大地减少对抗生素的依赖。不幸的是，初乳的供应是有限的。藻类为生产在初乳中发现的有价值的蛋白质提供了一个负担得起且可扩展的系统。最近，有研究表明，家畜使用抗生素会导致抗生素耐药细菌的形成。初乳蛋白质自然刺激动物的免疫系统，使它们能够提高自身抵御感染的能力，最终增加体重增加的速度。在一个尚未开发的市场上大规模生产初乳蛋白，有可能从价值数十亿美元的抗生素行业获得市场份额。该SBIR第二阶段项目旨在论证利用生物制造技术在藻类中生产初乳蛋白质的可行性。与动物畜牧业适应新产品相关的一些问题正在证明成本和可行性。为了实现减少抗生素使用的目标，该项目将首先专注于优化生产工艺，以降低在藻类中生产初乳蛋白的成本。下一步，将致力于开发初乳蛋白质的最佳配方，并在小鼠模型中进行测试，然后转移到更大的家畜身上。一旦确定了最佳配方，将在猪模型中进行试验。在猪的模型中，将测试从藻类中产生的初乳蛋白，以确定它们帮助动物抵御感染的能力，以及它们提高动物增重率的能力。最后，该项目将努力证明，与服用抗生素的动物相比，在藻类中产生的初乳蛋白可以在动物身上产生同样积极的结果。通过实现这些目标，藻类初乳蛋白可以极大地减少对抗生素的依赖及其负面副作用。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will be to produce colostrum proteins in edible green algae that have the potential to reduce the use and dependence on antibiotics in livestock animals. Colostrum proteins have both beneficial health and growth properties that may drastically decrease the dependence on antibiotics. Unfortunately, there is a limited supply of colostrum. Algae provide an affordable and scalable system for the production of the valuable proteins found in colostrum. Recently, it was demonstrated that the use of antibiotics in livestock animals caused the formation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Colostrum proteins naturally stimulate the animal's immune system and allows them to improve their own ability to fight off infections and ultimately increase their rate of weight gain. The production of colostrum proteins at a large scale in an untapped market that has the potential to gain market share from the multi-billion dollar antibiotic industry. This SBIR Phase II project proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of producing colostrum proteins in algae using biomanufacturing. Some of the problems associated with having the animal livestock industry adapt a new product is demonstrating cost and feasibility. To accomplish the goal of decreasing antibiotic use, this project will first focus on optimizing the production process to drive the cost of producing colostrum proteins in algae down. Next, work will be done on developing optimal formulations of colostrum proteins and testing them in mice models before moving to larger livestock animals. Once an optimal formulation is established, trials will be done in pig models. In the pig models, colostrum proteins produced in algae will be tested to determine their ability to assist animals in fighting off infections and also their ability to improve the animal's rate of weight gain. Finally, this project will strive to demonstrate that colostrum proteins produced in algae can give the same positive outcomes in animals when compared to animals given antibiotics. By accomplishing these goals, algae colostrum proteins can drastically decrease the dependence on antibiotics and their negative side effects.