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

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是在可食用的绿色藻类中生产初乳蛋白，这有可能减少牲畜对抗生素的使用和依赖。初乳蛋白具有有益健康和生长的特性，可以大大减少对抗生素的依赖。不幸的是，初乳的供应有限。藻类提供了一个负担得起的和可扩展的系统，用于生产初乳中发现的有价值的蛋白质。最近，有证据表明，在家畜动物中使用抗生素会导致抗生素耐药性细菌的形成。初乳蛋白质自然地刺激动物的免疫系统，使它们能够提高自身抵抗感染的能力，并最终增加体重增加的速度。在一个尚未开发的市场中大规模生产初乳蛋白，该市场有可能从数十亿美元的抗生素行业中获得市场份额。该SBIR第二阶段项目旨在证明使用生物制造在藻类中生产初乳蛋白的可行性。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过程，以降低在藻类中生产初乳蛋白的成本。接下来，将开发初乳蛋白的最佳配方，并在转移到大型牲畜动物之前在小鼠模型中进行测试。一旦确定了最佳配方，将在猪模型中进行试验。在猪模型中，将测试藻类中产生的初乳蛋白，以确定它们帮助动物抵抗感染的能力以及它们提高动物体重增加率的能力。最后，该项目将努力证明，与给予抗生素的动物相比，藻类中产生的初乳蛋白可以在动物中产生相同的积极结果。通过实现这些目标，藻类初乳蛋白可以大大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.