INTEGRATED ANIMAL RESEARCH LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.3

Description

Salmonella is a bacteriathat causessevere stomach and gut distressinpeople andis the leading cause of food-borne illnesses resulting in hospitalization and death in the US. The resulting economic losses caused bythisbacteriain the livestock industry are staggering with much of the loss attributed to recalls, permanent disruption of the gut lining impairing nutrient absorption, and necessary culling of sickanimals. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance has now made routine antibiotic use in livestock unsustainable. A significant problem with this bacteriais that it cancolonize the lymph nodes of beef animals. Lymph node removal at processing plants is not financially realistic. Prevention of infection and colonization in beef cattle and other speciesis the optimal solution. Current vaccines don't provide protection againstmost versions of thisSalmonella bacteria. We have developed a subunit vaccine that if proven successful, will provide broad protection against this bacterial infection. Proof of concept in mice is completed.This study is designed todemonstrate vaccination protectionfrom this bacteria incalves. Samples will be collected to assess vaccine immune responses and to understand if it confers immunity in the animal, thus preventing exposure of the bacteria to people.Lymph nodes will be collected to assure that, in addition to reducing the bacteria shed form the animal's feces, the infectionwill not show up in the lymph nodes, and this means in won't show up in hamburger or other beef products. When successful, this project will move our technology closer to commercialization, including a two dose vaccine,to lower or eliminate the Salmonella burden in beef, swine and poultry to protect America's food security as well as our population from this devastating pathogen.