TRITON ALGAE INNOVATIONS, INC. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is the leading cause o
TRITON ALGAE INNOVATIONS, INC. — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Health and Human Services.
- Amount
- $150,000
- Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services · National Institutes of Health
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Solicitation
- PA13-234
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- —
Description
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) is the leading cause of diarrheal disease among children less than three years of age in developing countries and in travelers to these areas, with over 200 million cases annually, and 380,000 associated deaths. ETEC is transmitted by food or water contaminated with feces, and illness is characterized by profuse watery diarrhea lasting for several days to weeks. Prophylactic prevention of ETEC disease is currently unavailable, and antibiotic-resistant strains of ETEC have emerged. Triton Animal Products, Inc. is developing a therapeutic protein, mammary-associated serum amyloid A3 (MAA) that may offer prophylactic protection against ETEC infections. MAA is an orally-active, evolutionarily conserved protein present in colostrum - an early form of breast milk. MAA is an innate immune factor that stimulates intestinal epithelial cells to secrete mucin, which provides a natural protective barrier that inhibits adherence and colonization of e