Project Title: “Use of Prolonged Liberation Systems of Antigens and Coadjuvants to Boost the Immune Response to Vaccines in Salmonids”
- Directoras: Deborah Vargas – Ana María Sandino
General Objective (Technical Description):Development of prolonged liberation vaccines against P. salmonis and other fish pathogens using nano and microparticles that boost the salmonids’ immune response.
Description:This Project aims at improving the currently existing vaccines in the salmon industry. In the best scenario, these reach 70% efficiency rate, far from those results expected by salmon producers, since bacteria like Piscirickettsia salmonis can affect fish in the harvest phase leading to huge financial loss.
Currently the industry relies on just three types of antibiotics to tackle Piscirickettsia salmonis infection, which has led to a considerable increase in the use of antibiotics as compared to salmon culture in other countries. In addition, given the limited vaccine availability bacteria became more resistant to antibiotics. In addition, ICTIO has developed studies againstthe immune response that indicate whythe current vaccination system has not been very efficient. Considering the operational and economic disadvantage of repeated vaccination during the salmon production cycle and the short duration of their effect, this project aims at developing prolonged liberation vaccines that will provide a long-term and continuous protection.
Status: The intention is to completeby 2019 the creation ofa vaccine against P. Salmonis with antigens and coadjuvants encapsuled in nanoparticles. The resulting prolonged liberation will improve the salmon’s immune response.
Project’s Benefits: Facilitate the vaccines’ dosage and administration, either by immersion, injection or orally due to the encapsulation of the antigenic compound and its coadjuvant in an innocuous matrix.