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Improved vaccine to fight E. coli infection in poultry

June 6, 2019

Colibacillosis, an infection in poultry caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, is one of the two main causes of mortality and morbidity in poultry farms worldwide.

As the world's second-largest poultry producer, Brazil is particularly affected by E. coli. Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat the infection, but they have little effect on multi-resistant E. coli strains. Vaccination has the potential to provide effective protection by inducing an immune response, thus reducing the number of infections and the subsequent use of antibiotics.

Improving the current vaccine

The project proposes a new application of existing vaccine technology. Made of bio-sourced products, the vaccine will improve the effectiveness of low-cost solutions that have already proven their efficiency, non-toxicity, and stability in hot climate conditions.

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Expected results

The major outcome of this study will be the development of an inexpensive, nanoparticle-based vaccine formulation that is more effective than existing commercial vaccines and has the potential to significantly reduce antibiotic consumption in Brazil’s poultry farms.

Female small-scale farmers in low and middle-income countries stand to benefit the most from improved access to low-cost vaccines because they are largely responsible for poultry production and therefore disproportionally affected by poultry disease.

Lead institutions

This project is a collaboration between Imunova Análises Biológicas Ltda. in Brazil and Lesaffre International Sarl and VAXINANO in France.

•  Duration: 33 months

•  Budget: CA$1,696,700