Technology Description
A newly identified marine bacterium strain useful as an aquaculture probiotic. Preliminary inhibition assays demonstrate that full cell culture and cell-free culture supernatant of the probiotic are sufficient to inhibit growth of the following Vibrio species: V. coralliilyticus (oysters and corals), V. parahaemolyticus (seafood-borne disease, wound infections), V. ulnificius (seafood-borne disease, severe wound infections, septicemia), V. harveyi (opportunistic pathogen of corals and seahorses, and commercially important products like prawn, lobster, barramundi, snook, and milkfish), V. mimicus (seafood-borne disease), V. alginolyticus (eye, ear and wound infections), V. cholerae (human pathogen), and others. Pathogenicity studies and infection trials have been conducted on oyster larvae and corals supplemented with the probiotic bacteria with overwhelmingly positive results.
Oregon State University is seeking a license interested in developing an aquaculture probiotic or food supplement based on the probiotic bacteria.
Features & Benefits
- A sustainable solution against oyster larva die-offs and coral bleaching caused by V. coralliilyticus
- Sustainable, safe, and effective solutions against Vibrio spp. pathogens, with relevance in aquacultural production and human medicine
Applications
- Aquaculture probiotic
- Human medicine probiotic
- Feed/food supplement
- Coral reef preservation
Background of Invention
Vibrio sp. are important pathogens in (commercial, marine) aquaculture and human disease. Many species are linked to increased product mortality or sea-food borne disease and wound infections in humans. For example, V. coralliilyticus is linked to hatchery mortalities of larval oysters, as well as to worldwide coral bleaching. With such devastating potential, there is a strong need in the aquaculture industry for a means to protect against V. coralliilyticus. The aquaculture additives market was worth over USD 900 million in 2015, with estimated gains at 4.1% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. However, the use of antibiotics has become disapproved in recent years. Probotics fill the void for effective, safe and sustainable treatment options in animal and human medicine.
Status
Available to license as a biological material.
100 ul of Vibrio harveyi (10^5 cells/ml) was spread by glass beads on a Marine agar plate and briefly dried. 10ul of probiotic culture (2 replicates; yellow) as well as 10 ul of cell supernatant (clear round area top right) were spotted on and the plate incubated overnight at 30°C. Clear areas represent growth inhibition on otherwise randomly developed and densely growing colonies of V. harveyi.