Project description
Fish vaccines for a sustainable future
Bacterial infections are a growing threat to aquaculture, a key source of protein for millions. In the Mediterranean, Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida devastates fish like gilthead seabream and Senegalese sole, causing high mortality and economic losses. Traditional vaccines often fall short. They are hard to administer, stressful for fish, and not always effective. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PhotoVaccine project is testing edible vaccines. Scientists are using spores from probiotic Bacillus strains to carry antigens directly into fish guts. These aim to trigger strong, lasting immune responses without the stress of injections. If successful, this approach could revolutionise fish health management, making aquaculture more sustainable, humane, and resilient.
Objective
Aquaculture is vital to global food security, but the industry is increasingly threatened by bacterial pathogens that cause significant economic losses. Among these, Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida is a major pathogen in the Mediterranean area, causing high mortality rates in valuable fish species like the gilthead seabream and Senegalese sole. Traditional vaccination methods in aquaculture often face challenges, including poor efficacy and the stress caused to fish during handling. Thus, there is a critical need for innovative and effective vaccine strategies that are easy to administer and provide robust protection.
This proposal (PhotoVaccine) aims to address this challenge by developing novel oral vaccines using spores of probiotic Bacillus strains to deliver Phdp antigens. Building on the NUTRIMU group’s recent proof-of-concept for spore surface display technology, this proposal aims to: i) engineer Bacillus spores to display Phdp antigens on their surface, and ii) assess the immunomodulatory effects and protective efficacy of these PhotoVaccines in fish models. Specifically, we will address the following questions:
- Can spores of B. subtilis be used as oral delivery vehicles for Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida antigens?
- Are oral PhotoVaccines effective in protecting fish against infections?
- What type of response is elicited by oral PhotoVaccines on fish intestinal mucosa?
By the end of this project, we aim to develop at least one PhotoVaccine candidate with potential for commercial use, contributing significantly to disease management in aquaculture. This research will also enhance our understanding of fish immunology, particularly how mucosal vaccines can overcome intestinal tolerance to provide long-term protection. The outcomes of this project could transform disease control in aquaculture, promoting sustainability and reducing economic losses due to bacterial infections.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries fisheries
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs vaccines
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4450 208 Matosinhos
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.