Descripción del proyecto
Una forma natural de mantener sanas a las gallinas
La «Salmonella» y la «Escherichia coli» son los patógenos infecciosos más comunes en las aves de corral. Los antibióticos se utilizan ampliamente en las granjas para tratar las infecciones, pero su uso excesivo ha provocado un aumento de la resistencia a los antimicrobianos, tanto en animales como en seres humanos. Para mitigar este efecto, el equipo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos PHAGOVET propone productos biocidas y aditivos tecnológicos alimentarios rentables basados en bacteriófagos para atacar y eliminar a las bacterias. Será la primera solución basada en fagos para controlar de forma natural ambas bacterias en la producción avícola y permitirá evitar los efectos secundarios y los residuos asociados al uso de antibióticos. Esta alternativa natural a los antibióticos beneficiará a la producción avícola y de huevos de la Unión Europea, que se encuentra entre las mayores del mundo.
Objetivo
The Phagovet project is devised to satisfy market demand for a more secure and reliable solution to control Salmonella and E. coli infections in poultry farms. With more than 40,000 poultry farms, the European Union (EU-28) is the forth world´s top producers in poultry meat (13.1 million tons, 2014) and the second largest egg producer (>11 million tons, 2014). The European poultry industry employs 302,000 staff across Europe and has an annual turnover of €30 B, being then of significant economic importance. To date, avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis are considered the main bacterial infections in the poultry sector having an important economic impact worldwide. Furthermore, EFSA estimated overall economic burden of human salmonellosis at €3B/year. Finally, the overuse of antibiotic in farming has caused a rise in antimicrobial resistance 700,000 people die annually from drug resistant infections and it is estimated that this number will rise to 10 million by 2050. In response to the unmet need, Phagovet proposes a cost-effective alternative to antibiotics against Salmonella and E. coli. Phagovet consists of a biocide and two technological food additive products based on selected bacteriophages able to kill the target bacteria. Phagovet will be the first phage-based solution to naturally and effectively control both bacteria in poultry production while avoiding side effects and residues associated to antibiotic use. It will reduce Sallmonella infections by 20% and reduce the use of antibiotics on E. coli by 50%. Thus, Phagovet provides a promising effective control measure for a concerning problem for poultry farmers and for human health. The successful market launch of Phagovet will enable members of the Consortium to consolidate their position in the Animal Health, Food Safety and Environmental Control markets and commercialize the product worldwide, reaching €17.76M profit at the end of 2026.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantibiotics
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
IA - Innovation actionCoordinador
3460-021 Tondela
Portugal
Organización definida por ella misma como pequeña y mediana empresa (pyme) en el momento de la firma del acuerdo de subvención.