Targeting two global pig diseases, and improving health and immune support in newly weaned piglets
VANCOUVER, BC, January 31, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Renaissance BioScience (RBSC), a leader in bioengineering, is pleased to announce that it has strategically partnered with the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), a world leader in infectious disease research and vaccine development. This collaboration was awarded $600,000 by the Saskatchewan Agricultural Development Fund and will target two diseases, as well as immune system function, in pigs and piglets using Renaissance’s cutting-edge yeast-based technology. Dr. Heather Wilson will coordinate the two distinct projects at VIDO. Dr. Wilson is a prominent scientist and program leader in vaccine formulation and delivery and was chosen as one of the most Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture in 2023.
In one project, RBSC and VIDO will pioneer orally delivered yeast-based vaccines for porcine epidemic diarrheal virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. These diseases pose significant threats to the global swine industry, leading to multi-billion-dollar losses annually.
The second project addresses gut health, immunity, and overall growth in piglets. Striving to alleviate the overuse of traditional antibiotics, RBSC and VIDO will work on an orally delivered yeast that secretes peptides, zinc, and essential amino acids into the pig’s digestive system. This innovative approach aims to mitigate stress, protect against infections, preserve gut health, and promote lean muscle growth.
Both projects aim to develop cost-effective, safe, non-invasive health solutions that can be conveniently included in the pig’s feed.
This yeast-based approach aims to enhance the health and productivity of agricultural animals, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient food solution for our growing global population. Yeast has the benefit of cost-effective production and delivery of biological molecules, acting as a “suitcase” to carry the bioactive molecules through the harsh intestinal environment. Yeast can also protect bioactive molecules in the harsh environment of the animal feed production process and has the advantage of being a common component of livestock feed, making this technology easy to adopt in real-life applications.
Dr. John Husnik, Renaissance’s CSO and Office of the CEO, commented on the VIDO projects: “Renaissance is pleased to be working with the world-leading researchers at VIDO on these exciting animal health projects. Gut health is an important commercial challenge in livestock and human diseases, and these projects will allow us to illuminate how our yeast-based technology can be used to address many different gut health and immune support challenges.”
Dr. Heather Wilson of VIDO commented: “We are enthusiastic about working with Renaissance and its highly experienced yeast experts and technologies to address these vital livestock health concerns. This yeast platform technology holds significant promise in improving animal health, and we look forward to getting started on these projects.”
About the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) is internationally recognized for its role in vaccine development and is one of Canada’s national science facilities. VIDO has conducted infectious disease research and vaccine development for almost half a century; eight of its vaccines have been sold commercially, and six have been described as world-firsts. The 175+-member organization operates using an ISO9001-certified management system in one of the largest and most advanced containment facilities in the world. To strengthen the preparedness for emerging infectious diseases, VIDO is expanding to become Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research, including GMP CL3-capable vaccine manufacturing and containment Level 4 capacity. VIDO receives operating support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation Major Science Initiatives fund and the Government of Saskatchewan through Innovation Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Agriculture.
About Renaissance BioScience Corp.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, Renaissance is a leading bioengineering company whose platform technologies are used to develop innovative, market-ready, functional microorganisms that provide cost-effective solutions to address a broad range of environmental, health and industrial challenges. Renaissance technologies create products for multiple end-use industries, including food & beverage, agriculture, animal and human health, and energy. Detailed information about the Renaissance group of companies is available at www.renaissancebioscience.com.
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