IFNg-Producing Lactococcus lactis for Aquaculture Immune Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for immunizing fish against bacterial diseases, such as those caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Piscirickettsia salmonis, are invasive, stressful, and often require continuous booster vaccinations, leading to antibiotic resistance and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

Development of transformed Lactococcus lactis bacteria that produce interferon gamma (IFNg) from Salmo salar, which are administered through feed to stimulate the fish's immune response and provide protection against bacterial infections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If injectable vaccines are used to stimulate fish immune response, then immune protection is improved, but fish stress and manipulation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune protectionVSAvoidfish stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses edible vaccines as an intermediary delivery system, incorporating immunogenic compounds into feed that fish consume orally. This mediator approach eliminates the need for direct injection while still delivering protective antigens to stimulate immune response, thereby reducing fish stress and manipulation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical injection system with a feeding system. Instead of using needles and syringes to deliver vaccines through skin penetration, the immune-stimulating compounds are delivered through the digestive system via feed, substituting mechanical trauma with a natural consumption process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If continuous booster vaccinations are administered, then immune memory is maintained, but manipulation and stress accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune memoryVSAvoidmanipulation frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates immunogenic compounds into the feed that fish consume over time, providing continuous low-level exposure to antigens. This preliminary and sustained exposure maintains immune memory without requiring discrete booster events, thereby reducing the frequency of manipulation while preserving immune protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If broad spectrum antibiotics are used to control bacterial diseases, then disease control is improved, but antibiotic resistance and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease controlVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of antibiotic overuse into a beneficial alternative by using immunogenic feed compounds. Instead of relying on antibiotics that create resistance, the system stimulates the fish's own immune system to fight bacterial diseases, transforming the problem of disease control into an opportunity for immune enhancement without resistance development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The use of IFNg-producing Lactococcus lactis bacteria effectively stimulates the fish's immune system, reducing mortality and bacterial load in fish challenged with Flavobacterium psychrophilum and Piscirickettsia salmonis, while avoiding the stresses and environmental impacts of traditional vaccination methods.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention refers to transformed Lactococcus lactis bacteria producing interferon gamma (IFNg) from Salmo salar that comprises the Lactococcus lactis NZ3900 strain that comprises the genetic expression system than comprises the DNA construction pNZ8149-p1-USP45-IFNg-GGG-6xHIS

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeterologous gene expression:

Implementation Method 2

Type II interferon or Interferon gamma (IFNg) is an immunoregulatory cytokine coded by one gene, produced mainly by NK cells and activated T cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProtein secretion:

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImmunostimulation:

Data Source

PatentUS12329789B2Transformed, <i>Salmo salar </i>interferon gamma (IFNg)-producing <i>Lactococcus lactis </i>bacterium, food and composition comprising same, for immunostimulation in aquaculture species

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 CONSORCIO TECHCO DE SANIDAD ACUICOLA SA

AI summary

The present invention falls within the technical field of aquaculture, and specifically, the invention relates to a specific solution for preventing and treating bacterial diseases using a Lactococcus lactis lactic acid bacterium transformed to produce an interferon type II (IFN II) immunostimulating cytokine, particularly interferon gamma (IFNg or IFNγ). Said transformed bacterium has been deposited in the Chilean Microbial Genetic Resources Collection at INIA with accession number RGM 2416 dated 22 Oct. 2017. The invention is also related to an immunostimulating food for aquaculture species comprising the lactic acid bacterium transformed with IFN type II from salmonidae. Moreover, the invention relates to the method for preparing said probiotic food, the method for preparing said lactic acid bacterium expressing IFNg, in other words which produces a cytokine that stimulates the antibacterial immune response.