2024-10-26 04:00:00
This text is part of the special section Research in partnership and regional dynamism
The increase in human resistance to antibiotics worries Public Health. However, a solution may come from the efforts made by INRS and the Laval biotechnology company EVAH to develop a vaccine… for pigs.
“This involves combating porcine streptococcus, a bacteria normally present in pigs, which can cause fevers, but also pneumonia, meningitis and arthritis in animals,” explains Charles Calmettes, associate professor at the INRS Armand-Frappier Health Biotechnology Center involved in the project.
What is the relationship between human health and that of pigs? This is because we combat the effects of streptococcus with the same antibiotics as those used for humans. And because agriculture uses phenomenal amounts of antibiotics, they end up in nature and expose humans, reducing the effectiveness of treatments for human diseases.
“More and more countries are restricting antibiotics in agriculture. To prevent and treat the pathologies associated with this bacteria, we are therefore obliged to look for something else, and the solution seems to us to be the vaccine,” says Imène Kouidmi, researcher and project leader at EVAH, who did her postdoctoral work in the EVAH laboratory. Charles Calmettes.
If the Quebec and federal governments are contributing financially to the project, it is because the stakes are considerable. First, because the pork industry is the second largest agri-food sector in Quebec, and makes Canada the fourth largest exporter of pork in the world, according to American government data taken by the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agriculture. of Food (MAPAQ). The most recent figures from MAPAQ also indicate that porcine streptococcus was present in 10% to 21% of animals in breeding nurseries between 2019 and 2022. In Europe, where the ban on antibiotics is more advanced, the rate pig mortality oscillates between 6% and 8%, and is particularly high before the fattening stage, according to the data put forward by Mr. Calmettes. A considerable figure in an industry where margins are tight. However, no one yet knows how to combat streptococcal pig diseases without antibiotics.
According to Charles Calmettes, the link between fundamental research and private enterprise is essential, because the creation of a vaccine ex nihilo requires a multitude of skills. “Academic institutions have biochemists, biologists, immunologists,” he says. But you also need to master intellectual property and the regulatory framework, know the investors, have large-scale testing and production capacity, and be able to distribute and sell. »
The contributing bioreactor
Mr. Calmettes will direct the most fundamental aspect of the work as a specialist in so-called recombinant proteins, that is to say produced in the laboratory. “We can do it in vitro, but it’s very expensive. The ideal is a bioreactor, which is either a bacteria or a cell, which can be modified at will so that it produces the desired protein,” explains the biochemist. “Concretely, this bioreactor appears as a sort of serum which contains the bacteria. A quantity of 5 to 10 liters can produce the few milligrams that are enough to initiate labor. »
The task will be difficult. We must first, explains the professor, sequence the genome of streptococcal pathologies to identify 30, 40, 50 target genes. From these, the bioreactor will produce candidate proteins, which must then be purified. The researchers then first sort the proteins according to their level of stability and the quantity obtained. The INRS students and postdoctoral researchers will then go to the clinic at EVAH to see which proteins among those that have been selected produce a curative effect on the bacteria. It will then be a matter of seeing which mixture of these will produce the best effect.
“We are aiming for a vaccine that hits several targets, because the more targets it hits, the more difficult it will be for the bacteria to adapt,” says Charles Calmettes. The dream would be to discover the sterilizing vaccine, which completely neutralizes the bacteria. »
Economic constraints
The fundamental research part which will occupy the researcher and his team will be the longest, two years out of the five it takes to develop an animal vaccine, explains Imène Kouidmi.
Once this task is accomplished, the ball will pass into EVAH’s court. “It is at the development stage that we define the formulation, dosage, effectiveness, safety of the product and the right biomanufacturing process,” she says.
However, the development of an animal vaccine must deal with economic considerations that are much more restrictive than a human vaccine. “It should not cost more than a dollar per dose, whereas, in humans, we agree to pay 100 times more,” summarizes Mr. Calmettes. The vaccine must be easy to handle in the field. So no question of freezers at -80°C as for anti-COVID. »
The researcher points out, however, that, due to fundamental research, there is no certainty of discovering the desired vaccine. But failure does not necessarily mean that we would have failed. “Maybe the [protéines] candidates have effects [positifs] elsewhere. Part of our work will consist of trying to see. » Indeed, the unexpected is the essence of fundamental research.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Dutyrelating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.
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Interview with Charles Calmettes and Imène Kouidmi on the Development of a Vaccine for Porcine Streptococcus
Editor: We’re here today with Charles Calmettes, associate professor at INRS, and Imène Kouidmi, researcher and project leader at EVAH, to discuss an exciting new project aimed at combating porcine streptococcus and its implications for human health. Thank you both for joining us.
Charles Calmettes: Thank you for having us.
Imène Kouidmi: It’s a pleasure to be here.
Editor: Charles, can you start by explaining the link between porcine streptococcus and human health?
Charles Calmettes: Absolutely. Porcine streptococcus is a bacteria commonly found in pigs that can cause serious health issues, such as pneumonia and meningitis in animals. The concerning part is that we use the same antibiotics to treat both pigs and humans. The extensive use of these antibiotics in agriculture leads to the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria, which ultimately jeopardizes our ability to treat human diseases effectively.
Editor: That’s alarming. Imène, can you tell us about the development process for this vaccine?
Imène Kouidmi: Of course. Our project aims to create a multi-target vaccine that addresses several strains of porcine streptococcus. The research phase—led by Charles and his team—will take about two years, during which we’ll identify suitable candidate proteins through genome sequencing and bioreactor production. After that, EVAH will handle the formulation and development of the vaccine.
Editor: What makes this vaccine particularly innovative?
Charles Calmettes: The goal here is to create a vaccine that can hit multiple targets at once. By doing this, we aim to make it harder for the bacteria to adapt and become resistant. We’re also hoping to discover a sterilizing vaccine that completely neutralizes the bacteria.
Editor: That sounds promising but also quite challenging. Can you share any economic constraints the project faces?
Imène Kouidmi: Certainly. Unlike human vaccines, which can be priced higher, we need to keep the cost of this animal vaccine under one dollar per dose. This is essential for farmers, and it also needs to be easy to handle in the field without requiring extreme storage conditions.
Editor: Considering the significance of the pork industry in Quebec, what impact do you envision this vaccine having?
Charles Calmettes: The pork industry is crucial for our province and Canada, being the second-largest agri-food sector and a major exporter. By reducing disease in pigs through vaccination, we hope to improve animal health, reduce antibiotic usage, and ultimately safeguard public health, showing that animal health and human health are interconnected.
Editor: Thank you, Charles and Imène, for your insights and for highlighting this important research. We look forward to following the progress of your vaccine development.
Charles Calmettes: Thank you.
Imène Kouidmi: Thank you. It was a pleasure to share our work with you.
E bacteria, which would be a significant advancement in veterinary medicine and, by extension, public health.
Editor: That sounds promising. Can you share more about the economic factors involved in developing a vaccine for pigs compared to humans, Imène?
Imène Kouidmi: Certainly. Developing an animal vaccine presents unique challenges, especially regarding cost. We aim to keep the price per dose under a dollar, whereas human vaccines can often be priced much higher. This price limitation is critical because farmers need a vaccine that is both affordable and practical for use in the field. Complicated cold chain requirements, such as maintaining extremely low temperatures, are also out of the question.
Editor: Given these challenges, what are the major next steps for your project?
Charles Calmettes: The immediate step is the genomic sequencing of streptococcal pathogens to identify key targets for our vaccine. This phase is critical as it lays the groundwork for subsequent protein production and testing. Once we’ve identified candidate proteins that show promise, we’ll collaborate closely with EVAH to formulate the vaccine and ensure its efficacy and safety.
Editor: what are your hopes for the outcomes of this research?
Imène Kouidmi: We are optimistic about finding a successful multi-target vaccine that can effectively reduce porcine streptococcus infections in pigs. If successful, this not only benefits animal health but could significantly impact human health by reducing antibiotic use and the associated risks of antibiotic resistance.
Charles Calmettes: Even if we don’t achieve a complete success, there’s value in the research process itself. Discovering candidate proteins could lead to other beneficial applications or insights that contribute to our understanding of antibiotic resistance and infectious diseases.
Editor: Thank you both for sharing your insights on this important project. It resonates strongly with the ongoing challenges faced in public health and agriculture today.
Charles Calmettes and Imène Kouidmi: Thank you for having us.
