The collaboration between startup microXpace and Lallemand Animal Nutrition has reached a significant milestone as both partners prepare to enter the product development phase for Alpha-Gal-based technology.
The production of Alpha-Gal antibodies, triggered in response to microbiota expressing the Alpha-Gal glycan, plays a vital role in recognizing and binding pathogens' surfaces. This powerful technology offers new possibilities to help maintain animal health by supporting resilience to infectious diseases affecting aquaculture and poultry production worldwide. The successful proof-of-concept stage of the microXpace-Lallemand partnership has led to the identification of a broad range of parasite targets, paving the way for the development of an Alpha-Gal-based product aimed at enhancing resilience against major parasitic diseases prevalent in the aquaculture and poultry farming industries.
Following on the heel of this success, the partners now enter a product development phase which entails production upscaling and further in vivo testing in target species. The collaboration demonstrates a seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies and animal nutrition expertise, forging a path toward pioneering nutritional health solutions to help address emergent fish and poultry parasite outbreaks worldwide.
“During the collaboration between microXpace and Lallemand, a striking alignment emerged in our shared objectives and mutual aspiration to pioneer innovative feed solutions. They had a specific interest in helping animals become resilient vis-à-vis parasitic organisms, leveraging cutting-edge technologies. We, at microXpace, have remarkable enthusiasm and scientific expertise in Alpha-Gal technology and innovative laboratory tool developments, while Lallemand showcases extensive proficiency in animal nutrition research and the utilization of state-of-the-art technologies for in-feed technology and marketing. This powerful combination synergistically established a solid foundation for a highly productive and successful alliance,” said Dr. Palinauskas, CEO of microXpace.
"As a member of the group of researchers who discovered the impact of Alpha-Gal immunity in fish and birds, witnessing our idea evolve into a real-world product with significant impact, supported by Lallemand's willingness, is absolutely thrilling,” said Dr. Cabezas-Cruz, CSO of microXpace.
“About 20% of the worldwide aquaculture production is lost due to infectious diseases. The industry is especially threatened by emerging parasitic diseases which are expanding due to climate change. Both marine and freshwater commercial finfish production will strongly benefit from the species-independent, broad-range solution of Alpha-Gal immunity developed by the microXpace research team. Lallemand has been incredibly supportive during our joint developments and will enable efficient product development, targeted market access and product launch. Such collaborations are extremely proficient and highly desirable as they offer fast industrial solutions based on quality-assured research innovations,” said Dr. Holzer, chief aquaculture innovation officer of microXpace.
"Contributing to progressing such cutting-edge concept into innovative biotechnological nutritional solutions is a real delight. As the need to increase parasite resilience remains a top priority across farmed fish and poultry globally, exploiting for the first time this key immune mechanism raises the prospect of a substantial contribution to health, welfare and performance in the field,” sai Eric Leclercq, aquaculture R&D manager and fish application manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition.
What is Alpha-Gal immunology?
Alpha-Gal antibodies play a crucial role in recognizing and binding Alpha-Gal on the surface of pathogens. These antibodies can activate the lysis of the targeted parasite and other pathogens. Thus, the stimulation of Alpha-Gal immunity by microbiota provides protection against a broad range of disease agents that express the Alpha-Gal glycan on their surface (e.g. Plasmodium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Borrelia sp., Trypanosoma sp. and more). The production of Alpha-Gal antibodies by the host is triggered in response to microbiota that express the Alpha-Gal glycan. This happens only in animal groups that do not produce Alpha-Gal themselves such as fish, birds and humans.
microXpace aims at harnessing the potential of Alpha-Gal immunity in fish and poultry species through the use of natural microbial-based solutions which are applied in-feed and enhance the immune response to a broad range of pathogens, especially parasites. This technology was patented by microXpace in 2021 in collaboration with INRAE and offers new possibilities for enhancing animal health. In turn, it helps animals be more resilient towards infectious diseases present in aquaculture and poultry production worldwide.
More than a year ago, Lallemand and microXpace joined forces to further expand the potential of the technology and speed up potential market launch. The collaboration successfully generated additional Proof-of-Concept, identified a broad range of parasite targets, and successfully tested the safety of the technology while refining product scope. The substantial progress made allows the collaborators to enter the product development phase which entails production upscaling and further in vivo testing under controlled laboratory as well as industrial conditions.
This milestone marks an important step in the partnership, aiming towards bringing an Alpha-Gal-based product to the market, with the shared goal of enhancing resilience against major infectious diseases prevalent in the fish and poultry farming industries in support of animal health and welfare.
