ARTICLE 32 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition October 2023 teria naturally acquire mutations that enable them to survive exposure to antibiotics. These resistant bacteria then become dominant in the environment and outcompete bacteria that are still susceptible to antibiotics. Thus, it is critical that a sustainable alternative to antibiotics must limit selective pressure for resistance to develop. NBXs are an ideal alternative because they function by disrupting the host-pathogen relationship, rather than killing or preventing bacterial growth. This limits the development of resistant pathogens and creates a sustainable platform as a targeted antimicrobial. PRECISION BIOLOGICS PREVENT INFECTION For a pathogen to successfully incite an infection, it must have the ability to move closer to host, colonize, and either release toxins or invade host cells. NBXs function by targeting and binding to virulence factors of pathogens, ultimately disrupting the host-pathogen interaction. Pathogens utilize various virulence factors to incite infection, including flagella, adhesins, toxins, or enzymes. Flagella and adhesins are important tools for pathogens to move in the intestine and approach the targeted host cells. Once near the host, pathogens can release toxins, infiltrate tissue damage, and initiate inflammation through interactions with host receptors. Pathogens can also secrete enzymes that may degrade components in the gut and subsequently utilize it as an energy source to grow and colonize. Collectively, NBXs work by strategically limiting a pathogens ability to colonize, interact with host, and ultimately prevent the onset of infection. DELIVERY PLATFORMS NovoBind is exploring various methods for delivering NBXs in-feed for livestock and aquaculture. 1. Semi-purified yeast extract. The production of NBXs is streamlined and cost effective through the use of a conventional yeast system. From these yeasts, NBXs are extracellularly expressed, semi-purified from culture supernatant, and freeze-dried into a powder. The protein-rich powder is further microencapsulated to protect it during feed production and facilitates targeted delivery to a specific region of the intestine. This strategy further minimizes cost as the dose required is reduced. 2. Delivery by a probiotic. Probiotics have been shown to provide tremendous health benefits to both livestock and aquaculture production. NovoBind has engineered a probiotic strain to produce, secrete and deliver a NBX at the potential infection site, providing synergistic impacts to producers without additional costs. 3. Combine with alternative protein sources. The NBXs can be seamlessly integrated into ex-
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