MABVAC

The Project “MABVAC”: Minimizing Antibiotic use in Bavarian Aquaculture,
using Autogenous Vaccines

A cooperation of the LMU, Animal Health Service Bavaria e.V. and the institute of fisheries, of the regional office of agriculture, funded by the the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry

Main Goal

The overall goal of the MABVAC project is to minimize use of antibiotics in aquaculture with use of safe and efficient autogenous vaccines to prevent and control bacterial disease in Bavarian salmonid aquaculture. We will develop a state-of-the-art pathway for autogenous vaccines starting from scientific development, economical production, regulatory approval, and field application incorporated in broader biosecurity programs based on a geostrategic approach.
Therefore, the aim is not just the initial scientific development of the autogenous vaccine on the laboratory scale, furthermore it is the whole process leading to an usable product, which is provided with additional information to sensitize the target group for biosecurity measures to maintain a healthy fish population within the before defined epidemiological unit.

Why is the “MABVAC” Project Important?

The Bavarian salmonid aquaculture sector consists of up to 2000 listed pond based farms, with an annual fish production of more than 5.000 tons. Though this fragmented production enables individual decisions, it makes the implementation of common preventive strategies against fish diseases complicated, while the current circumstances are asking for those preventive strategies like the “MABVAC” Project:

1) The increasing risk of bacterial diseases
2) The resulting economic impact
3) The resulting animal welfare issue
4) The Lack of licensed, safe, and effective vaccines for trout and char.
5) The ongoing curative therapy with Antibiotics in the Bavarian salmonid production, with its known impact on mankind and environment

“MABVAC” is a potential, applicable, and sustainable alternative to the use of antibiotics by fish farmers and veterinarians, having the desire for common prevention and control strategies of bacterial diseases. Furunculosis will serve as model disease within the project. With its aims, “MABVAC” is in harmony with the Bavarian strategy to reduce the development of antibiotic resistances.

Methods

Proposed methodologies from different disciplines will be used together for the first time in supporting search for the best available vaccine candidate to be used in autogenous vaccine production. Most importantly, the techniques ranging from GIS/Spatial analysis, innovative molecular and cellular immunobiology, bioinformatics, and the state-of-the-art challenge facilities will be used to support development of registration portfolio for approval of autogenous vaccine use on farms.