Evaluation of safety and efficacy of commensal probiotics, L. salivarius MMP strain and L. senioris Accacia strain for maintaining dolphin (Tursiops

The proposed Phase II project intends to conduct a clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of probiotics from dolphins, and to develop and commercialize a microencapsulated probiotic product to improve gastrointestinal health of dolphins. Preliminary research conducted by the US Navy Marine Mammal program (MMP) and Accacia International has identified some lactobacilli strains with probiotic properties from commensal gut microbiotia of dolphins. In Phase II, a safety evaluation of the candidate probiotics will be carried out by in silico analysis; sequence analysis for pathogenicity islands, genes involved in probiosis etc, followed by in vitro experiments such as antibiotic resistance, and assessment of metabolic products. A detailed in vivo study on the safety and efficacy of the candidate probiotic(s) using bottlenose dolphins is planned in collaboration with MMP during Phase II. Accacia intends to develop a novel commercial product for dolphins, which are being raised in captivity in dolphinaria and marine mammal parks. Accacias goal is to develop a microencapsulated probiotic product in combination with prebiotics to improve the indigenous microflora of dolphins, and use it as a natural alternative to antibiotics for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. This would be the first commercial probiotic product ever developed for dolphins.