SBIR Phase I: Efficient Production of Broad Spectrum, Salt Tolerant, Antimicrobial Peptides for Controlling Diseases in Finfish and Shrimp Culture

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a cost effective method for the synthesis and purification of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) that can be used to combat bacterial and viral diseases in aquaculture systems. The commercial application of this project will be significant in the area of aquaculture in light of a lack of effective disease treatments that are currently available. The discovery that fish and invertebrates themselves produce potent, broad-spectrum, AMPs may allow safer alternatives to chemical antibiotics for controlling diseases. High efficiency, low-cost, production of AMPs, coupled with their unique mode of killing action, may also allow development and application of new classes of natural antibiotics.