Live therapeutics for prevention and control of necrotic enteritis associated with Clostridia perfringens in poultry

Necrotic enteritis in both its clinical and subclinical forms is a major health welfare andperformance disease. Without technologies to control Clostridia perfringens (C. perf.) the causalagent of the disease producers are having a hard time to raise healthy birds and produce safe food.The challenge is now becoming acute with the withdrawal of antibiotics from livestock production.We propose to test a new class of safe live thaerapeutics that are equipped with antimicrobials thatkill C. perf. With USDA support we have previously engineered and tested modified probioticsdemonstrating significant decrease in C. perf.-induced necrotic enteritis in poultry.We are proposing a series of experiments that will support the development plan for registration ofantimicrobial probiotics by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.Our product will help chicken producers raise healthy birds reduce production losses and producesafe food. Our product can then help feed the increasing global population sustainably.