MilkEVia
Bovine milk Extracellular Vesicles (mEVs) as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents (MilkEVia) is “one health” concept project. Three complementary teams will work together to achieve high-impact outcomes, particularly in public health aspects. Among the global health problems, antimicrobial resistance is the one where the “one health” concept is most important and results are expected in both animal and human welfare. With MilkEVIA, in fact, an alternative treatment to antibiotics, is presented for livestock and humans and the valorization of natural resources and the sustainability of the livestock sector is presented.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
An innovative objective of this project proposal is already in itself the use of Extracellular Vescicle (EVs) in field applications. An innovative field of medical research, indeed, is the use and development of EVs as a delivery system. In this context, milk can play a key role, bringing fundamental advantages such as ease of obtaining and large-scale production. In fact, among the other food sources of EVs, milk is widely available as a natural resource and an inexpensive raw material, particularly promising for the massive production of beneficial EVs. Milk extracellular vescicle (mEVs) can also assist the action of a possible drug and are easily administered through a non-invasive method (oral route or intramammary infusion) deriving from food. The mEVs, while protecting their labile molecular structure and resisting to various adverse environments, are not storable for a long time. Currently, there is no optimal storage method for EVs, especially for mEVs. From this perspective, it is of fundamental importance to develop a system of conservation of mEVs that does not modify any of their beneficial properties and which can therefore make future use feasible. For these premises, the develop of a method for mEV conservation following isolation is fundamental for mEV field applications and an important innovative objective for the valorization of natural resources and the sustainability of the livestock sector.
For these reasons milkEVia has the objective of
- Identification of a low-cost technology to produce a formulation able to stabilize mEVs, preventing the degradation and allowing field applications
- Evaluation of fresh and formulated mEVs effects on in vitro models of mastitis (bovine) and enteritis (swine)
- Evaluation of the effects of fresh and formulated mEVs on in vitro and in vivo models of human IBD.
- Integrated data analysis of gene expression of mEV-receiving cells and tissues and microbiota in an IBD mouse model
MILESTONES
M1 Management
M2 Setup of the milk Extracellular Vesicles formulation
M3 Milk EV formulation for animal applications
M4 Milk EV formulation for human applications
M5 Data management and integrated data analyses
M6 Dissemination and communication