IGTP, project to prevent tuberculosis

Pere-Joan Cardona

IGTP, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP, Fundación Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud Germans Trias i Pujol), Badalona, Spain

Ending the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030 is one of the targets included by the United Nations in the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. TB infects both humans and animals and can be transmitted between them. The WHO supports the “One world, one health” concept, a worldwide collaborative, integrated focus of public health and animal health. Caprine TB is an endemic disease in Spain. It represents a risk to public health and has significant economic repercussions in the livestock sector.

The project led by Dr. Cardona, inventor of the first probiotic (Nyaditum Resae®) to reduce the risk of developing active TB, has evaluated the efficacy against tuberculosis of this low-cost, easily administered food supplement in the caprine species. The results of this study demonstrate the effect of the probiotic in reducing TB pathology.

The project has enabled the gender dimension in the response against TB to be highlighted, as well as the impact of malnutrition as a determining factor in susceptibility again the disease, beyond parasite prevention policies. The results have produced interest in the scientific community due to the potential for veterinary application of the probiotic.

2017-2021

€350,000