CuBacti: new supplement promising to contribute to the treatment of bacterial diseases

A few months ago, Dr. Brenda Modak, a researcher at the University of Santiago de Chile (USACh), was awarded the Fondef IDeA R&D 2024 project titled "Cubacti, a food additive to combat infections caused by marine pathogens affecting the salmon industry", which seeks to evaluate the in vivo effect of a promising food additive based on copper.

Cubacti is the name chosen by the creators of the supplement to denote the copper-based compound [Cu(NN1)2]ClO4, which already has several published studies demonstrating its effectiveness against various bacterial and viral pathogens in salmon farming.

So far, the effect of the product has been evaluated in fish on a small scale, at the laboratory level, preparing Cubacti as a food additive by mixing it with commercial feed through mechanical oiling, so the next steps also include preparing the additive in extruded form at a specialized plant.

For this purpose, they have the support of Salmofood, which, if successful, will establish a formal collaboration agreement for the necessary activities to continue advancing the research until a marketable prototype is reached.

Dr. Modak explains to Salmonexpert, media partner of LandbasedAQ that the project seeks to analyze the effect of administering Cubacti in salmonids, as a dietary supplement in extruded form, for the treatment against Piscirickettsia salmonis and Flavobacterium psychrophilum, in a relevant environment.

For this, they have proposed the development of 3 specific objectives:

1. Characterize the stability of Cubacti in the extruded form under storage conditions.

2. Evaluate the physiological effect of administering Cubacti in extruded feed on salmonids.

3. Evaluate the protective effect of Cubacti in extruded feed on salmonids challenged with P. salmonis and F. psychrophilum in a relevant environment.

According to the scientist from USACh, in this phase they aim to “replicate the results they have achieved at the laboratory level, and obtain a stable and safe feed additive, in the extruded form, for the treatment against marine pathogens P. salmonis and F. psychrophilum, which can positively influence fish health.”

In the same way, Dr. Modak points out that at the end of the project they hope to reach a commercial product that allows "to gradually reduce the use of antibiotics and all the problems associated with their use and that is economically feasible to produce to compete with current treatments. Additionally, the oral administration of Cubacti simplifies the process and can reduce the costs associated with the administration of injected vaccines, which along with the adoption of sustainable and efficient alternatives such as CuBacti contribute to the sustainability of the aquaculture industry and the environment".

Other pathogens

The most recent study published by the research group of the USACh, showed that in an experimental infection challenge with P. salmonis the compound decreased mortality in the fish treated with the compound with a 90% survival rate, while only 30% of the untreated fish survived. Additionally, the additive also demonstrated the ability to modulate the immune response and the intestinal microbiota in this same group of fish.

“These results allow us to propose that the copper complex has the ability to protect fish against P. salmonis, through various mechanisms, probably as an antibacterial agent, modulating the immune system and/or modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota,” explains the scientist.

What common characteristics do Flavobacterium and Piscirickettsia have that make the compound effective against both? In response to this question, Dr. Modak answers that there are not many similarities between the two bacteria, their only common trait being that both are Gram-negative pathogens. “However, we designed this molecule as an antibacterial by leveraging the properties of its components, so we consider it positive that it can be used as a treatment against various pathogens affecting the industry. We continue to investigate its different properties and study its potential uses against other pathogens such as Tenacibaculum or Saprolegnia.”