They’ve produced 20,000 baby oysters, known as spat, from the institute’s hatchery for the project, as the vaccine is absorbed by them eating it at a young age.
“Oysters are filter feeders, they feed on algae so we will source some algae, let them filter it and they will absorb it and be vaccinated. So far so good, we are having very promising results,” said Vignier.
Pacific oysters are the world’s most popular and valuable oyster species, and now the race is on to see which country can create the first-ever shellfish vaccine.
“There’s a team in France working on a similar topic, but no it’s never been done. We see a big worldwide Pacific oyster industry opportunity, so it’s huge,” he said.
And the world really is their oyster, because the vaccine they develop will likely protect other types of shellfish as well.
“The concept we are developing can be extended to other diseases in aquaculture shellfish,” said Delisle.