What Comes First the Turkey or the Egg?

For Willmar Poultry Company (WPC) this is more than a philosophical question. WPC is one of the largest 1-day out turkey poult producers in the world. Over 30 years ago, WPC began looking for innovative ways to improve the health of its breeding stock—both the turkeys and the eggs. In 1987, the company created a USDA-licensed research lab with the goal of developing vaccines to combat salmonellosis, E. coli, Pasteurella (fowl cholera), and Hemorrhagic Enteritis Virus.

Researchers Dr. Daryll Emery and Mr. Darren Straub set out to develop a single vaccination that would prevent as many as 30 various serotypes of salmonellosis commonly found in the production of poultry and livestock. The result was a ground-breaking technology which immunized against bacterial infections using a purified, cell-free extract of cell wall antigens called Siderophore Receptor and Porin proteins, collectively referred to as SRPs.

By the year 1997, vaccine made from the combined SRPs of Salmonella, E. coli and P. multocida was in widespread use in WPC breeder operations in Minnesota.

Proven Efficacy on a Commercial Scale

In 2002, Epitopix was formed to further develop and commercialize vaccines based on the patented SRP® technology. Epitopix vaccines have been used in millions of animals and multiple animal species, from cattle to clouded leopards. In fact, the Epitopix USDA-approved Salmonella vaccine for cattle attained over 30% market penetration in the dairy industry within three years of introduction, making it one of the fastest growing vaccines on the market.

Moving Up the Food Chain: The Human Potential

In 2004, realizing the potential for combating human disease, Epitopix and WPC formed Syntiron LLC to adapt the Epitopix Siderophore Receptor and Porin (SRP®) technology to the development of human vaccines.¹

Through its licensing agreements with Epitopix, Syntiron has exclusive rights to a family of patents protecting its SRP® technology, production methods and other key discoveries in the human vaccines market. This patent portfolio consists of over 70 granted patents in the U.S., Europe and other countries, nearly 70 pending patent applications, and numerous patent drafts.

1. In the interest of continuity, the term SRP® was subsequently adopted by Syntiron to describe the technology. The wider diversity of vaccines Syntiron is pursuing required the redefinition of SRP® to denote Siderophore Receptor Protein technology.