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PIGSs · Project

New Diagnostics, Vaccines and Probiotics to Cut Pig Losses from Streptococcus suis

foodTestedTRL 5
pigss-horizon2020.eu

Imagine a hidden infection that silently lives in most pig herds and suddenly kills young piglets — and the only defence farmers have is pumping in antibiotics. This project cracked the genetic code of 1200-1500 strains of that bacterium across major pork-producing countries to figure out which ones are dangerous and which are harmless. They then built new diagnostic tests to tell the difference, tested vaccine candidates directly in pigs, and designed a probiotic feed additive that strengthens piglets' immune systems naturally. The kicker: this bug can also jump to humans, so controlling it in pigs protects slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians too.

By the numbers
1200-1500
S. suis isolates genome-sequenced from major pork-producing countries
10
consortium partners across the project
6
countries represented in the consortium (DE, DK, ES, FR, NL, UK)
36
total project deliverables produced
2
industry partners in the consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

Streptococcus suis is endemic in pig herds worldwide, causing the primary mortality and morbidity in young pigs and driving massive antibiotic use in the pork industry. Farmers have no reliable way to tell dangerous strains from harmless ones, so they treat entire herds preventively — wasting money on antibiotics and fueling antimicrobial resistance. The disease also poses a growing zoonotic risk to humans working with pigs.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered standardized diagnostic tests that distinguish disease-causing from harmless S. suis strains in pig samples, a defined next-generation probiotic product using commensal strains to strengthen piglet immunity, and tested novel conserved vaccine antigens in live pigs. All backed by a genomic database of 1200-1500 sequenced isolates from major pork-producing countries.

Audience

Who needs this

Large-scale pig producers and integrated pork companies losing animals to S. suisVeterinary pharmaceutical companies developing alternatives to antibiotics in livestockDiagnostic kit manufacturers serving the livestock and veterinary sectorFeed additive companies looking for validated probiotic formulationsMeat processing companies concerned about zoonotic risk and worker safety
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pork Production & Livestock Farming
enterprise
Target: Large-scale pig farming operations and integrated pork producers

If you are a pig producer losing animals to Streptococcus suis and relying on routine antibiotics to keep mortality down — this project developed standardized diagnostic tests that identify disease-causing vs. harmless strains directly from pig samples. That means you can target interventions only where needed, reducing blanket antibiotic use and cutting losses from the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in young pigs.

Animal Health & Veterinary Pharmaceuticals
mid-size
Target: Vaccine and probiotic manufacturers for livestock

If you are a veterinary pharma company looking for the next generation of pig health products — this project defined a new probiotic product comprising commensal strains that stabilize gut microbiota and support the immune system to prevent S. suis disease. They also tested novel conserved vaccine antigens in pigs, giving you validated candidates ready for commercial development.

Veterinary Diagnostics
SME
Target: Diagnostic kit manufacturers and veterinary laboratory services

If you are a diagnostics company serving the livestock sector — this project delivered standardized diagnostic tests for identification of disease-causing and non-disease-causing strains of S. suis in both pure culture and pig samples. With genomic data from 1200-1500 isolates across 6 countries, these tests are validated for the major pork-producing regions of Europe.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would licensing or accessing this technology cost?

Pricing details are not publicly available from the project data. The consortium includes 2 industry partners who may hold exploitation rights. Contact the coordinator at Wageningen University to discuss licensing terms for the diagnostics, probiotic formulation, or vaccine candidates.

Can these products work at industrial scale for large pig herds?

The diagnostic tests were designed to work on pig samples directly, not just lab cultures, which suggests field applicability. The probiotic product is defined as a feed additive using commensal strains, a format already used at industrial scale in livestock. However, full commercial-scale validation would still be needed.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP is shared among the 10-partner consortium across 6 countries under Horizon 2020 rules. Wageningen University as coordinator would be the first point of contact. The 2 industry partners likely hold exploitation rights for commercial products.

Does this help with antibiotic reduction regulations?

Directly. The objective states that S. suis is the most frequent reason to prescribe amino-penicillin antibiotics as a preventive measure in pigs. The project's diagnostics, vaccines, and probiotics are specifically designed as alternatives to reduce this antibiotic dependency, aligning with EU regulations on antimicrobial resistance.

How far along are these products — can I use them now?

The project closed in August 2022. Two key demo deliverables were produced: a defined probiotic product and standardized diagnostic tests. These are validated prototypes, not finished commercial products. Further development and regulatory approval would be needed before market deployment.

What evidence supports that these solutions actually work?

The project tested novel conserved vaccine antigens directly in pigs and validated diagnostic tests on case-farms. Epidemiological studies determined risk factors for invasive S. suis disease on representative farms. The genomic basis covers 1200-1500 isolates from major pork-producing countries.

Is the zoonotic risk relevant to my business?

If you operate slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, or employ workers with direct pig contact — yes. The project notes that human S. suis infections reported worldwide have increased significantly in recent years. Controlling the pathogen in pigs directly reduces occupational health risks.

Consortium

Who built it

The PIGSs consortium brings together 10 partners from 6 major European pork-producing countries (Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Netherlands, UK), giving the results broad geographic relevance. The mix of 5 universities and 2 research organizations provides deep scientific credibility, while the 2 industry partners (20% industry ratio) signal a path toward commercialization. Wageningen University — one of Europe's top agricultural research institutions — coordinates the project from the Netherlands. For a business looking to license or co-develop these technologies, the strong academic base means robust science, but the relatively low industry ratio means commercial translation will require an active partner willing to take products through regulatory approval and market launch.

How to reach the team

Wageningen University (Netherlands) — search for the PIGSs project lead in the veterinary or animal sciences department

Order a report on this consortiumSee WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the PIGSs research team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right person to discuss licensing the diagnostic tests, probiotic formulation, or vaccine candidates for your market.

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