Growing Branford biotech Azitra Inc. is part of a team working to develop a long-lasting mosquito repellent for the U.S. military using the good bacteria that live on the skin.
The group — which includes Azitra, a Florida university and two Boston-area companies —Â won a $15 million contract from the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Azitra announced Thursday.
The work is part of that agency’s ReVector program, which aims to protect the health of military personnel operating in regions with high rates of mosquito-borne diseases.
Azitra is developing the repellent with Florida International University, Boston-based biotech Ginkgo Bioworks and Cambridge, Mass.-based life sciences consulting firm Latham BioPharm Group.
Research shows that certain microbial species living on the skin produce volatile odor-based chemical signals that attract mosquitos, according to Azitra.Â
The group plans to harness the human skin microbiome — the diverse universe of microbes that live on human skin — to create a live biotherapeutic that can block those chemical signals and also repel the insects.Â
The goal of the project is to create a safe product that is easy to apply and can protect against mosquito bites for up to two weeks. Current repellents require reapplication every few hours, which isn’t always practical in the military, Azitra said. Â
The six-year-old company, which specializes in developing microbiome-based medicines and consumer products to treat skin conditions, said it will start by developing and characterizing various bacterial strains.
Later on, it will contribute its expertise in formulating and packaging products that can safely integrate with the skin’s natural flora.
Contact Natalie Missakian at news@newhavenbiz.com