THE OBJECTIVE

We are researching and developing probiotic bacteria strains that produce beta-carotene and other pro-vitamin A carotenoids for fermentation of dairy products and for use as live, bioactive additives in finished food products.  Since these probiotics are also gut bacteria, they can colonize the digestive tract and provide ongoing vitamin A nutrition in developing countries at very low cost.

The Problem

  • Vitamin A deficiency can cause decreased growth rate, bone and brain development.
  • Vitamin A deficiency can cause serious pregnancy problems. It can increase morbidity/ mortality for infants.
  • Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness. 250,000 - 500,000 malnourished children go blind each year from Vitamin A deficiency. 50% die within a year of becoming blind.

GLOBAL VITAMIN A deficiency

The Solution

BetaBiotica, LLC is pioneering the use of gut microbiota for biosynthesis of beta-carotene and other pro-vitamin A carotenoids to combat Vitamin A Deficiency.

Improved Nutrition

  • High beta yogurt
  • High beta functional foods and beverages
  • Probiotic dietary supplements

Gut bacteria strains producing beta-carotene can provide vitamin A in developing countries at very low cost.

Vitamin A Deficiency Technologies

  • Golden rice
  • Super bananas
  • Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
  • Orange-fleshed cassava

Agricultural Crops

BetaBiotica’s differentiator:

  • Microbes can be scaled up in days vs. years
  • Microbes colonize the gut and provide a longer VitA boost
  • Much higher upside: in the future, microbes will produce multiple health enhancing/disease fighting compounds

About Us

BetaBiotica, LLC was founded in 2014 as a spinoff from a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges in Global Health Explorations (GCE) grant. We are based in Tampa, Florida, at the University of South Florida/Tampa Bay Technology Incubator.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to address unmet healthcare needs around the world by developing outside-the-box probiotic therapies based on microbial strains adapted and crafted for specific applications.

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