A Bacteriophage Cocktail Targeting Provides Strong Post-Exposure Protection in a Rat Pneumonic Plague Model.

, one of the deadliest bacterial pathogens ever known, is responsible for three plague pandemics and several epidemics, with over 200 million deaths during recorded history. Due to high genomic plasticity, is amenable to genetic mutations as well as genetic engineering that can lead to the emergence or intentional development of pan-drug resistant strains. The dissemination of such strains could be catastrophic, with public health consequences far more daunting than those caused by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

ECOPHAGE: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance Using Bacteriophages for Eco-Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems.

The focus of this meeting was to discuss the suitability of using bacteriophages as alternative antimicrobials in the agrifood sector. Following a One Health approach, the workshop explored the possibilities of implementing phage application strategies in the agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture, and food production sectors. Therefore, the meeting had gathered phage researchers, representatives of the agrifood industry, and policymakers to debate the advantages and potential shortcomings of using bacteriophages as alternatives to traditional antimicrobials and chemical pesticides.

Phage biocontrol for reducing bacterial foodborne pathogens in produce and other foods.

Foodborne pathogen contamination causes approximately 47 million cases of foodborne illness in the United States and renders thousands of pounds of food products inedible, aggravating the already dire situation of food loss. Reducing foodborne contamination not only improves overall global public health but also reduces food waste and loss. Phage biocontrol or phage-mediated reduction of bacterial foodborne pathogens in various foods has been gaining interest recently as an effective and environmentally friendly food-safety approach.

Safety and Efficacy of an AIEC-targeted Bacteriophage Cocktail in a Mice Colitis Model.

Background And Aims: Adherent invasive Escherichia coli [AIEC] are recovered with a high frequency from the gut mucosa of Crohn's disease patients and are believed to contribute to the dysbiosis and pathogenesis of this inflammatory bowel disease. In this context, bacteriophage therapy has been proposed for specifically targeting AIEC in the human gut with no deleterious impact on the commensal microbiota.

Methods: The in vitro efficacy and specificity of a seven lytic phage cocktail [EcoActive™] was assessed against [i] 210 clinical AIEC strains, and [ii] 43 non-E.

A Bacteriophage Cocktail Significantly Reduces without Deleterious Impact on the Commensal Gut Microbiota under Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions.

In this study, we examined the effect of a bacteriophage cocktail (tentatively designated as the Foodborne Outbreak Pill (FOP)) on the levels of in simulated small intestine, large intestine, and Caco-2 model systems. We found that FOP survival during simulated passage of the upper gastrointestinal was dependent on stomach pH, and that FOP robustly inhibited levels with effectiveness comparable to antibiotic treatment (ampicillin) under simulated ilium and colon conditions. The FOP did not inhibit the commensal bacteria, whereas ampicillin treatment led to dysbiosis-like conditions.

Evaluation of a Preharvest Bacteriophage Therapy for Control of Salmonella within Bovine Peripheral Lymph Nodes.

Abstract: A series of proof-of-concept studies were developed to determine whether a commercial bacteriophage cocktail could be utilized for the mitigation of Salmonella in bovine peripheral lymph nodes (LNs). The first objective sought to determine whether exogenous phage could be isolated from the LNs following administration. If isolation were successful, the second objective was to determine whether the phage in the LNs could effectively reduce Salmonella.

Prophylactic Administration of a Bacteriophage Cocktail Is Safe and Effective in Reducing Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Burden .

Nontyphoidal bacteria are the causative agent of salmonellosis, which accounts for the majority of foodborne illness of bacterial etiology in humans. Here, we demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the prophylactic administration of a bacteriophage preparation termed FOP (foodborne outbreak pill), which contains lytic phages targeting (SalmoFresh phage cocktail), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and Listeria monocytogenes, for lowering burdens in OMM gnotobiotic mice. Prophylactic administration of FOP significantly reduced the levels of in feces and in intestinal sections compared to the levels in controls.

Bacteriophages against Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio tubiashii: Isolation, Characterization, and Remediation of Larval Oyster Mortalities.

and are pathogens responsible for high larval oyster mortality rates in shellfish hatcheries. Bacteriophage therapy was evaluated to determine its potential to remediate these mortalities. Sixteen phages against and were isolated and characterized from Hawaiian seawater.

Phage Biocontrol Applications in Food Production and Processing.

Bacteriophages, or phages, are one of the most, if not the most, ubiquitous organisms on Earth. Interest in various practical applications of bacteriophages has been gaining momentum recently, with perhaps the most attention (and most regulatory approvals) focused on their use to improve food safety. This approach, termed 'phage biocontrol' or 'bacteriophage biocontrol', includes both pre- and post-harvest application of phages as well as decontamination of the food contact surfaces in food processing facilities.

Phage Biocontrol Improves Food Safety by Significantly Reducing the Level and Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Various Foods.

Abstract: Management of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including E. coli O157:H7, in food products is a major challenge for the food industry. Several interventions, such as irradiation, chemical disinfection, and pasteurization, have had variable success controlling STEC contamination.

Bacteriophages Reduce Pathogenic Counts in Mice Without Distorting Gut Microbiota.

We performed a study to (i) investigate efficacy of an spp-targeting bacteriophage cocktail (tentatively named F.O.P.

A Bacteriophage Cocktail Eliminates Typhimurium from the Human Colonic Microbiome while Preserving Cytokine Signaling and Preventing Attachment to and Invasion of Human Cells by In Vitro.

Nontyphoidal strains continue to be a major cause of foodborne illness globally. One intriguing approach to reducing the risk of salmonellosis is the direct ingestion of phages targeting to enhance natural gut resilience and provide protection during foodborne disease outbreaks. We evaluated the ability of a prophylactically administered bacteriophage cocktail, the foodborne outbreak pill (FOP) targeting O157:H7, and to resolve a infection in the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME), a simulated gut platform populated by the human intestinal microbiome of healthy donors.

Bacteriophage Applications for Food Production and Processing.

Foodborne illnesses remain a major cause of hospitalization and death worldwide despite many advances in food sanitation techniques and pathogen surveillance. Traditional antimicrobial methods, such as pasteurization, high pressure processing, irradiation, and chemical disinfectants are capable of reducing microbial populations in foods to varying degrees, but they also have considerable drawbacks, such as a large initial investment, potential damage to processing equipment due to their corrosive nature, and a deleterious impact on organoleptic qualities (and possibly the nutritional value) of foods. Perhaps most importantly, these decontamination strategies kill indiscriminately, including many—often beneficial—bacteria that are naturally present in foods.

A bacteriophage cocktail targeting Escherichia coli reduces E. coli in simulated gut conditions, while preserving a non-targeted representative commensal normal microbiota.

Antibiotics offer an efficient means for managing diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. However, antibiotics are typically broad spectrum and they can indiscriminately kill beneficial microbes in body habitats such as the gut, deleteriously affecting the commensal gut microbiota. In addition, many bacteria have developed or are developing resistance to antibiotics, which complicates treatment and creates significant challenges in clinical medicine.

Bacteriophage preparation lytic for Shigella significantly reduces Shigella sonnei contamination in various foods.

ShigaShield™ is a phage preparation composed of five lytic bacteriophages that specifically target pathogenic Shigella species found in contaminated waters and foods. In this study, we examined the efficacy of various doses (9x105-9x107 PFU/g) of ShigaShield™ in removing experimentally added Shigella on deli meat, smoked salmon, pre-cooked chicken, lettuce, melon and yogurt. The highest dose (2x107 or 9x107 PFU/g) of ShigaShield™ applied to each food type resulted in at least 1 log (90%) reduction of Shigella in all the food types.

Bacteriophages safely reduce contamination in pet food and raw pet food ingredients.

Contamination of pet food with is a serious public health concern, and several disease outbreaks have recently occurred due to human exposure to tainted pet food. The problem is especially challenging for raw pet foods (which include raw meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables). These foods are becoming increasingly popular because of their nutritional qualities, but they are also more difficult to maintain -free because they lack heat-treatment.

Bacteriophage administration significantly reduces colonization and shedding by -challenged mice without deleterious side effects and distortions in the gut microbiota.

We used a mouse model to establish safety and efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail, ShigActive™, in reducing fecal counts after oral challenge with a susceptible strain. Groups of inbred C57BL/6J mice challenged with strain S43-NalAcR were treated with a phage cocktail (ShigActive™) composed of 5 lytic bacteriophages and ampicillin. The treatments were administered (i) 1 h after, (ii) 3 h after, (iii) 1 h before and after, and (iv) 1 h before bacterial challenge.

Bacteriophage cocktail significantly reduces or eliminates Listeria monocytogenes contamination on lettuce, apples, cheese, smoked salmon and frozen foods.

ListShield™, a commercially available bacteriophage cocktail that specifically targets Listeria monocytogenes, was evaluated as a bio-control agent for L. monocytogenes in various Ready-To-Eat foods. ListShield™ treatment of experimentally contaminated lettuce, cheese, smoked salmon, and frozen entrèes significantly reduced (p < 0.

Bacteriophage cocktail for biocontrol of Salmonella in dried pet food.

Human salmonellosis has been associated with contaminated pet foods and treats. Therefore, there is interest in identifying novel approaches for reducing the risk of Salmonella contamination within pet food manufacturing environments. The use of lytic bacteriophages shows promise as a safe and effective way to mitigate Salmonella contamination in various food products.

Salmonella phages and prophages: genomics, taxonomy, and applied aspects.

Since this book was originally published in 2007 there has been a significant increase in the number of Salmonella bacteriophages, particularly lytic virus, and Salmonella strains which have been fully sequenced. In addition, new insights into phage taxonomy have resulted in new phage genera, some of which have been recognized by the International Committee of Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). The properties of each of these genera are discussed, along with the role of phage as agents of genetic exchange, as therapeutic agents, and their involvement in phage typing.

Evaluation of consumers' perception and willingness to pay for bacteriophage treated fresh produce.

Food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic and spp. take a significant toll on American consumers' health; they also cost the United States an estimated $77.7 billion annually in health care and other losses.

Bacteriophages lytic for rapidly reduce contamination on glass and stainless steel surfaces.

A cocktail of six lytic bacteriophages, SalmoFresh™, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the number of surface-applied Kentucky and Brandenburg from stainless steel and glass surfaces by > 99% (2.1-4.