The Need

Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge to human health worldwide. The broad uses of antibiotic resistance is considered key the problem seen today. Targeted mitigation of all antibiotic resistant bacteria is essential to achieve effective control of the current problem and also protection of human health and food animal production. Research efforts have shown that antibiotic resistant bacteria is present in the feces of animals and will not disappear without specific efforts.

The Technology

Dr. Hua Wang and colleagues have isolated multiple strains of probiotics from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of chicken and assessed colonization and sensitivity to antibiotics in vitro. The strains isolated inhibited the growth of various bacteria, including antibiotic resistant E. coli. Being part of the natural microbiota, the probiotic strain has good colonization fitness in the chicken GI tract, especially during the early establishment of GI microbiota. In various forms, these live cultures and their derivatives could be commercialized for use in poultry feed to improve animal health and mitigate antibiotic resistance.

Commercial Applications

• Food Animal Health
• Antibiotic Resistance Improvement

Benefits/Advantages

• The strain is sensitive to ampicillin and does not carry ampicillin­ resistance (AR) gene. It is also susceptible to many other antibiotics tested
• In vitro validation
• May hinder the colonization of antibiotic­ resistant strains, resulting in a reduced antibiotic resistant population in the chicken GI tract and improve the gut health of the animals. This is critically important for mitigation of AR in the ecosystem