The Need

The increasing incidence of bacterial driven foodborne illnesses poses a significant public health risk and economic burden worldwide. Conventional antimicrobial treatments have become less effective, and the development of novel, targeted solutions is essential to combat these pathogens and ensure food safety. There is a pressing need for new antimicrobial technologies that can control bacterial growth, especially in food-producing animals and plants, while remaining safe for both hosts and consumers.

The Technology

OSU faculty have identified new antimicrobial antibiotics that control growth of several Salmonella strains, particularly in animals and plants. These have been found to possess low toxicity to host cells and normal flora, making them ideal candidates for widespread application. Additionally, they demonstrate additive or synergistic effects when combined with existing antibiotics, enhancing their efficacy against bacterial pathogens.

Commercial Applications

• Agriculture and Livestock: Reduce the risk of foodborne diseases originating from contaminated meat.
• Food Industry: treat food-producing animals, particularly poultry, for Salmonella, ensuring safer meat and meat products for human consumption.
• Veterinary and Human Medical Applications: capable of treating bacterial Salmonella infections in both human and zoonotic hosts.

Benefits/Advantages

• Combats Tough and Persistent Salmonella: effective against biofilms.
• Stable and Robust: can be added to feed, drinking water or food packaging/coatings; does not need special storage conditions.
• Does not drive antibiotic resistance; by inhibiting bacterial growth, these antibiotics do not encourage the development of antibiotic resistance.
• Safe for Hosts and Beneficial Microbiota: Low toxicity to host cells and beneficial commensal bacteria.
• Synergistic Effects: When combined with existing antibiotics, the technology, amplifies efficacy in combating Salmonella.