The Need

Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) poses a significant threat to the poultry industry worldwide, causing severe economic losses due to increased mortality, decreased growth rate of infected birds, and rendering large parts of the entire bird useless for sale. Additionally, APEC is suspected to be a potential source of antimicrobial resistance, which further complicates its treatment.

The Technology

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a large series of antibiotics that have shown promising and effective bactericidal activity against different APEC pathogens. Antibiotics in this series target APEC as either 1) growth inhibitors that target the cell membrane or 2) quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) that reduce the bacterial virulence of APEC.

Commercial Applications

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

Benefits/Advantages

• Combats Tough and Persistent APEC: effective against biofilms and antibiotic resistant strains.
• 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 APEC.