The Need

Foodborne illnesses caused by bacterial pathogens like Campylobacter pose a significant public health concern worldwide, leading to millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths each year. Increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics is creating an urgent need for new and novel antibiotics that can tackle these bacterial pathogens.

The Technology

OSU researchers have identified a set of broad-spectrum small molecules. JA-144, TH-04, and TH-08, along with their derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, have demonstrated exceptional efficacy against a wide array of Campylobacter strains. Small molecules like these are the next generation of effective antimicrobials to combat foodborne infections and reduce the risk of contamination in food processing and handling.

Commercial Applications

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

Benefits/Advantages

• Broad-Spectrum Efficacy: potent antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, including Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and other bacterial 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.
• Combinatorial Effect: Can be combined with existing antibiotics to increase efficacy in combating Campylobacter.