The Need

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and Salmonella infections in poultry pose a significant commercial and health challenge. Current treatments relying on antimicrobial drugs have limited effectiveness and contribute to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, exacerbating the problem. Biotechnology companies and researchers are seeking novel approaches to combat infections and improve microbial therapeutics.

The Technology

OSU researchers have identified a series of antimicrobial peptides that are effective against both APEC and Salmonella. Derived from 2 different probiotic strains, these peptides demonstrate inhibitory potential against multiple APEC/Salmonella serotypes, including antibiotic-resistant strains, making them promising candidates for the control of APEC and Salmonella infections. Antimicrobial peptides are considered a promising new alternative to antibiotics, given their different mechanisms of action against bacteria.

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 and Salmonella, ensuring safer meat and meat products for human consumption.
• Veterinary and Human Medical Applications: capable of treating bacterial APEC and Salmonella infections in both human and zoonotic hosts.

Benefits/Advantages

• Promotes Improved Poultry Growth: Poultry treated with these peptides showed higher breast meat yields.
• Stable and Robust: can be added to feed, drinking water or food.
• Does not drive antibiotic resistance; by inhibiting bacterial growth, these antibiotics do not encourage the development of antibiotic resistance.
• Antibiotic Resistance Mitigation: Unlike many antibiotics, these peptides do not drive development of antibiotic resistance.