ARS | Publication request: BACTERIOCINS AND BACTERIOPHAGE LYTIC PROTEINS AS ALTERNATIVES TO ANTIBIOTICS FROM RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND USA COLLABORATIONS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Novel anti-microbial peptides (bacteriocins) were isolated and characterized in collaborative research between PMSRU, ARS-USDA scientists and representatives of the State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (SRCAMB) in Obolensk, Russian Federation. The bacteriocins are effective against several bacterial pathogens. Treatment of chickens by feeding bacteriocins consistently reduced Campylobacter levels in their gastrointestinal system as compared with levels found in untreated birds. Five patents have been issued describing this alternative to antibiotics treatment for bacterial infection and technology transfer is on-going. Screening of bacteriophages lytic for Clostridium perfringens was completed utilizing filtered samples obtained from poultry (intestinal material), soil, sewage and poultry processing drainage water. From the collections highly lytic viruses were isolated and the double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) genomes of the bacteriophages were sequenced to completion. DNA sequencing of six bacteriophage genomes completed at PMSRU and four genomes in collaboration with Russian investigators resulted in identification of unique amidases as well as phage encoded proteins that potentially contain lysozyme and endopeptidase activities. Two recombinant bacteriophage lytic enzyme genes encoding putative amidases have been cloned, their proteins expressed as recombinants and isolated to homogeneity, then demonstrated to lyse C. perfringens. Patent applications have been submitted as a result of the bacteriophage research. These bacteriocins and phage lytic enzymes may have possibilities for use in agriculture and medical applications as potential replacements for current antibiotics that may have diminished activity.