Characterizing lytic bacteriophages against pathogenic E. coli: killing spectrum, efficacy in vivo, and genomic analysis

Bacterial pathogens of importance to animal health and food safety have major and global impacts on agriculture and food industries. There has been an increase in bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, and antibiotic use in livestock and poultry has been questioned due to likelihood of increased antimicrobial resistance. Alternative strategies to contend with bacterial pathogens within the food production chain are therefore needed. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) are bacteria-specific viruses that can lyse and kill their bacterial targets. One of the focuses of SyntBioLab Inc. is to develop applications to control bacterial pathogens by using phages. Escherichia coli is a major problem for food safety and animal health. In particular, in poultry (chickens and turkeys), avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the predominant cause of respiratory and systemic infection.

Faculty Supervisor:

Charles Dozois

Student:

Kateryna Krylova

Partner:

SyntBioLab Inc

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Program: