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Link: Naked Scientists 04.12.12.
This link will take you to a radio show online which explores the subjects below
This week the world of bacteria, fungi, viruses and superbugs goes under the microscope. Microbiologist Dr Mark Farrington discusses the worsening issue of antibiotic resistance and the MRSA problem. He is joined by Nottingham University bacteriologist Dr Liz Sockett who works on Bdellovibrio, a predatory bacterium that hunts down other bacteria and might be useful as a 'living' antibiotic, and Professor Nick Mann, from Warwick University, who is developing bacteriophages (viruses that can attack bacteria including MRSA) that can safely be applied to wounds, in a dressing or as a nose-spray, to eliminate the carriage of bacteria, or infection.
Link: Scotsman.com
HOSPITAL superbugs could be all but wiped out in ten years by viruses that are harmless to humans, say Scottish scientists. Dr Mike Mattey and a team of researchers at Strathclyde University have come up with a new method of tackling bugs such as the killer MRSA that does not involve using antibiotics. They have patented a technique to allow bacteriophages - viruses which are the natural enemy of bacteria - to be used in normal cleaning products. The viruses can lie dormant for weeks, only waking up to devour the MRSA when it arrives. A drop of ordinary sea water contains millions of tiny bacteriophages and, despite the fact they are known to be harmless to humans, the Strathclyde team still have to go through a regulatory process that is expected to take up to three years. Dr Mattey, who was yesterday at a meeting of the Federation of Infection Societies in Cardiff to promote the system, told The Scotsman: "With this strategy, we can resolve all these antibiotic-resistant bacteria problems. We cannot cure it completely, but we can control it."
Link: Scientists
Scientists at a Scottish university may soon be able to kill some of the more vicious strains of the MRSA superbug which have become resistant to traditional treatment methods. A team from Strathclyde University has come up with a model solution to the hospital-acquired infection. Their approach differs drastically from past efforts to kill the bug with antibiotics, which have proved counter-productive and actually strengthened it. The four-strong group say previous techniques, which have attempted to kill all unwanted bacteria in this way, are "like trying to push water uphill". Mike Mattey, Janice Spencer, Fiona McColm and Luisa Verrechia have taken a more targeted approach to their work. Their recommendation is that those responsible for controlling drug-resistant strains of infection concentrate only on the small percentage of bacteria which have already mutated. They suggest using bacteriophages - viruses which kill one specific species of bacteria each and which have shown to be effective against up to 90% of MRSA.
Link: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Light-activated antimicrobial agents (photosensitizers) are promising alternatives to antibiotics for the treatment of topical infections. To improve efficacy and avoid possible damage to host tissues, targeting of the photosensitizer to the infecting organism is desirable, and this has previously been achieved using antibodies and chemical modification of the agent. In this study we investigated the possibility of using a bacteriophage to deliver the photosensitizer tin(IV) chlorin e6 (SnCe6) to Staphylococcus aureus. SnCe6 was covalently linked to S. aureus bacteriophage 75, and the ability of the conjugate to kill various strains of S. aureus when exposed to red light was determined. Substantial kills of methicillin- and vancomycin-intermediate strains of S. aureus were achieved using low concentrations of the conjugate (containing 1.5 �g/ml SnCe6) and low light doses (21 J/cm2). Under these conditions, the viability of human epithelial cells (in the absence of bacteria) was largely unaffected. On a molar equivalent basis, the conjugate was a more effective bactericide than the unconjugated SnCe6, and killing was not growth phase dependent. The conjugate was effective against vancomycin-intermediate strains of S. aureus even after growth in vancomycin. The results of this study have demonstrated that a bacteriophage can be used to deliver a photosensitizer to a target organism, resulting in enhanced and selective killing of the organism. Such attributes are desirable in an agent to be used in the photodynamic therapy of infectious diseases.
Link: The Epoch Times.
At present, in addition to established organizations in Georgia, Russia and Poland that are reportedly marketing therapeutic and prophylactic phage products against bacteria including Staphylococci, Streptococci, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Salmonella, Shigella, Serratia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Campylobacter, Yersinia and Brucella, there are an estimated 10 companies located in the United States (Intralytix Inc: www.intralytix.com), Canada, India (GangaGen: www.gangagen.com) and Israel (Phage Biotech Ltd: www.phage-biotech.com) racing to provide a number of phage therapy products for a range of medical, animal husbandry, food processing and environmental applications. It is anticipated that the first phage-based products for treatment of meat and poultry will receive FDA approval soon; an “experimental use permit” from EPA has been granted for use of phages in the environment on non-food contact surfaces.
Link: PharmaLive
Phage International Inc. announced today that Phage Therapy Center, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, is expanding operations with the opening of Phage Therapy Center, Mexico. Patients with infected wounds that are resistant to antibiotics may now travel to PTC's new clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. Infected wounds not responding to antibiotics often result in limb amputations. In the United States, lower limb amputations for those with diabetic foot ulcers total approximately 65,000 amputations each year, and those with difficult-to-treat infected wounds number in the 100s of thousands. Phages or bacteriophage are bacteria-specific viruses that invade the bacterial cells. Lytic phages disrupt bacterial metabolism and cause the bacterium to lyse. Like antibiotics, lytic phages have remarkable antibacterial activity. Potential patients may visit www.phagetherapycenter.com to find out more details. "PTC treats antibiotic-resistant infections and has saved people from amputation. Our clinic specializes in situations where bacteriophage therapy tends to be superior to standard antibiotic therapy in the US and Western Europe. Conditions treated include: Diabetic foot ulcers, Tropic ulcers, Osteomyelitis, Bedsores, Burns, Gingivitis, Parodontosis, Stomatitis, and drug-resistant infections such as MRSA, VRE, and others.
Link: Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
In this study, a lytic bacteriophage (phage K) was assessed in vitro for its ability to inhibit emerging drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from hospitals and other species of Staphylococcus isolated from bovine infections. In in vitro inhibitory assays, phage K lysed a range of clinically isolated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, S. aureus with heterogeneous vancomycin resistance and vancomycin resistance, and teicoplanin-resistant strains. In these assays, 14 of the MRSA strains were initially only weakly sensitive to this phage. However, propagation of phage K on these less-sensitive strains resulted in all 14 being sensitive to the modified phages. The results enforce the principle that, while certain target bacteria may be relatively insensitive to lytic phage, this can be overcome by obtaining modified phage variants from passage of the phage through the insensitive strains. Model in situ hand wash studies using a phage-enriched wash solution resulted in a 100-fold reduction in staphylococcal numbers on human skin by comparison with numbers remaining after washing in phage-free solution. Infusion of the phage into a nonimmunogenic bismuth-based cream resulted in strong anti-Staphylococcus activity from the cream on plates and in broth.
Link: Viral beads to beat MRSA?.
Seems these nurses are a little underwhemed.
A hospital saturated in viruses is the latest bizarre proposal from scientists to combat the MRSA superbug. Researchers propose to cover nylon strips, beads and hospital stitching thread with anti-MRSA viruses. The breakthrough comes because British scientists have discovered how to stick anti-bacterial viruses to nylon products. The researchers from Strathclyde University, Scotland, say they have discovered a virus, known as a bacteriophage, which can combat most major strains of MRSA. Their technique immobilises the virus on nylon strips - prolonging its life. The virus cannot be injected into humans because the immune system destroys it rapidly.
Link: Nylon strips an effective weapon against the hospital acquired superbug.
Scientists from the University of Strathclyde have developed a method of chemically bonding a type of virus called a bacteriophage, which normally only targets bacteria cells, to nylon products, which it can then use as a base from which to attack the deadly MRSA. "By immobilising this bacteriophage onto nylon we can prolong its life and usefulness, in different temperature and humidity conditions. Normally it gets targeted by our immune system and cleared away if injected into people, and also dies quickly in dry conditions," says Dr Janice Spencer from the University of Strathclyde. "We found a phage which is effective against most of the major epidemic MRSA strains. The nylon can be in different forms including strips, sutures and beads." The scientists have shown in trials that the immobilised bacteriophage on the thread used for surgical stitches can prevent wounds from becoming infected
Click the link above for more
Link: Proven Bacteriophage Therapy to Western World.
Phage International Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Phage Therapy Center, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, a privately held medical clinic offering bacteriophage therapy to patients from across the globe, and co-developer of PhageBioderm, a revolutionary bioactive medical polymer that is utilized for treating bed sores, burns, and tropical/necrotic ulcers. As PhageBioderm biodegrades, it delivers drugs, antibiotics, or pain medications. Bacteriophages or phages are viruses that invade bacterial cells. Lytic phages disrupt bacterial metabolism and cause the bacterium to lyse. Like antibiotics, lytic phages have remarkable antibacterial activity. Bacteriophage therapy have been successfully used to treat bacterial infections in former eastern block countries for over 80 years. "With the alarming increase in the rate of antibiotic-resistant infections it is fortunate that we have a treatment technology that has proven to be successful in dealing with even the most difficult of infections. We are delighted to be involved in helping to commercialize this treatment technology and ultimately bringing bacteriophage therapy to the western world," said Ronald Goossens, President and CEO of PII. "We are looking forward to helping more patients and training more physicians in the use of bacteriophage therapy," said Vakhtang Beridze, President of PTC.
Link: ‘Superbug’ firm hires more staff.
Phico has developed a topical SASPject treatment to reduce carriage of the superbug, MRSA, in humans. MRSA often lives harmlessly in and around the nose of healthy people but can cause a wide range of infections from the trivial to the life threatening, including wound infections and bacteraemia. It has been demonstrated that reducing the number of MRSA bacteria living on the skin can subsequently lead to a reduction in the number of infections. Phico is also developing an anti-MRSA treatment for intravenous use. The company plans to start clinical trials in humans in 2005. It has also taken on another lab for production and development work on its next bacterial target, which causes infectious diarrhoea in hospitals and nursing homes.
Link: Moliris, Inc.
Moliris Inc. (OTCBB:MOLR) announced today that the Company will focus its technology resources initially on the development of its leading Product Candidate bacteriophage for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant Staph infections. Resistant Staph infections are most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus in the form known as Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA). The Moliris bacteriophages are being developed as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. MRSA is well recognized as a major cause of 'Hospital-Acquired' (Nosocomial) infections worldwide. Researchers have recently identified 'Community-Acquired' MRSA as a distinct variation of Nosocomial MRSA. The standard treatment for infections caused by MRSA is Vancomycin, although the adequacy of this drug is being questioned because of its inconsistent activity in infections caused by Vancomycin-Intermediate-Resistant Staph Aureus (VISA). Three antibiotics are approved currently for use as alternatives to Vancomycin in infections caused by MRSA (quinupristin-dalfopristin, linezolid, and daptomycin); bacterial resistance has now emerged to all three of these drugs. The emergence of Vancomycin-Resistant Staph-Aureus (VRSA) represents an even greater threat in what appears to be a continuing stream of resistant forms of Staph. Moliris intends to initiate scale-up manufacturing of its bacteriophage Product Candidate for the treatment of resistant forms of Staphylococcus aureus during 2005.
Link: News.
While the government invokes the spirit of Florence Nightingale in a - surely desperate - bid to tackle the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in hospitals, at least two UK biotech firms are engaged in a race to come up with a 21st century solution. Both companies are also using a rather elderly technique - discovered during the First World War - but bringing it up to date with modern genetics.
The winner will be the first to market an antibacterial product containing a type of virus know as a "bacteriophage" - literally "bacteria eater". First discovered in 1917 by the Frenchman Felix d'Herelle, "phages" were used to treat conditions like infected wounds, ulcers, typhoid and cholera for about 20 years but then, on the advent of antibiotics, were forgotten in the West.
But phages are generating huge interest in research labs because, being alive, they are able to mutate, making it much harder for bacteria to develop resistance to them
The Observer
Scientists have tried to create new antibiotics to replace those made obsolete by superbugs but they are hampered because these require long development times. So researchers, led by Dr Michael Mattey, of Strathclyde University, have chosen a different approach and have targeted a special type of virus - called a bacteriophage - which only attacks bacteria. 'Bacteriophages are the natural born killers of the microbe world,' said Dr Mattey. 'They can only infect and destroy bacteria and cannot harm humans. One particular type of bacteriophage can infect one, and only one, type of bacterium.'
This is only part of a longer item - a reccomended read
SGM : News
The new bug-smashing technique uses the bacteria's own natural enemies, tiny viruses called bacteriophages (or phages), which can infect bacterial cells. The phages make thousands of copies of themselves inside infected bacteria, but then need to dissolve the bacteria's cell wall to get out and infect other bacterial cells.
"We realised that bacteria have no effective natural defences against these phages once they have been infected," says Professor Vincent Fischetti of Rockefeller University. "After infection, the phages make an enzyme to dissolve the bacterial cell walls for release and we found that we could use the same enzyme to attack and kill the disease bacteria responsible for pneumonia, anthrax or strep throat."
The enzymes work on contact, killing the disease bacteria instantly, but without harming other friendly types of bacteria. This offers huge advantages over conventional antibiotics, which indiscriminately kill most bacteria, including our useful ones, and which can lead to disease resistance building up if used too frequently.
"About half of us normally carry disease bacteria in our nose or throat, but without symptoms, which form the only reservoir for these organisms in the environment, allowing them to travel from person to person until they are able to cause infection in the right individual," says Prof Fischetti. "Removing these bacteria from people in hospitals, day care centres and nursing homes could have a major impact on disease outbreaks amongst vulnerable people in these settings."
Evergreen Edu
1307 patients with suppurative bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria of different species were treated with specific bacteriophages (BP). BP therapy was highly effective; full recovery was noted in 1123 cases (85.9%). In 134 cases (10.9%) transient improvement was observed and only in 50 cases (3.8%) was BP treatment found to be ineffective. The results confirm the high effectiveness of BP therapy in combating bacterial infections which do not respond to treatment with the available antibiotics.
Click the link above for longer feature
Scotsman.com
British researchers hope to turn the tables on the MRSA superbug by infecting it with viruses, it was revealed today. The team is developing technology that will incorporate bug-busting “phages” into cleaning agents and dressings. If the research is successful, hospital wards could be flooded with viruses that are harmless to humans but deadly to MRSA. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for the vast majority of serious hospital infections that are immune to most antibiotics. But it has no defence against the “bacteriophages” being developed at the University of Warwick.
Guardian
A businesswoman who became a scientist as a mature student has raised £750,000 to develop an idea that could become a weapon against the MRSA superbug, the bacteria that has caused concern in Britain's hospital wards because it cannot be countered by normal antibiotics. Heather Fairhead has only a skeleton staff of researchers at Phico Therapeutics, but the firm has patented proteins that could prove effective in fighting bacteria after the completion of clinical trials. The proteins are versions of naturally occurring "Sasp" that the company has genetically engineered to bind to bacterial DNA and kill the organism. They are introduced to the germ by using bacteriophages - that is, viruses that only attack bacteria, which are commonly used in eastern Europe as antibiotics.
MRSA Discussion Forum
MRSA - & indeed other antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections - is easily curable in over 90% of cases by the use of Bacteriophage Therapy (BT). Bacteriophages are viruses that attack bacteria, including MRSA & VRSA. In the countries of the former Eastern bloc, Bacteriophage Therapy is routinely used to treat MRSA & other antibiotic-resistant & sequestered bacterial infections with 90%+ cure rates. Since Poland joined the EU in April this year (2004), the Mutual Recognition Directive 1995 allows the UK Government - if it wishes - to licence the use of Bacteriophage Therapy in the UK with immediate effect, as it is already licenced in another EU member state, ie. Poland. The Government have refused to do this. Worse, they have refused to allow NHS patients to even be informed that the treatment is available in Poland.